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Insights into human cooperation from comparative economics

Nature Human Behaviour volume 2, pages 432–434 (2018)Cite this article

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Many species face the problems of how, when and with whom to cooperate. Comparing responses across species can reveal the evolutionary trajectory of these decisions, including in humans. Using nearly identical economic game methods to compare species could identify the evolutionary constraints and catalysts to cooperation.

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Fig. 1: An advantage of games derived from experimental economics is the ability to test different decision-making situations identically across species.

(a and c): Bart Wilson (Chapman University)

Fig. 2: Three common games used in comparative experimental economics research include the assurance game, the hawk–dove game and the matching pennies game.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation grants SES 1123897 and SES 1658867 awarded to S.F.B. and M. Beran.

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  1. Departments of Psychology and Philosophy, Language Research Center and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Sarah F. Brosnan

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  1. Sarah F. Brosnan
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Correspondence to Sarah F. Brosnan.

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Brosnan, S.F. Insights into human cooperation from comparative economics. Nat Hum Behav 2, 432–434 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0383-7

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