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A Utility Question For You All.

Le Marquis de SadeJan 13, 2021, 12:45:42 AM
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Okay, so here's a question about Collusive Behaviors and Utility Maximization Regarding Investment I've Been Working On. It's a Three Parter Hypothetical, and I'm curious what people will do.

Here is the scenario.
You are pursuing a degree and are in a class that is required. The professor's lays out his only 16 assignments for the 16 week semester. One assignment will be given each week. If you miss one assignment, you will only get a 'C' in the course, which is passing. If you miss two, you will fail. These assignments are incredibly difficult and will take up most of your free time throughout the semester.

You manage to join a group of seven others. Eight people in total, you all agree to do two individual assignments throughout the semester - allowing the others to copy off of you. This will give you fourteen weeks of increased free time when you will copy off of others. Two people in this group - Jack and Jill - are married.

You are week one, complete your work and allow the others to copy. Weeks two through five go according to the plan. Jill has week 6 and she holds up her end of this bargain. Then her husband has week 7. He does not do the assignment. None of you will get an 'A' or a 'B' in this course now. 

First Question: In a group vote (majority rules), do you vote to have Jack ejected from this agreement?

Pros: He will be unable to screw you all over again, and is punished for screwing the group out of 'A's or 'B's.

Cons:  If he is removed, there is another week in the semester which now you run the risk of having to do.





The vote comes out against Jack. He is ejected from the group. Jill was in the minority, opting to keep her husband in the group. So, one of the members points out that she might give the assignment to her husband to copy, effectively giving him not only the efforts of the group, but an extra week free.
 

You ask her to guarantee that she won't help Jack. She offers no such promise, saying that it's her husband. 

 

Question 2: Do you vote to have Jill ejected from the group, though she has done nothing wrong?

Pros: Jack will be rendered virtually unable to benefit from the group, losing the utility of the group's efforts.

Cons: Jill did nothing wrong, and now there are two weeks which have to be filled somehow.

 

 

So, Jill is ejected, regardless of how you vote. Week eight comes and the guy who has to do that does his assignment. You are all in a lounge copying when another classmate (not part of this group approaches you). All you know about him is that he has done all of the assignments so far. He offers to join your group, taking up those two weeks left vacant by Jack and Jill. His name is Harry.

Question 3: Do you let Harry join your group?

Pros: You no longer run the risk of doing one or two weeks extra of work.

Cons: This guy could screw you over once, after getting  break from working until his first turn, take the 'C', and leave you all with 'F's. 

 

Leave answers, please. I am curious.