The Ultimatum Conundrum

[摘要] We have developed software that adapts the techniques used by game playing computer programs to the problem of negotiating good deals. In every test case, this strategy recommends making an ultimatum. On examining the protocol, we found that it is equivalent to a standard form of the bargaining game, which has an ultimatum as the Nash equilibrium. In practice, this strategy is unlikely to lead to a desirable result. We report several failed attempts to induce the strategy to recommend more reasonable counteroffers. Only when we include uncertainty in the other participant's constraints does the strategy recommend a counteroffer other than an ultimatum. We show how this uncertainty can be included in the strategy algorithm without introducing heuristics. 9 Pages

[发布机构] HP Development Company

[学科分类] 计算机科学（综合）

[关键词] automated negotiation;game theory;bargaining