Puerto Rico as a Critical Locality: Is a Post-Colonial Puerto Rico Possible? A Game-Theoretic Analysis of the Impasse over Puerto Rico's Status
St Thomas Law Review, vol. 20, no. 3 (2008), pp. 561-571
11 Pages Posted: 19 May 2008 Last revised: 5 Dec 2014
Date Written: May 16, 2008
Abstract
The author applies the game-theoretic concept of the 'truel' (or three-person duel) to the Puerto Rico status debate. In summary, the debate over Puerto Rico's future political status resembles a three-person, sequential, random-order truel in which no single player is able to eliminate the other two players. In addition, the author applies some concepts from evolutionary biology (path dependence) and behavioral economics (loss aversion) to explain the current impasse over Puerto Rico's status. Finally, the author examines recent strategic behavior in the US Congress over Puerto Rican status.
Keywords: Truel, Endowment Effect, Path Dependence
JEL Classification: C79, H77
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation