Order Independence of Conditional Dominance

Abstract

This paper studies order independence for the iterated deletion of conditionally dominated strategies (Shimoji and Watson, J. Econ. Theory 1998.) Conditions are found under which predictions can be said to be order independent. The set of strategies which survives deletion is order independent only up to the re-labeling of strategies which are (post deletions) strategically equivalent. The assumed conditions are satisfied for normal form representations of extensive form games with perfect recall. Hence, one may calculate the predictions of conditional dominance (and rationalizability) in extensive form games without concern over the order of strategy deletion.

Keywords: Order Independence, Conditional Dominace, Iterated deletion, Strategies, Games

JEL Classification: C70, D01, D03