Prisoner's Dilemma

Essay

Prisoner's Dilemma. In the classic characterization of the prisoner's dilemma, two hypothetical suspects, Bernie Ebbers and Scott Sullivan, are arrested by the FBI. Suppose the FBI has insufficient evidence for a conviction, and having separated both prisoners, visit each of them and offer the same deal: if one agrees to confess and implicates the other, while the other remains silent, the silent accomplice receives the full 5-year sentence and the confessor goes free. If both stay silent, the FBI can only gain a conviction on a lesser charge for which both prisoners will get a fine and serve probation for 6 months in prison. If both confess, they will each receive a 2-year sentence. Each prisoner has two options: to remain quiet and not implicate the accomplice, or to betray the accomplice and confess. The outcome of each choice depends on the choice of the accomplice. However, neither prisoner knows the choice of the accomplice. Assume both prisoners are completely selfish and their only goal is to minimize their own jail terms.