War Of Attrition, Patience
The War of Attrition
The War of Attrition is a War Of Attrition and Patience scenario. The core lesson: In a waiting game, the one with the lower cost of waiting wins, not the one who 'deserves' to. You and another person both want the last apartment in a desirable building. You're both willing to wait in line to sign the lease. DecisionPlay maps the players, payoffs, and equilibrium dynamics that shape how this situation typically resolves.
The situation
You and another person both want the last apartment in a desirable building. You're both willing to wait in line to sign the lease. Every hour you wait costs you something. Whoever gives up first, loses.
Background
The War of Attrition is a brutal game. In humans, it applies to labor strikes, political standoffs, custody battles, and any situation where the winner is whoever outlasts the loser. The counterintuitive result: in equilibrium, both parties are indifferent between winning and losing, because the cost of waiting equals the value of winning.
What this reveals
Attrition favors the patient, not the deserving
The person who wins a waiting game is usually the one with the lowest cost of waiting, not the one with the strongest claim or the greatest need.
How to counter it: Before entering an attrition fight, assess who has lower waiting costs. If it's not you, find a way to change the game or exit early.
A question to sit with
What's a situation in your life where you're 'waiting it out' with someone? Who actually has lower waiting costs, you or them?
Frequently asked questions
- What game theory concept does The War of Attrition illustrate?
- The War of Attrition illustrates War Of Attrition, Patience. In a waiting game, the one with the lower cost of waiting wins, not the one who 'deserves' to.
- What is the situation in The War of Attrition?
- You and another person both want the last apartment in a desirable building. You're both willing to wait in line to sign the lease. Every hour you wait costs you something.
- What does The War of Attrition reveal about how people decide?
- Attrition favors the patient, not the deserving. The person who wins a waiting game is usually the one with the lowest cost of waiting, not the one with the strongest claim or the greatest need.
- How do you avoid the trap in The War of Attrition?
- Before entering an attrition fight, assess who has lower waiting costs. If it's not you, find a way to change the game or exit early.
- What is the research behind The War of Attrition?
- The War of Attrition is a brutal game. In humans, it applies to labor strikes, political standoffs, custody battles, and any situation where the winner is whoever outlasts the loser. The counterintuitive result: in equilibrium, both parties are indifferent between winning and losing, because the cost of waiting equals the value of winning.
- How long does The War of Attrition take to play?
- About 8 min, at advanced difficulty, across 4 decision points. It runs in your browser with no account and no sign-in.
Keep exploring
More Classical Game Theory scenarios, or browse all scenarios. New to this? Start with how DecisionPlay works or the game theory glossary.
Topics: attrition, patience, asymmetric-costs, sunk-cost