negatiivisummapelistä

Negatiivisummapeli is a term used in game theory and economics to describe a specific type of cooperative game. In a negatiivisummapeli, the sum of the payoffs to all players is always negative, regardless of how the players choose to cooperate or distribute the outcomes. This means that any joint action or agreement, no matter how well-intentioned, will result in a net loss for the group as a whole.

The core concept is that the potential gains from cooperation are outweighed by inherent costs or losses. This can arise from various factors, such as shared resource depletion, negative externalities, or a fundamental disadvantage in the game's structure. Unlike positive sum games where cooperation leads to a larger total pie for everyone, or zero-sum games where one player's gain is another's loss, negatiivisummapeli implies that all participants are destined to lose something.

Despite the negative sum nature, players might still engage in negotiations and attempt to form coalitions. These attempts are driven by the desire to minimize individual losses, even if the collective outcome remains unfavorable. The study of negatiivisummapeli helps analyze situations where cooperation is difficult or inherently detrimental, and it can provide insights into the dynamics of conflict resolution, resource management, and strategic decision-making in environments characterized by unavoidable losses. It highlights scenarios where the best possible outcome for any player might be to mitigate their share of a collective loss.