ABSTRACT

This paper suggests that Nash equilibrium can be interpreted as a conceptual tool for addressing comparative-statics issues on an aggregate level. Together with additional assumptions, Nash equilibrium helps generate testable predictions about changes or differences of behavior induced by changes or differences of exogenous variables. However, Nash-equilibrium behavior, as such, is not subject to empirical testing. Instead, widespread and persistent behavior is modeled as a Nash equilibrium by assumption. The paper argues that this interpretation is in line with the traditional use of an equilibrium concept in price theory. The suggested interpretation is illustrated with the model of public-goods provision. The paper compares this interpretation of Nash equilibrium with other interpretations and discusses its limits.

摘要

本文认为纳什均衡可以被解释为解决总体水平上的比较静态问题的概念工具。与其他假设一起，纳什均衡有助于生成关于外生变量的变化或差异引起的行为变化或差异的可检验的预测。然而，纳什均衡行为本身并不受实证检验。相反，广泛且持久的行为通过假设被建模为纳什均衡。本文认为，这种解释符合价格理论中均衡概念的传统用法。建议的解释用公共产品提供模型来说明。本文将纳什均衡的这种解释与其他解释进行了比较，并讨论了其局限性。