An evolutionary approach to learning in a changing environment

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Heller, D
• 署名单位: Tel Aviv University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0531
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0531(03)00117-0
• 发表日期: 2004
• 页码: 31-55
• 关键词: evolution; learning; Replicator dynamics; stochastic environment

摘要

The evolutionary fitness of the ability to learn a best response (at a cost) is explored in an environment where the underlying game changes stochastically over time. We provide a sufficient condition for asymptotic dominance by the learners. It does not require that the learners are the most fit type in any single state of the environment. We identify a necessary and sufficient condition that ensures the survival of the learners when learning costs are small. Last, we describe a medium-run phenomenon where the learners spike-their share temporarily rises and gets arbitrarily close to one following a regime shift. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.