Finding the key:The riddle of focal points

Sugden, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3401-3139 and Zamarron Hernandez, Ignacio (2006) Finding the key:The riddle of focal points. Journal of Economic Psychology, 27 (5). pp. 609-621. ISSN 0167-4870

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Abstract

Schelling's concept of a focal point is widely understood and used in game theory, but is often thought to lack adequate theoretical foundations; Schelling's own account is viewed as metaphorical and mysterious. We reconstruct that account and argue that it contains a sound theory of how rational players solve coordination problems. However, the philosophical framework which supports Schelling's theory is not a deductive system of the kind presupposed by classical game theory but a pragmatic one.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	focal point,coordination game
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Economics Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Philosophy (former - to 2014)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Economic Theory Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Competition Policy Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural Economics
Related URLs:	https://www.scopus.com/pages/publication...
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2013 16:15
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2026 16:14
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/44538
DOI:	10.1016/j.joep.2006.04.003

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