What is the Nash equilibrium for the prisoners’
dilemma discussed in Chapter 12? Table 13.5 shows the payoff matrix for the
prisoners’ dilemma. Recall that the ideal outcome is one in which neither prisoner
confesses, so that both get two years in prison. Confessing, however, is a
dominant strategy for each prisoner—it yields a higher payoff regardless of the
strategy of the other prisoner. Dominant strategies are also maximin strategies.