RULES OF THUMB IN GAMES

A steady-state, random-matching game model is proposed in which rules of thumb, which assign strategies to individual games, are the units of choice for individuals. Costs, which reflect complexity or difficulty of use, are associated with the rules independently of the games in which they are employed. A population equilibrium is a distribution of rules across the population of players such that no individual has an incentive to change rules, given the current distribution. Examples illustrate the concept, and existence is demonstrated.