Question

"the table above shows the payoff matrix offered to two suspected criminals, bonnie and clyde. the payoffs are the years they will spend in prison. the suspected criminals are not allowed to communicate. given the information in the payoff matrix, the nash equilibrium is that bonnie ________ and clyde ________."

Answer 1

They both will confess to the other's crimes.

They both could get lighter sentences for co-operating with each other, but since they are not allowed to communicate with each other, and hence will have only their best interests in mind, to betray the other for his own good. However, when they both do this, it becomes a double betrayal, and hence their sentences become even longer.