DP4245 Easy Targets and the Timing of Conflict

Author(s):	Helmut Bester, Kai A. Konrad
Publication Date:	February 2004
Keyword(s):	easy targets, timing of conflict, war
JEL(s):	B31, D74, H77
Programme Areas:	Public Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=4245

Contestants have to choose whether to initiate a contest or war, or whether to remain peaceful for another period. We find that agents wait and initiate the contest once their rival is sufficiently weak to be an easy target.