Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Seung-Keun Martinez Social Science

Peer to Peer Piracy: Sustained Cooperation in a Public Good Game

Modern day pirates are among the most seemingly altruistic collaborators in the world. At least they are in reference to sustaining a public good. In fact, these internet based pirates provide a stunning real world example of a self-sustaining public good despite strong incentives to free ride. We observe this phenomenon in peer to peer (P2P) file sharing. The crux of Seung-Keun’s research project centers upon the question: How do P2P networks form and sustain themselves, and how can this be extended to influence better outcomes for other public goods? To answer this, Seung-Keun has designed a three-treatment strategic experiment involving continuous time, varying levels of information, and endogenous entry and exit. The results of this experiment will give new insight into what policies would encourage cooperation.

Profile image of Seung-Keun Martinez
Major: Economics
Mentor: Mentor: Professor John Morgan
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