Determinants of bargaining behaviour in three-person characteristic function experiments

The article reports on methods and results of experimental research on multilateral bargaining based on three-person cooperative games at the University of Saarland. The data cover 368 experimental games in four series. The design includes a systematic variation of both the type of the game and the relevant bargaining conditions. The variation of the type of the game is based on a classification of games induced by solution concepts and their coalitional dynamics. This classification is elaborated in the theoretic part of the paper. The set of considered solution concepts gives rise to competing rationality standards. Proposal introduced in the multilateral bargaining process (and arguments used) may follow different standards. Any bargaining result can be seen as a compromise between standards.