Simple Characterizations of Potential Games and Zero-sum Games

TL;DR

This paper introduces simple tests and a unified framework for identifying potential and zero-sum equivalent games, providing new criteria and characterizations that enhance understanding of strategic game structures.

Contribution

It offers a unified approach with new integral, derivative, and representation tests for potential and zero-sum equivalent games, expanding existing criteria.

Findings

New integral tests for potential and zero-sum equivalent games

A derivative test for zero-sum equivalent games

A new representation characterization for zero-sum equivalent games

Abstract

We provide several tests to determine whether a game is a potential game or whether it is a zero-sum equivalent game---a game which is strategically equivalent to a zero-sum game in the same way that a potential game is strategically equivalent to a common interest game. We present a unified framework applicable for both potential and zero-sum equivalent games by deriving a simple but useful characterization of these games. This allows us to re-derive known criteria for potential games, as well as obtain several new criteria. In particular, we prove (1) new integral tests for potential games and for zero-sum equivalent games, (2) a new derivative test for zero-sum equivalent games, and (3) a new representation characterization for zero-sum equivalent games.