Go for broke or play it safe? Dynamic competition with choice of variance

Abstract

We consider a differential game in which the joint choices of the two players influence the variance, but not the mean, of the one‐dimensional state variable. We show that a pure strategy perfect equilibrium in stationary Markov strategies (ME) exists and has the property that patient players choose to play it safe when sufficiently ahead and to take risks when sufficiently behind. We also provide a simple condition that implies both players choose risky strategies when neither one is too far ahead, a situation that ensures a dominant player emerges “quickly.”