[vecter]

Zero-sum in wealth, but not zero-sum in utility. Otherwise, people wouldn't trade at all.

[buzzkillington]

That's not true, it just needs to cost you more to not play than it does to play.

Something like:

    |            | Play | Don't Play |
    |------------+------+------------|
    | Play       |   -5 |        +10 |
    | Don't Play |  -10 |          0 |

[nuclearnice1]

Your payoffs are not zero sum.

> In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which each participant's gain or loss of utility is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the utility of the other participants.

[buzzkillington]

Yes? The point is that no one playing has the highest payout for the group[1].

[1] You can change the +10 to +9 if you want to make it the absolute highest total payout.

[nuclearnice1]

Sorry I don’t follow. Can you elaborate?