Beyond Human Intervention: Algorithmic Collusion through Multi-Agent Learning Strategies

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Grondin, Suzie, Charpentier, Arthur, Ratz, Philipp
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Grondin, Suzie
Charpentier, Arthur
Ratz, Philipp
author_facet Grondin, Suzie
Charpentier, Arthur
Ratz, Philipp
contents Collusion in market pricing is a concept associated with human actions to raise market prices through artificially limited supply. Recently, the idea of algorithmic collusion was put forward, where the human action in the pricing process is replaced by automated agents. Although experiments have shown that collusive market equilibria can be reached through such techniques, without the need for human intervention, many of the techniques developed remain susceptible to exploitation by other players, making them difficult to implement in practice. In this article, we explore a situation where an agent has a multi-objective strategy, and not only learns to unilaterally exploit market dynamics originating from other algorithmic agents, but also learns to model the behaviour of other agents directly. Our results show how common critiques about the viability of algorithmic collusion in real-life settings can be overcome through the usage of slightly more complex algorithms.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_16935
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Beyond Human Intervention: Algorithmic Collusion through Multi-Agent Learning Strategies
Grondin, Suzie
Charpentier, Arthur
Ratz, Philipp
Theoretical Economics
Multiagent Systems
Collusion in market pricing is a concept associated with human actions to raise market prices through artificially limited supply. Recently, the idea of algorithmic collusion was put forward, where the human action in the pricing process is replaced by automated agents. Although experiments have shown that collusive market equilibria can be reached through such techniques, without the need for human intervention, many of the techniques developed remain susceptible to exploitation by other players, making them difficult to implement in practice. In this article, we explore a situation where an agent has a multi-objective strategy, and not only learns to unilaterally exploit market dynamics originating from other algorithmic agents, but also learns to model the behaviour of other agents directly. Our results show how common critiques about the viability of algorithmic collusion in real-life settings can be overcome through the usage of slightly more complex algorithms.
title Beyond Human Intervention: Algorithmic Collusion through Multi-Agent Learning Strategies
topic Theoretical Economics
Multiagent Systems
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.16935