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GAME Theory: ZERO-Sum, POSITIVE-Sum, NEGATIVE-Sum | DECODE S2 Ep76 - YouTube

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Most conflicts feel like win-lose battles, but game theory reveals three radically different sum structures that determine whether cooperation or competition is the rational play.

Game TheoryZero-Sum GamePositive-Sum GamePareto Efficiency

Theory Briefing

  • Zero-sum games mean one player's gain is another's exact loss — think poker, not partnership.
  • Positive-sum games, like trade or collaboration, grow the total pie so all players can win simultaneously.
  • Negative-sum games destroy value for everyone involved, making them the clearest case for avoiding conflict altogether.