Economics Challenge Series 2024 – Challenge 6: Even to Win Game

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the Economics Challenge Series for 2024. For July and August, I am running an economics challenge series. The series consists of seven challenges. All the challenges will commence in July and early August. I will publish and announce the results in August.

Six of the seven challenges from last year's Challenge Series return. The Tax Game from 2022 is replacing the business version of the Buying and Selling Game. Below is the list of challenges.

Challenge 1: Ice Cream Game
Challenge 2: Game Theory Game
Challenge 3: Pick-a-Door
Challenge 4: Complement vs. Substitute
Challenge 5: The Buying and Selling Game
Challenge 6: Even-to-Win
Challenge 7: Tax Game

Each challenge could reward winners with as much as 60 Hive Power. The value of the prize will depend on the level of participation. For each new participant, the prize will increase by 5 Hive Power. This will continue until 60 Hive Power is reached (12 participants). The first 12 participants will also receive a 50% upvote from this account.

In addition to the prize money, the top few participants will be given points. These points will be used to determine the overall challenge series winner. This winner may receive as much as 80 Hive Power. The value of the prize will equal the sum of the number of participants across all challenges. This will continue until 80 Hive Power is reached.

For more information on the challenge series and the upcoming challenges, I recommend that you read my post from last year. This year’s Challenge Series is run the same way as last year’s.

Welcome to the Even to Win Game.

How to Play?

The Even to Win Game requires participants to select a certain number of boxes (e.g., 7 out of 13 boxes). Each box has been assigned a value. The participant obtains that value if an even number of participants have selected that box. If only one participant selects the box, it does not award that value. If two participants select the box, it offers the value stated in the question. If three participants select the box, it does not award that value. Some boxes have limits to the number of participants that can select them. For example, a box might have a limit of three participants. Once the third participant has selected the box, new participants can no longer select that box. They are limited to the boxes that have not yet reached their limit.

All the information you need to know to play the game is provided in the question; i.e., no external research is required.

All entries must be made in the comments section of this post.

Each account is only permitted one entry.

Strictly no collusive behaviour between participants (e.g., reducing boxes to zero to enable another participant to turn them positive). See last year’s challenge, several participants worked together to manipulate the outcome of the challenge.

Objectives of the Game

The objective of the game is to obtain the highest total value from the boxes selected. If two participants obtain the same total value, the participant who entered first wins.

Game Assumptions

Each box is assigned a value. This value only contributes to a participant's overall score if an even number of participants select that box.
Some boxes have participant limits, once the limits have been reached, no other participant can select that box.
The participant's order of selection of boxes does not make a difference to the value allocated to the box or the value awarded to the participants selecting that box.

How are the Results of the Game Determined?

The results are determined based on the combined values of the boxes each participant has selected. No results or values need to be generated by any model.

Challenge Prizes

The total prize for this challenge could reach as high as 60 Hive Power. The number of participants determines the value of the prize. For every entry, the prize is increased by 5 Hive Power until a value of 60 Hive Power is reached. The winner will receive 2/3 of the prize and second place will receive 1/3. The first 12 entries will be given upvotes. The winner of this challenge will be given 40 points, second place 20 points, and third place 5 points. These points will be tallied at the end of the challenge series to determine the overall winner.

Let the Challenge Begin!

For this challenge, participants are required to select 7 out of 13 boxes (no more, no less). Each box contains a value. Some boxes have a limit on the number of participants who can select them. These values and limits for each box are as follows:

Box	Value	Limit (participant selections)
Box 1	26	Unlimited
Box 2	42	Unlimited
Box 3	84	3
Box 4	34	Unlimited
Box 5	18	Unlimited
Box 6	58	4
Box 7	44	Unlimited
Box 8	19	Unlimited
Box 9	14	Unlimited
Box 10	35	Unlimited
Box 11	28	6
Box 12	12	Unlimited
Box 13	72	5

Entry Format

For this challenge, I expect to see entries made in the following format:

Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:

Example of Entry

Box: 1
Box: 4
Box: 5
Box: 7
Box: 8
Box: 10
Box: 13

The closing date and time for this challenge is 6PM coordinated universal time (UTC) 04/08/2024. Responses after this time will not be accepted. The results of the challenge will be announced in a separate post.

I hope everyone has fun and enjoys this sixth challenge. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section. I look forward to your participation in the next challenge. It will be available in a few days.

My New Book, Sapien Loop

I have published an ebook on Amazon; it is titled ‘Sapien Loop: End of an Era’. The book is fiction. I do not normally write fiction. However, I felt it was appropriate considering what is happening in the world today. Freedom is the most important thing we have, but we are gradually losing it. I have covered this in many of my posts.

In the story, most citizens do not understand the concept of freedom because they have never really experienced it. In essence, the story is about an alien world that might represent our not-so-distant future. There are many other elements to the story that are an abstract and exaggerated version of our reality. I believe this book to be an important read, and I believe it has the potential to change the way you think.

Brief Summary of Sapien Lopp

This story is based on the fictional planet Sapia and its sole country, Sapey. Sapey is portrayed as a form of utopia for all its citizens. No poverty. No war. Almost no crime. Opportunities for all.

This was enough for most citizens, but not all. In one of the small regions, some of the citizens had become discontent. They felt something important was missing in their lives. Their discontent did not go unnoticed. Some of the Sapey elite wanted to weaponise this discontent to gain more power. This created more chaos than they anticipated. This led to further widespread social unrest.

On top of the chaos, ambition and greed provoked another enemy. This enemy was on a mission to settle both new and old scores.

If you want to buy a copy of the book, below are links to the relevant Amazon websites for each country it is available in. The book is priced at approximately US$5.08.

I am also running monthly contests where participants are required to answer questions based on the book. The prize is 30 Hive Power plus upvotes for the first twelve entries. You can recover the cost of the book with just one win.