Culture, Circles, and Commercials: Publicity, Common Knowledge, and Social Coordination
Chwe, sole author. A theoretical paper applying the game-theoretic argument that common knowledge is needed to solve coordination problems to a range of cultural practices, including mass ceremonies, talking in inward-facing circles, and why social goods tend to be advertised on popular and expensive television shows. Its stated conclusion is about understanding cultural practices in terms of publicity, not a measured effect of advertising on sales.
Chwe, sole author. A theoretical paper applying the game-theoretic argument that common knowledge is needed to solve coordination problems to a range of cultural practices, including mass ceremonies, talking in inward-facing circles, and why social goods tend to be advertised on popular and expensive television shows. Its stated conclusion is about understanding cultural practices in terms of publicity, not a measured effect of advertising on sales.
Written from the abstract read 2026-10-18.
What our sources record
Recorded when this source was checked, figures included, with page references and quotation marks removed.
Chwe, M. S.-Y. (1998). Culture, Circles, and Commercials: Publicity, Common Knowledge, and Social Coordination. Rationality and Society, 10(1), 47-75. doi:10.1177/104346398010001002.