A loser for every winner? Causes and implications of zero-sum thinking | with Nageeb Ali

A loser for every winner? Causes and implications of zero-sum thinking | with Nageeb Ali

From Game Changer - the game theory podcast by TWS Partners

May 25, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

The episode explores zero-sum thinking and its implications in economics and political economy with guest Nageeb Ali.

In this episode, we discuss zero-sum games and zero-sum thinking with our guest, Nageeb Ali. We begin by looking at the broader picture of how zero-sum thinking has become increasingly prominent in today's public debate and how it relates to Akerlof's classic "lemons" problem. Drawing on ideas from economics and game theory, Nageeb shares research connecting zero-sum thinking to questions in political economy and organizations. He explains how zero-sum thinking can emerge even when policies are not objectively zero-sum: when individuals have different information and different interests, support for a policy by others may itself become a signal that the policy is bad for you. Later in the episode, Nageeb discusses how one-sided asymmetric information in organisational settings can lead to adverse selection and how these dynamics relate to zero-sum thinking more broadly. Nageeb Ali is a Professor of Economics at Penn State University.

People in this episode

Host: TWS Partners

Guest: Nageeb Ali

Topics covered

  • zero-sum games
  • zero-sum thinking
  • political economy
  • adverse selection
  • information asymmetry

Keywords

  • zero-sum games
  • Akerlof's lemons problem
  • political economy
  • adverse selection
  • information asymmetry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Penn State University

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