The games retailers play

Game theory has helped to clarify and simplify a wide variety of business decisions, yet has rarely been applied in a retailing context. This article pairs three contemporary retailing issues with three well‐known strategic games in an effort to spark the imagination of the strategist and the student. The issues of trading hours, saturation and Investment in innovation are examined through the application of the Prisoner's Dilemma, Tragedy of the Common, and Boxed Pigs. Implications of the games for retail decision‐making and for management education are explored.