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arXiv · 2509.09621

Simple Communication

Jacopo Bizzotto·Nathan Hancart
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Abstract

We study multidimensional cheap talk with simple language and aligned preferences. An expert communicates with a decision-maker using a score that aggregates a multidimensional state into a one-dimensional message. Even though the expert and the decision-maker share the same payoffs, the use of simple language introduces strategic frictions. Under quadratic-loss utility, any equilibrium score must be linear in the state or a coarsening of a linear score. As a result, equilibrium payoffs are lower than those achievable under commitment to a score. Finally, for normally distributed states, we characterize the equilibrium linear scores and show they correspond to the ex-ante best and worst linear scores.

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Jacopo Bizzotto, Nathan Hancart. 2025-09-11. Simple Communication. https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.09621

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