A theory of choice under uncertainty is proposed which removes the completeness assumption from the Anscombe-Aumann formulation of Savage's theory and introduces an inertia assumption. The inertia assumption is that there is such a thing as the status quo and an alternative is accepted only if it is preferred to the status quo. This theory is one way of giving rigorous expression to Frank Knight's distinction between risk and uncertainty. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 91B06Journal of Economic Literature Classification: D81

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We study two person, zero sum stochastic games. We prove that limn→∞{Vn/n} = limr→0rV(r), where Vn is the value of the n-stage game and V(r) is the value of the infinite-stage game with payoffs discounted at interest rate r > 0. We also show that V(r) may be expanded as a Laurent series in a fractional power of r. This expansion is valid for small positive r. A similar expansion exists for optimal strategies. Our main proof is an application of Tarski's principle for real closed fields.

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