Two years ago, a ransomware cyberattacks led Colonial Pipeline to temporarily shut down the nation's largest fuel pipeline, which runs from the Gulf Coast to New York. In the wake of this incident, drivers lined up to fill their vehicle tanks and other containers with gasoline, and a majority of gas stations in DC, Virginia and North Carolina, among other markets in the Southeast, reported being without fuel at some point on the second week of May 2021.

On May 11, Georgia governor Brian Kemp issued a public statement reiterating that Colonial Pipeline had indicated the disruption would be temporary and reminding people that "there is no need to fill up every tank that you have. Just don't do things you don't need to do do what you need to and just use good common sense." That same day, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters "We know we have gasoline; we just need to get it to the right places. It's not that we have a gasoline shortage, it's that we have this supply crunch, and things will be back to normal soon." On May 13, in a short address at the White House, President Joe Biden urged Americans to "stay strong", adding "I know seeing lines at the pumps or gas stations with no gas can be extremely stressful, but this is a temporary situation. Do not get more gas than you need in the next few days."

a) Represent in normal form the game that gasoline buyers in the Southeast were playing that week in May 2021. Describe the game and its solution (or solutions).

b) Explain the messaging from Governor Kemp, Secretary Granholm, and President Biden through the lens of your game theoretical analysis. What is the purpose of those messages? Can they change the outcome of this game? Why or why not?