Welcome to Game Theory

2021/2022

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

4

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент социологии

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

2-й курс, 1 модуль

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course provides a brief introduction to game theory. Our main goal is to understand the basic ideas behind the key concepts in game theory, such as equilibrium, rationality, and cooperation. The course uses very little mathematics, and it is ideal for those who are looking for a conceptual introduction to game theory.Business competition, political campaigns, the struggle for existence by animals and plants, and so on, can all be regarded as a kind of “game,” in which individuals try to do their best against others. Game theory provides a general framework to describe and analyze how individuals behave in such “strategic” situations. This course focuses on the key concepts in game theory, and attempts to outline the informal basic ideas that are often hidden behind mathematical definitions. Game theory has been applied to a number of disciplines, including economics, political science, psychology, sociology, biology, and computer science. Therefore, a warm welcome is extended to audiences from all fields who are interested in what game theory is all about. The course is a Massive Open Online Course delivered at Coursera platform (https://www.coursera.org/learn/game-theory-introduction). Students are required to attend the course and get a certificate. The full syllabus is published at the course website. (https://www.coursera.org/learn/game-theory-introduction). The course doesn’t require special previous knowledge and competences

Learning Objectives

• to introduce the learner to the basics of the Game Theory
• to understand the basic ideas behind the key concepts in game theory, such as equilibrium, rationality, and cooperation.
• to provide a general framework to describe and analyze how individuals behave in such “strategic” situations

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Nash equilibrium as a unified solution concept
• The reason why players come to play Nash equilibrium
• The reason why we need game theory to analyze social problems
• The relationship between intellectual capacity of players and Nash equilibrium
• The relationship between the rationality of individuals and socially desirable outcomes

Course Contents

• 2. Understanding Nash equilibrium
• 1. Why Do We Need Game Theory, and What Does it Tell Us?
• 3. Rationality, Knowledge, and Evolution in Games
• 4. Sustaining Cooperation

Assessment Elements

• MOOC Certificate
• Oral exam

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 1st module
  0.7 * MOOC Certificate + 0.3 * Oral exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Barron, E. N. (2013). Game Theory : An Introduction (Vol. Second edition). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=565752
• Gibbons, R. (1992). Game Theory for Applied Economists. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=390677

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Binmore, K. G. (2007). Game Theory: A Very Short Introduction. New York: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=209659
• Tamer Başar, Georges Zaccour. Handbook of Dynamic Game Theory, 2018, Springer