Course syllabus

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Course-PM

ENM140/FIM784 Game theory and rationality lp2 HT25 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Space, Earth and Environment

Contact details

Claes Andersson (Examiner, lecturer, project supervisor)
claeand@chalmers.se 

Juan Viguera Diez (Teacher, project supervisor)
viguera@student.chalmers.se

Course purpose

Aim

The aim of this course is to give an introduction to game theory and evolutionary models within the field, in order to inspire and engage the students so that they can identify and explore game-theoretic dilemmas or situations during the studies as well as in their future work-life. This is achieved through examining basic game-theoretic concepts including the concept of rationality. The students, typically at the end of their undergraduate studies, are tasked individually as well as in group with acquiring knowledge about a series of game-theoretic applications. We focus on the effects of individual rationality on collective outcomes, as well as the resulting behavior of agents with different strategies in a large population.

We cover theory of general principles of rational action and examine known limitations on how well this describes human behavior in reality. Secondary aims include getting hands-on experience of modelling in a game-theoretic context as well as training in reading and presenting scientific articles.

The course is designed to not be overly technical, but to focus more on developing an understanding of basic ideas and principles as a basis for wider explorations and more in-depth studies. The course offers opportunity to do so, within an area of choice, in the student seminar and project work. 

Content

Game theory is the scientific study of strategic interaction between rational agents, involving analysis of phenomena such as cooperation and conflict in a wide range of biological, economic and social systems. Game theory and its extensions are continuously applied to understand situations such as geopolitics, how plants grow their roots and distribute seeds under competition, to pricing and auctions.
 
The content of the course will be influenced by the students attending it (i.e. other topics may be added to the following list). Topics covered in previous years' version of the course include:
Basic game-theoretic concepts, theory and principles of rational decision-making, backward induction and the rationality paradox, analysis of repeated interaction, tragedy of the commons, evolutionary game theory, public good games, agent-based models in economics, behavioral economics and the environment, bargaining theory and dynamic games.

Schedule

Lectures and seminars are held (approximately) each week on

  • Monday at 10:00-11:45
  • Wednesday at 10:00-11:45
  • Wednesday at 13:15-15:00

Information on each lecture and deadline can be found in the Timeline. 

Course literature

The main course book is Kevin Leyton-Brown and Yoav Shoham, Essentials of Game Theory: A Concise, Multidisciplinary Introduction (2008).
The book can be downloaded free of charge through Chalmers’ library here.

Selected chapters and examples may be distributed from Herbert Gintis, Game Theory Evolving: A Problem-Centered Introduction to Modeling Strategic Interaction (Second Edition, 2009). The book is available as ebook at Chalmers’ library here.

The following video lectures in game theory may be worth checking out: YouTube

Other course materials, preparations for seminars, etc., are provided in Modules.

Course design

Please see the course documentation for more information, including on grading, deadlines and so on.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Changes made since the last occasion

Documentation has been placed on the Canvas page rather than in pdf format.

Course summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due