Game Theory & Applications: Navigating the Strategic World

Game theory is one of the outstanding intellectual advances of the last decades (as exemplified by 10 Nobel Prizes). It is an analytical tool that treats all types of strategic interactions in a consistent and systematic way, whether these involve conflict, cooperation, or a combination of the two. Strategic settings are always characterized by interdependence , that is, one person’s behaviour affects (and is affected by) the choices and well-being of another person, either positively or negatively.

Game theory is widely applied in the social sciences (anthropology, business, economics, law, psychology, sociology, and philosophy), as well as in biology, engineering, and computer science, because strategic interactions shape many outcomes across these domains. Public policy, legal and political institutions, organizational governance, technological platforms, social conventions, and biological processes all embed hidden games in which outcomes depend on interdependent choices made by multiple players.

This minor incrementally introduces game-theoretic concepts to understand how players behave in strategic situations, to evaluate outcomes, and to redesign games. Emphasizing interpretation and strategic insight (rather than technical derivation), we explore concepts and applications from non-cooperative, cooperative, and evolutionary game theory.

The minor consists of 1 course with 15 EC (420 hours):
Plenary meetings: (3h20) 60 hours
Tutorials: (3h10) 30 hours
Weekly tutorial preparations: (10h*10) 100 hours
Final exam: 3 hours
Group assignment and presentation: 100 hours
Literature study and exam preparation: 127 hours
TOTAL: 420 hours

After successful completion of this minor students are able to

• Understand and master the game-theoretic way of thinking.
• Practice the logic of a game-theoretic argument indiverse applications.
• Redesign games to improve outcomes of strategic interactions.

Entry level knowledge
Although this minor does not have mathematics as a prerequisite, a basic knowledge of linear algebra is recommended. Relevant topics include basic operations, functions, and solving of linear equations and inequalities. If a student wishes to review these concepts, an optional online self-study math module is available at the start of the minor.

Schedule information
Attendance of all weekly meetings (plenary and tutorials) is mandatory. For some weeks, two in-person plenary meetings may be replaced by one in-person plenary meeting and pre-recorded theory videos.

AI and assessment
Individual elements of the assessment (final exam and professional conduct) exclude the possibility of using AI and / or ChatGPT in a fraudulent manner. Group assessment elements will accommodate for a possibility of co-learning and co-creating with the help of AI; the methodology to address such possibility will depend on the development of AI around the start of the minor.

The minor relies on two types of teaching methods:

• Plenary meetings (twice a week, mandatory attendance). These meetings combine theory and real-life applications discussions, interactive games and experiments and small group discussions and tasks.
• Tutorials (once a week, mandatory attendance). These small group (12-15 students) meetings are actively led by the students (with the teacher present) and require preparation, such as submission of weekly problem sets.

The individual final exam is 3 hours long and consists of open questions, similar in format to weekly problem set exercises. Final exam open questions contain multiple open sub-questions, aiming at different levels of learning (ranging from remembering and understanding, to applying and analyzing, as well as evaluating and creating).