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Game Theory

Approx. 18 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course on Game Theory introduces the fundamentals of the subject and its application in various domains such as economics, politics, and biology. You'll learn how to analyze situations where individuals or groups interact strategically, and how to use mathematical models to make predictions and decisions.

Key Learning Points

Understand the basics of Game Theory and its applications
Learn to analyze and predict strategic interactions among individuals or groups
Develop skills to make strategic decisions based on mathematical models

Learning Outcomes

Ability to apply Game Theory concepts to real-world situations
Capacity to analyze and predict strategic interactions
Skills to make effective strategic decisions

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of algebra and calculus
Interest in economics or related fields

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced
Video lectures
Quizzes and assignments

Similar Courses

Microeconomics Principles
Behavioral Economics in Action

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Mathematician and Game Theory Pioneer
Economist and Game Theory Expert

Related Books

Description

Popularized by movies such as "A Beautiful Mind," game theory is the mathematical modeling of strategic interaction among rational (and irrational) agents. Beyond what we call `games' in common language, such as chess, poker, soccer, etc., it includes the modeling of conflict among nations, political campaigns, competition among firms, and trading behavior in markets such as the NYSE. How could you begin to model keyword auctions, and peer to peer file-sharing networks, without accounting for the incentives of the people using them? The course will provide the basics: representing games and strategies, the extensive form (which computer scientists call game trees), Bayesian games (modeling things like auctions), repeated and stochastic games, and more. We'll include a variety of examples including classic games and a few applications.

Outline

Week 1: Introduction and Overview
Introductory Video
1-1 Game Theory Intro - TCP Backoff
1-2 Self-Interested Agents and Utility Theory
1-3 Defining Games
1-4 Examples of Games
1-5 Nash Equilibrium Intro
1-6 Strategic Reasoning
1-7 Best Response and Nash Equilibrium
1-8 Nash Equilibrium of Example Games
1-9 Dominant Strategies
1-10 Pareto Optimality
Syllabus
A Brief Introduction to the Basics of Game Theory
Problem Set 1
In-Video Quizzes Week 1

Week 2: Mixed-Strategy Nash Equilibrium
2-1 Mixed Strategies and Nash Equilibrium (I)
2-2 Mixed Strategies and Nash Equilibrium (II)
2-3 Computing Mixed Nash Equilibrium
2-4 Hardness Beyond 2x2 Games - Basic
2-4 Hardness Beyond 2x2 Games - Advanced
2-5 Example: Mixed Strategy Nash
2-6 Data: Professional Sports and Mixed Strategies
Problem Set 2
In-Video Quizzes Week 2

Week 3: Alternate Solution Concepts
3-1 Beyond the Nash Equilibrium
3-2 Strictly Dominated Strategies & Iterative Removal
3-3 Dominated Strategies & Iterative Removal: An Application
3-4 Maxmin Strategies
3-4 Maxmin Strategies - Advanced
3-5 Correlated Equilibrium: Intuition
Problem Set 3
In-Video Quizzes Week 3

Week 4: Extensive-Form Games
4-1 Perfect Information Extensive Form: Taste
4-2 Formalizing Perfect Information Extensive Form Games
4-3 Perfect Information Extensive Form: Strategies, BR, NE
4-4 Subgame Perfection
4-5 Backward Induction
4-6 Subgame Perfect Application: Ultimatum Bargaining
4-7 Imperfect Information Extensive Form: Poker
4-8 Imperfect Information Extensive Form: Definition, Strategies
4-9 Mixed and Behavioral Strategies
4-10 Incomplete Information in the Extensive Form: Beyond Subgame Perfection
Problem Set 4
In-Video Quizzes Week 4

Week 5: Repeated Games
5-1 Repeated Games
5-2 Infinitely Repeated Games: Utility
5-3 Stochastic Games
5-4 Learning in Repeated Games
5-5 Equilibria of Infinitely Repeated Games
5-6 Discounted Repeated Games
5-7 A Folk Theorem for Discounted Repeated Games
In-Video Quizzes Week 5
Problem Set 5

Week 6: Bayesian Games
6-1 Bayesian Games: Taste
6-2 Bayesian Games: First Definition
6-2 Bayesian Games: First Defintion (yoav)
6-3 Bayesian Games: Second Definition
6-4 Analyzing Bayesian Games
6-5 Analyzing Bayesian Games: Another Example
In-Video Quizzes Week 6
Problem Set 6

Week 7: Coalitional Games
7-1 Coalitional Game Theory: Taste
7-2 Coalitional Game Theory: Definitions
7-3 The Shapley Value
7-4 The Core
7-5 Comparing the Core and Shapley value in an Example
In-Video Quizzes Week 7
Problem Set 7

Week 8: Final Exam
Final Exam

Summary of User Reviews

Learn about Game Theory with Coursera. This course has received positive reviews from users. One key aspect that many users thought was good is the clear and engaging lectures by the instructor.

Pros from User Reviews

Clear and engaging lectures by the instructor
In-depth coverage of game theory concepts
Practical applications of game theory in real-life situations
Opportunity to learn at your own pace
Great supplementary materials

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too challenging
Limited interaction with the instructor and other students
Course materials could be more organized
Not enough emphasis on mathematics for some users
Some users thought the quizzes were too difficult

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