STATISTICS 473/ECONOMICS 473
Game Theory
Fall 2017
Instructor: David Marker
Class Meets: TR 11:00-12:15 Lincoln Hall 312
Office: 404 SEO
Office Hours: Mon 2:30-4:30, Wed 1:30-3:00
phone: (312) 996-3069
e-mail: marker@uic.edu
course webpage: http://www.math.uic.edu/~marker/stat473-F17
This webpage will be the primary source for problem sets and course handouts.
There will also be a course site on UIC Blackboard where I will post solutions
to homework and grade information.
Text
- J. Harrington, Games, Strategies and Decision Making , Worth, 2015.
Another useful book is Steven Tadelis, Game Theory: An Introduction, Princeton University Press, New York, Oxford, 2013.
Prerequisites
The formal mathematical prerequisites are minimal, but the
course will be fairly rigorous and will require the ability to follow closely reasoned
arguments and solve problems.
Students should have some familiarity with
- basic probability--expectation, Bayes rule
- basic calculus--particularly using calculus to find maximums and minimums
If you are unsure if you have necessary background, please consult with the instructor.
Description
Game Theory is the study of mathematical models of strategic decision making
with interacting decision makers.
This course will introduce the main concepts and tools of the subjects. The course will focus more on
concepts and illustrative examples than mathematical theory
The topics covered will include:
- Strategic games, mixed strategies, Nash equilibrium, duopoly;
- Extensive games of perfect information;
- Repeated games;
- Bayesian games;
- Extensive games of imperfect information;
- If time permits, additional topics will be chosen based on the interests of the class. Possible additional topics include
evolutionary games, cooperative games and bargaining.
For more details consult the week-by-week syllabus
Problem Sets
- There will be frequent problem sets that will be collected and graded. The two lowest grades will be dropped. Late homework will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
For full credit problem sets must be written carefully and clearly.
- You may discuss homework problems with other students, but you must write up your solution independently.
- Solutions to Problem Sets will be posted on the course Blackboard webpage.
- The text contains many Check Your Understanding problems with solutions in the back. Doing these problems is probably the best way to study the material.
- Problem Set 1 Due Thursday September 7
- Problem Set 2: Do Chapter 3 Problems 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 Due Thursday September 14
- Problem Set 3 Due Thursday September 21
- Problem Set 4 Due Thursday September 28
- Problem Set 5 Due Thursday October 5
- Problem Set 6 Due Thursday October 19
- Problem Set 7 Due Thursday October 26 Chapter 10: 2, 5, 14, 17
- Problem Set 8 Due Thursday November 2
- Problem Set 9 Due Thursday November 9 Chapter 11: 8, 9, 13
- Problem Set 10 Due Thursday November 16
- Problem Set 11 Due Thursday November 30
- Problem Set 12 Due Thursday December 7
Grading
There will be two midterm exams and a final. The final grade will be based 20% on the problem sets, 25% for each midterm exam and 30% on the final.
Midterm 1: Thursday October 12
Midterm 2: Tuesday November 21
Final Exam: Monday December 11, 10:30-12:30
Handouts and Useful Links
Game Theory in the Movies
Game Theory on British TV Game Show
David Marker's homepage
Last Revised: 11/10/17