GV4J6      Half Unit
Game Theory for Research

This information is for the 2024/25 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Torun Dewan

Availability

This course is available on the MRes/PhD in Political Science and MSc in Political Science (Political Science and Political Economy). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Knowledge of game theory at the level of GV4C8 is required.

Course content

This course will help students think about the way game theory is applied to research in political science and political economy. Lectures will cover some advanced topics including: Repeated Games (Folk Theorems); Information Aggregation; Cheap Talk; Bayesian Persuasion; and Global Games. Seminars will focus on going through published papers; students will study one to two papers using game theory.

Teaching

30 hours of lectures/seminars in the Winter Term. There will be a reading week in WT Week 6.

Formative coursework

Students will write a referee report on one of the papers on the reading list. They will then discuss their report with the instructor.

Indicative reading

Two useful (but advanced) game theory textbooks are:

- Game Theory. Drew Fudenberg and Jean Tirole. MIT Press (1991).

- Game Theory. Michael Maschler, Eilon Solan, and Shmuel Zamir. Cambridge University Press (2013).

A reading list will be provided at the beginning of the term.

Assessment

Essay (100%) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2023/24: Unavailable

Average class size 2023/24: Unavailable

Controlled access 2023/24: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

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Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills