https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/ECON/212/1203

ECON 212 : Game Theory

Business and Economics

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the fundamental concepts of non-cooperative and cooperative game theory: the concept of strategy; two person constant sum non-cooperative games and the minmax value; n-person non-cooperative games and Nash equilibrium; examples and applications in auctions, bargaining and other economic models, political science and other fields; the idea of backward induction and sub-game perfection; introduction to games in coalitional form; the core and the Shapley value.

Course Overview

Game Theory or Interactive Decision Theory is a theory that seeks to describe the behaviour of motivated, intelligent decision makers and the results of the interaction of such decision makers.  It is the basis of most of modern economic theory and much of the rational approach in political science, as well as significant parts of law, biology, engineering, and philosophy.  It is a formal theory and in many parts uses, and requires, sophisticated mathematics.  However, in comparison to other parts of economics, it can also be quite concrete.  Thus, for this course, while there is a strong formal component that is mathematical, the mathematics is kept to a relatively low level.  A reasonable command of high school algebra and a willingness to think somewhat abstractly is sufficient.  The course is taught in a traditional lecture style but most learning will result from students completing the assigned problems.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from ECON 101, 151, 152, 191, MATHS 108, 130, 150, 153, PHIL 101

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand basic issues in theories of strategic decision-making (Capability 1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  2. Explain how to recognise strategic situations and represent them as games (Capability 1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  3. Solve simple games using various techniques (Capability 3, 4.2 and 5.1)
  4. Analyse various situations using game theoretic techniques (Capability 2, 4.2 and 5.1)
  5. Understand, through a basic introduction, the more formal aspects of the theory (Capability 1, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
3 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Test
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Learning Resources

A course book is available along with a large number of exercises.  Detailed answers to many of the exercises will be provided.  There is no prescribed text but for students who would like a text to accompany the course, the following is recommended: 
Recommended Text: Avinash Dixit and Susan Skeath, Games of Strategy, W.W. Norton and Company, 2004. (2000 version is also useable.)

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

From time to time in the lectures, particularly if responding to a student's question the lecturer may write on the white board.  In the tutorial this will be the primary method of presentation.  The white board is not recorded.  The lecturer grants permission to record the lecturer's speech and anything he writes on the white board on your personal devices.  You should not record other students speech or anything they write on the white board.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 16/12/2019 05:40 p.m.