Undergraduate Course: Game Theory (ECNM10111)
Course Outline
| School | School of Economics |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides a rigorous introduction to game theory, which is the formal analysis of strategic reasoning and interaction. Emphasizing essential analytical tools, formal arguments, and some economic applications, it encourages abstract strategic thinking and critical evaluation of game theoretic concepts. |
| Course description |
This course provides a rigorous introduction to game theory, the formal analysis of strategic interaction. Game theory now pervades most non-elementary models in microeconomic theory and many models in other branches of economics and social sciences. We introduce the necessary analytical tools to understand these models and illustrate them with examples and some economic applications. We also aim to develop an abstract analysis of strategic thinking and foster a critical and open-minded attitude toward game-theoretic concepts.
Most of the course content relies on mathematical and formal reasoning. At a minimum, students should be familiar with mathematical notation regarding sets and functions, elementary linear algebra and calculus, and basic proof techniques (e.g., mathematical induction). A basic understanding of more advanced topics in linear algebra, calculus, and topology in Euclidean spaces will be useful.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students must have an equivalent of at least 4 semester-long Economics courses at grade B or above for entry to this course. This MUST INCLUDE courses in Intermediate Macroeconomics (with calculus); Intermediate Microeconomics (with calculus); Probability and Statistics; and Introductory Econometrics. If macroeconomics and microeconomics courses are not calculus-based, then, in addition, Calculus (or Mathematics for Economics) is required. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 100 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
168 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Mid-course exam - 40%
Degree exam - 60% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Game Theory December Exam 2024 | 3:180 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of key principles of game theory, including static games and sequential games, with a focus on strategic reasoning, and their application to some economic problems.
- Demonstrate research and investigative skills, such as problem framing and solving, assembling and evaluating complex arguments, and understanding formal analysis of strategic interaction, as well as applying analytical tools to economic models and other social sciences.
- Demonstrate communication skills to critique, create, and communicate understanding.
- Demonstrate personal effectiveness through task management, time management, dealing with uncertainty, adapting to new situations, and personal and intellectual autonomy through independent learning.
- Demonstrate practical/technical skills, including modeling skills (abstraction, logic, succinctness, formal reasoning) and qualitative analysis.
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Reading List
Main Textbook:
Battigalli, Catonini, and De Vito (2023): "Game Theory: Analysis of Strategic Thinking,"
Background reading:
Battigalli (2020): "Mathematical Language and Game Theory"
Rubinstein (2012): "Economic Fables"
Additional Basic Resources:
Gibbons (1992): "Game Theory for Applied Economists."
Osborne (2003): "An Introduction to Game Theory."
Tadelis (2013): "Game Theory: An Introduction."
Simon and Blume (1994): "Mathematics for Economists."
Additional Advanced Resources:
Osborne and Rubinstein (1994): "A Course in Game Theory."
Mas-Colell, Andreu, Michael Whinston, and Jerry Green (1995):
"Microeconomic Theory."
Ok (2007): "Real Analysis with Economic Applications." |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | game theory |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Gabriel Ziegler
Tel:
Email: ziegler@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Sam Stewart
Tel:
Email: v1sstew7@ed.ac.uk |
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