Game Theory: Basic and Advanced Topics

Instructor(s): Catherine Hafer; Dimitri Landa, Political Science, New York University

This four-week workshop follows a unique format. It is divided into two two-week modules, each of which comprises a separate course. Participants can elect to take either the first module, the second module (assuming they meet the prerequisites), or both modules.

Module 1: Introduction to Game Theory (Dimitri Landa). This course introduces students to one of the most important areas of decision theory, the analysis of strategic choice. The fundamental concepts of rational choice will be thoroughly explained and integrated into a broad overview of noncooperative game theory. Specific topics will include static and dynamic games, games with finite and continuous action spaces, repeated games, and Bayesian games. Common solution concepts will be introduced and motivated from first principles. Applications to a variety of substantive fields will be discussed. The prerequisite for the workshop is a semester of college-level calculus or comparable mathematical knowledge.

Module 2: Advanced Game Theory (Catherine Hafer). This course presents advanced topics in noncooperative game theory, with special attention to dynamic games of incomplete information. The notion of consistent beliefs will be introduced and integrated into the relevant equilibrium concepts, including Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium and Sequential Equilibrium. The interpretation of game theoretic models and results will be discussed in the context of applications in a variety of substantive fields. The prerequisite for the workshop is successful completion of the "Introduction to Game Theory" module or an equivalent graduate course in game theory.