Module ECON44115: Game Theory

Department: Economics and Finance

ECON44115: Game Theory

Tied To

• L1T109: Economics
• L1T209: Public Economics
• L1T309: Experimental Economics
• L1T409: Environmental & Natural Resource Economics

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide students with the advanced knowledge and analytical skills associated with game theory and its economic applications.

Content

• The module covers game theory and its economic applications. Topics will be drawn primarily from the following:
• Nash equilibrium and refinements
• Games of perfect and incomplete information
• Auctions
• Bargaining
• Mechanism Design
• Dynamic Games
• Differential games
• Cooperative game theory

Learning Outcomes

• be able to interpret scholarly literature at the frontier of research in game theory;
• have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current relevant academic literature and be able to identify open questions for their own research in game theory.

• be able to apply their knowledge of game theory to the resolution of complex practical problems;
• be able to offer policy recommendations for the private and public sectors, at local, national and international level, informed by the knowledge of game theory acquired in the module.

• Written Communication;
• Planning, Organising and Time Management;
• Problem Solving and analysis;
• Using Initiative;
• Numeracy;
• Computer Literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• A combination of lectures, seminars and guided reading will contribute to achieving the aims and learning outcomes of this module. The seminars will train the students to solve analytical problems in game theory, identify and critically discuss its economic applications as well as giving students opportunity to identify research questions.
• The topics and techniques covered in the module lend themselves to multiple forms of assessment. This makes it possible to develop and test appropriately different subject specific knowledge and skills and key skills.
• The written assignment, in the form of a report, will allow students to focus in depth on a specific topic. It will test in particular their ability to apply advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, and their written communication and planning skills.
• The written examination will primarily test students' knowledge and critical understanding of the material covered in the module in addition to their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Students will receive written comments on a formative written assignment. Additional formative assessment and feedback may take a number of forms such as oral feedback on work prepared by students for seminars; answers to questions either discussed during a seminar, or posted on DUO.