GV4C8 Half Unit
Game Theory for Political Science
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Rafael Hortala-Vallve
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Political Science and Political Economy. This course is available on the MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and Peking University) and MSc in Public Policy and Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
MSc Political Science and Political Economy students will be granted priority access as this is a compulsory course on the programme. Other postgraduates wanting to take the course (space permitting) require the permission of the teachers responsible.
The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Tuesday 29 September 2020. You will be informed of the outcome by 17:00 on Wednesday 30 September 2020.
Course content
Game theory provides a scientific approach to the study of social interactions which focusses on the strategic aspects of decision-making between two or more individuals or groups. This course will cover the basic elements of game theory and how they have been applied in the area of political science and political economy. The aim of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of game theoretic tools and to help you understand how these ideas have been developed and applied in the political science literature. The first part of the course will look at static games where all players move simultaneously and the second part of the course will look at dynamic games players move in sequence. In each part we will start with a simple setting where all information is known to all players (complete information) and we will then move to more complex setting where some information is not known to all players (incomplete information).
Teaching
This course provides a combination of seminars and lectures totalling 40 hours in the Michaelmas Term and 2 hours in the Summer Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus lectures and seminars. There will be a reading week in Week 6 of the MT.
Formative coursework
Weekly problem sets to be completed and discussed in class and a two hour mock exam in week 11 of MT.
Indicative reading
The core text for the course is M J Osborne, An Introduction to Game Theory, Oxford University Press 2004
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Student performance results
(2016/17 - 2018/19 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 31.2 |
| Merit | 27.7 |
| Pass | 30.4 |
| Fail | 10.7 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2019/20: 42
Average class size 2019/20: 14
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication
