Prof Olivier Gossner

This course is available on the BSc in Accounting and Finance, BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Data Science, BSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, BSc in Economics, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics and BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is available with permission to General Course students.

This course cannot be taken with MA301 Game Theory I.

The course emphasises a formal treatment of Mathematical Game Theory through definitions, theorems and proofs. Familiarity with a rigorous treatment of mathematics is expected. Basic knowledge of matrices as covered in Mathematical Methods (MA100) or Quantitative Methods (MA107) as well as some knowledge of probability is required.

Recommended: MA301 Mathematical Game Theory, otherwise with approval from the MA302 lecturer.

Concepts and methods of game theory with applications to economics. Coalitional game theory - central solution concepts with applications: games with transferable utility, the Core, Shapley value, market games, social choice, stable matching.

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 30 hours across Michaelmas and Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes and lectures delivered as online videos.

Written answers to set problems will be expected on a weekly basis.

Lecture slides will be provided, as well as references to selected papers. Further reading: R Gibbons, A Primer in Game Theory, 1992; A Mas-Colell, M Whinston, J Green: Microeconomic Theory; M Osborne, A Rubinstein: A Course in Game Theory; M Maschler, E Solan, S Zamir: Game Theory.

Exam (90%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Coursework (10%).

Weekly exercises will be set and marked, and count as coursework.

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.