This course provides a brief introduction to game theory. Our main goal is to understand the basic ideas behind the key concepts in game theory, such as equilibrium, rationality, and cooperation. The course uses very little mathematics, and it is ideal for those who are looking for a conceptual introduction to game theory.
Welcome to Game Theory
The University of TokyoAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
25%
started a new career after completing these courses
35%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
25%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 14 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Skills you will gain
Nash EquilibriumGame TheoryStrategic Planning
Learner Career Outcomes
25%
started a new career after completing these courses
35%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
25%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 14 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Offered by
The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. As a leading research university, UTokyo offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
4 hours to complete
Why Do We Need Game Theory, and What Does it Tell Us?
Is it possible to analyze a wide variety of social and economic problems using a unified framework? In the first module, we address this question. We will see that the concept of rational decision making is useful, but it is not quite sufficient to provide governing principles. Motivated examples and some history of game theory will be provided. You will also be asked to play a simple card game to see how it feels to make your decisions strategically.
4 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 91 min), 6 readings, 5 quizzes
12 videos
1-1 What is Game Theory?8m
1-2 Modelling Social Problems as a "Game"12m
1-3 In Search for the Governing Principle10m
1-4 Concerns About a Mathematical Theory of Human Behavior7m
1-5 Let's Play a Game6m
Card Game Tutorial (No Audio)2m
1-6 John Nash Discovered the Governing Principle6m
1-7 Nash Equilibrium9m
1-8 Traffic Game in Reality7m
1-9 Location Game6m
1-10 Policies of Two Parties10m
6 readings
Course Description10m
Syllabus10m
Card Game Challenge Instruction10m
(Supplementary Reading Material) Convergence to Nash Equilibrium in the Traffic Game10m
About Optional Challenge Problems2m
Supplemental explanation for Question 1, 2 and 310m
5 practice exercises
Practice Quiz 1.12m
Practice Quiz 1.24m
Practice Quiz 1.32m
Graded Quiz 114m
Module 1 Optional Challenge Problems1h
3 hours to complete
Understanding Nash equilibrium
The basic solution concept of game theory is Nash equilibrium. In Module 2, we try to understand this central concept through various examples and ask the following crucial question: how do players come to play a Nash equilibrium?
3 hours to complete
10 videos (Total 89 min), 1 reading, 5 quizzes
10 videos
2-2 Coordination Game and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy9m
2-3 Market Competition11m
2-4 Why Do People Come to Play Nash Equilibrium? Part I7m
2-5 Why Do People Come to Play Nash Equilibrium? Part II7m
2-6 Why Do People Come to Play Nash Equilibrium? Part III7m
2-7 Stylized Facts and Nash Equilibrium5m
2-8 Make Yourself Unpredictable: Mixed Strategy Equilibrium7m
2-9 Sports Games and Game Theory10m
2-10 Nash Equilibrium Exists in All Games11m
1 reading
About Optional Challenge Problems2m
5 practice exercises
Practice Quiz 2.14m
Practice Quiz 2.24m
Practice Quiz 2.34m
Graded Quiz 214m
Module 2 Optional Challenge Problems1h
4 hours to complete
Rationality, Knowledge, and Evolution in Games
In Module 3, we will dig deeper into the relationship between rationality and Nash equilibrium. We will consider the whole spectrum of possible intellectual capacities of players, spanning the range from unlimited ability for sophisticated reasoning to absolute zero intelligence. In the end, you will see that Nash equilibrium can emerge under a fairly wide range of intellectual capacities of players.
4 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 94 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes
9 videos
3-2 Digression: How You Played the Card Game and Addressing the Concerns about Game Theory15m
3-3 “Payoffs” in a Game: What Exactly Are Those Numbers?9m
3-4 What Does it Mean That a Player is Rational?6m
3-5 Domination: Strategies That Are “Obviously Good or Bad”10m
3-6 Common Knowledge of Rationality10m
3-7 Low Rationality: What Happens if Players Are Not Very Smart?7m
3-8 Game Theory Under Zero-Intelligence: Biological Evolution10m
3-9 Fig Wasps Play a Nash Equilibrium11m
3 readings
Aggregated Result of the Card Game Challenge10m
About Optional Challenge Problems2m
Supplemental explanation for Question 2, 3 and 410m
5 practice exercises
Practice Quiz 3.12m
Practice Quiz 3.24m
Practice Quiz 3.34m
Graded Quiz 314m
Module 3 Optional Challenge Problems1h 20m
4 hours to complete
Sustaining Cooperation
The final module is devoted to the most important and most general message of game theory: rational behavior quite often leads to a socially undesirable outcome. We will first try to understand the basic reason for this, and then see how this insight of game theory has made fundamental impacts in the natural and social sciences. Finally, we will learn some general methods to overcome this problem.
4 hours to complete
11 videos (Total 123 min), 2 readings, 5 quizzes
11 videos
4-2 Why is Group Rationality Different From Rationality of Individuals?10m
4-3 Group Rationality vs. Rationality of Individuals in Biological Evolution11m
4-4 Group Rationality vs. Rationality of Individuals in Social Thought11m
4-5 How to Enforce Socially Desirable Outcomes13m
4-6 Cooperation of gas Stations in Long-Term Relationship Part I: Need For Cooperation12m
4-7 Cooperation of Gas Stations in Long-Term Relationship Part II: Mechanism of Cooperation11m
4-8 Reputation and Brand Name10m
4-9 Cooperation in Loosely Knit Organization14m
4-10 Summary of the Course13m
Final Message from the Instructor4m
2 readings
(Supplementary Reading Material) Why People Discount Future Payoff ?10m
About Optional Challenge Problems2m
5 practice exercises
Practice Quiz 4.12m
Practice Quiz 4.22m
Practice Quiz 4.32m
Graded Quiz 414m
Module 4 Optional Challenge Problems1h 20m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM WELCOME TO GAME THEORY
by TSDec 17, 2016
Rather philosophical then mathematical. An accumulation of simple, but essential and interesting reflections on what game theory is and how it relates to reality. Thank you, it was very enjoyable!
by RRMay 30, 2020
This course is amazing for beginners for no prior knowledge about game theory. I especially love the recommendations given at the end of the courses and the honour problems given in the course.
by VVApr 18, 2020
very good introductory course! for a more theoretical understanding of what game theory is about. some interesting applications were brought up to illustrate the types of games as well.
by LLJan 19, 2016
This is a very good introduction to game theory having never before studied this subject I have found that the Lectures are easy to understand and flow very well from one to the other.
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