Study location	Netherlands, Maastricht
Type	Summer Courses, Full-time
Nominal duration	2 weeks (4 ECTS)
Study language	English
Course code	MSS3013

Tuition fee	€799 one-time Early Bird Discount: €749,00. Valid until 17 February 2025.

Entry qualification	Enrolled as an Undergraduate student or Undergraduate diploma First year Bachelor Students in any subject. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English The language of the course is English, so we expect a fluent level and the ability to follow and participate in class.

More information	maastrichtsummerschool.nl

Overview

Course Description
Game theory is used to analyse conflict situations, recognize guiding principles that determine stable outcomes and identify ways in which certain responses may be induced. The science of game theory has roots in philosophy, economics and mathematics and is finding increasing applications in management and politics. Increasingly, game theory is embedded in the culture of decision making and policy formulation. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the approach, concepts and methodology of game theory using simple puzzles compiled over nearly two decades of teaching game theory as well as articles from reputed newspapers (e.g. The New York Times) about contemporary societal problems. Working through such puzzles will give students practice with examples so that they can analyse real world problems described in the articles with the game theoretic tools.
The originality of this course is that the application of abstract concepts shrouded in complex mathematics will be demystified using cartoons, newspaper texts and simple puzzles. Thus, this would be a unique opportunity for those without a background in mathematics or economics to understand the principles of game theory and learn to apply them to understand strategic problems or conflicts. Logic will be at the center of all analysis.

Goals
By the end of the course, the following learning outcomes are expected for students:
• Recognize whether a context is a decision or a game.
• Represent the ‘game’ in any strategic situation.
• Predict whether a stable solution is possible in a strategic interaction.
• Recognize certain paradigms of conflict situations.
• Understand the built-in pitfalls and advantages of certain bargaining processes.
• Be able to identify and understand the role incentives in contracts.
• Understand the role of information and how information is used strategically.
• Have a better understanding thereby of the games firms, governments, other intermediaries, consumers and citizens play in our society and challenges for sustainable development.

Recommended Literature
• Thinking strategically: The competitive edge in Business, politics and everyday life by Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff, W.W.Norton andCompany, 1991.
• Games of strategy by Avinash K. Dixit, Susan Skeath, David H. Reiley, David Reiley, W. W. Norton & Company, 2009
• The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life by Dixit, Avinash K., and Barry Nalebuff. WW Norton & Company, 2008.
• Outplayed: How Game Theory Is Used Against Us by David Lockwood Greenleaf Book Group, 2022.
• Introducing Game Theory: A Graphic Guide by Ivan Pastine (Author), Tuvana Pastine (Author), Tom Humberstone (Illustrator) Icon Books, 2017

Teaching Methods
Lectures, Interactive Class, PBL Tutorials, Presentations , Research

Assessment Methods
Assignment, Portfolio, Attendance, Participation, Presentation, Take Home Exam

Course Coordinator
Shyama V. Ramani

Programme structure

Hybrid Lectures:
This course will be offered online and offline simultaneously. You can find the online version of the course here: maastricht.dreamapply.com/courses/course/307-introduction-game-theory—online

Content and Structure:
• Brief introduction to games vs. decisions.
• Introduction to simultaneous interaction.
• Introduction to sequential interaction.
• Strategizing under informational constraints.
• Designing contracts with incentives.
• Achieving cooperation under non-cooperative situations.