Moshe Hoffman, Harvard Program for Evolutionary Dynamics

Moshe Hoffman

MosheHoffman@fas.harvard.edu

Twitter

Moshe Hoffman is a Research Scientist & Lecturer at Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics.

Moshe applies game theory, models of learning and evolution, and experimental methods, to try to decipher the (sometimes subtle) incentives that shape our social behavior, preferences and ideologies (see his tweets for many examples, see his research statement for a justification and examples of this approach, & see this list of 5 big picture questions that drive him).

Moshe obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and his B.S. in Economics from the University of Chicago.

He co-designed and teaches "Game Theory and Social Behavior" which lays out a lot of the evidence and models behind this approach.

This talk summarizes a lot of his work and perspective and makes a good introduction to his work.

Working Papers (feedback welcome):

"Why norms are categorical" Moshe Hoffman, Erez Yoeli, Aygun Dalkiran, Martin Nowak
"(In)efficient Giving" Bethany Burum, Moshe Hoffman, Martin Nowak

Select Publications:

"Why We Obscure Positive Traits and Good Deeds," Moshe Hoffman, Christian Hilbe, Marin Nowak, R&R at Nature Human behavior
"Hamilton's Rule" Matthijs van Veelen, Ben Allen, Moshe Hoffman, Burt Simons, Carl Veller, Journal of Theoretically biology (2016)

Nice summary in Science.

"Third-Party Punishment as a Costly Signal of Trustworthiness," Jillian Jordan, Moshe Hoffman, Paul Bloom, Dave Rand. Nature (2016)

Related Op-Ed, New Tork Times, Jillian Jordan Paul Bloom, Moshe Hoffman, and Dave Rand

"Game Theory & Morality" in The Evolution of Morality, Moshe Hoffman, Erez Yoeli and C. D. Navarette (2015).

Related satirical piece, mocking the inefficiencies in our moral intuitions, published in EDGE's Annual Question Series: "What to Think about Machines that Think"
Related letter in The Economist on how game theory applies beyond conscious/strategic settings

"Cooperating without looking: Why we care what people think and not just what they do," Moshe Hoffman, Erez Yoeli, and Martin Nowak. PNAS (2015).

Appendix with proofs and computer simulations
Video Presentation (Part 1, Part 2)
Summary in Boston Globe, Harvard Gazette
Nytimes piece applying this model to explain heroism.
Related model that does not use repeated games, with Christian Hilbe and Martin Nowak, in Games (2015)
Related experimental paper, with Jillian Jordan, Martin Nowak, and Dave Rand, PNAS (2016)

"Harnessing Reciprocity to Promote Cooperation and the Provisioning of Public Goods," Dave Rand, Erez Yoeli, and Moshe Hoffman. Policy Insights from Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2015).

Video Clip (10 min) of guest lecture at Yale SOM
Related editorial on how to get out the vote

"Powering Up with Indirect Reciprocity in a Large-Scale Field Experiment," Erez Yoeli, Moshe Hoffman, David G. Rand, Martin A. Nowak. Published in PNAS (2013)

Related Op-ed: New York Times, Erez Yoeli, Moshe Hoffman, and Dave Rand
Media Coverage

"Common Knowledge and State-dependent Equilibria" Nuh Aygun Dalkiran, Moshe Hoffman, Ramamohan Paturi, Daniel Ricketts, and Andrea Vattani. Published in Proceedings of Symposium on Algorithmic Game Theory (2012).

Longer version
Summary from the blog "a fine theorem"
related letter, published in The Economist, with Erez Yoeli

Mailing Address:

Program for Evolutionary Dynamics
Harvard University
One Brattle Square, Suite 6
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138