Game Theory - Spring 2019
WEEK ONE
1.
The first day of class served as an introduction to the course. Course materials included:
Copy of the same syllabus formatted to the university template is available here
Textbook website and shared Perusall copy
Attendance, participation, and professionalism rubric
Absence Notification Form (Fresno State login required)
First set of slides, which are always a complement to and never a substitute for attending class
First set of guided notes, which are always yours to keep and meant to facilitate your note-taking
Questionnaire and first in-class activity, as well as game board, where you always need to be in class to do in-class activities and you should always turn them in by the end of class
First homework (Fresno State login required), where homeworks are always due by the beginning of the next class after they're assigned
WEEK TWO
2.
On the second day of class, we continued our introduction to game theory, discussing payoff matrices, dominant strategies, and dominant-strategy equilibriums.
Second homework (Fresno State login required)
3.
On the third day of class, we continued our discussion of dominant-strategy equilibriums. We also discussed our iterated-deletion-of-dominated-strategies method and iterated-dominance equilibriums.
Third homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK THREE
4.
On the fourth day of class, we discussed our underlining method and (pure-strategy) Nash equilibriums.
Fourth homework (Fresno State login required)
5.
On the fifth day of class, we continued our discussion of (pure-strategy) Nash equilibriums and also discussed the informal idea of a focal-point equilibrium.
Fifth homework (Fresno State login required)
6.
On the sixth day of class, we discussed some classic simultaneous-move games.
Sixth homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK FOUR
7.
On the seventh day of class, we discussed the last homework and started to discuss another classic simultaneous-move game, the classic version of the Prisoners' Dilemma.
Seventh homework (Fresno State login required) and "heads up" on ninth homework
8.
On the eighth day of class, we wrapped up our discussion of the classic version of the Prisoners' Dilemma.
Eighth homework (Fresno State login required) <- Another example of PD
9.
On the ninth day of class, we started to discuss sequential-move games, backward induction, and subgame perfect Nash equilibrium.
Ninth homework instructions (see Google Classroom for Google Doc)
WEEK FIVE
10.
On the 10th day of class, students shared the games they came up with as part of their ninth homework.
10th homework (Fresno State login required)
11.
On the 11th day of class, we continued our discussion of sequential-move games, including Entry Deterrence games.
Study guide for first midterm exam
11th homework (Fresno State login required)
12.
On the 12th day of class, we continued our discussion of sequential-move games, including the Ultimatum and Centipede games.
In-class activities on Ultimatum and Centipede games
12th homework, which is an "attendance, participation, and professionalism" self-assessment (Fresno State login required)
WEEK SIX
President's Day Holiday
13.
On the 13th day of class, we review for our first mid-term exam.
No homework, except to study.
14.
On the 14th day of class, we took our first mid-term exam.
No homework, except to read handout.
WEEK SEVEN
15.
On the 15th day of class, we looked backwards and looked ahead.
Optional exam wrapper for first exam (Fresno State login required)
16,
On the 16th day of class, we discussed duopoly models.
13th homework (Fresno State login required) <- Another example of PD
17.
On the 17th day of class, we learned some material we'll need to discuss mixed strategies.
Slides <- Note to self: More examples of PDs to use earlier
14th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK EIGHT
18.
On the 18th day of class, we discussed mixed strategies, our payoff-equating method, and mixed-strategy Nash equilibriums.
15th homework (Fresno State login required)
19.
On the 19th day, we continued our discussion of mixed-strategy Nash equilibriums, focusing on MSNEs in the Battle of the Sexes and other games.
Reviewed activity from last time
16th homework (Fresno State login required) and additional instructions
20.
On the 20th day, we continued our discussion of MSNEs, focusing on MSNEs in the Game of Chicken and other games.
17th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK NINE
21.
On the 21st day, we continued our discussion of MSNEs, focusing on Rock Paper Scissors.
18th homework (Fresno State login required)
22.
On the 22nd day, we started to discuss repeated games, focusing on the repeated Prisoners' Dilemma.
In-class activity and associated handouts
19th homework (Fresno State login required)
23.
On the 23rd day, we continued our discussion of repeated games, focusing on infinitely and indefinitely repeated Prisoners' Dilemmas.
20th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK TEN
24.
On the 24th day, we started to discuss simulation-based approaches to studying games.
21st homework (Fresno State login required)
Netlogo repeated prisoners' dilemma simulations: 2-player, N-player, and evolutionary
25.
On the 25th day, we continued to use simulation-based approaches to study games.
In-class activity and notes on that
22nd homework (Fresno State login required) and additional instructions
26.
On the 26th day, we started to discuss analytical approaches to evolutionary game theory, focusing on the Hawk-Dove game and its special cases.
23rd homework (Fresno State login required)
Netlogo hawk dove simulations: Static hawk-dove game with C=20 and C=4, and evolutionary version
WEEK ELEVEN
27.
On the 27th day, we continued our discussion of evolutionary game theory.
24th homework (Fresno State login required)
28.
On the 28th day, we continued our discussion of evolutionary game theory, focusing on Rock, Paper, Scissors.
25th homework (Fresno State login required)
Netlogo RPS simulations: One version and another version of it
29.
On the 29th day, we wrapped up our discussion of evolutionary game theory and started to review for our next exam.
Guided notes and handout
Study guide for second midterm exam
26th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK TWELVE
Cesar Chavez day holiday
30.
On the 30th day, we reviewed for second mid-term exam.
Handout and another one
No homework, except to study for exam.
31.
On the 31st day, we took our second mid-term exam.
Handout for after second mid-term exam and a copy to print
Instructions for culminating homework due on 38th day of class (see Google Classroom for Google Slides)
WEEK THIRTEEN
32.
On the 32nd day, we discussed more applications of game theory.
27th homework (Fresno State login required)
Simulations: Hotelling's model, Schelling's segregation model, and Josh Epstein's model of civil unrest
33.
On the 33rd day, we started to discuss games with incomplete information.
28th homework (Fresno State login required)
34.
On the 34th day, we continued our discussion of games with incomplete information.
No homework for spring break, except to think more about culminating homework.
WEEK FOURTEEN
Spring break
35.
On the 35th day, we wrapped up our discussion of games with incomplete information.
No homework, except to work on culminating homework
36.
On the 36th day, we started to discuss bargaining.
No homework, except to work on culminating homework
37.
On the 37th day, we completed an online activity in lieu of physically meeting during normal class time. See Google Classroom for details. We'll also have an additional, optional review day during reading days after the end of scheduled instruction.
WEEK FIFTEEN
38.
On the 38th day, students presented the games they came up with for this culminating homework.
39.
On the 39th day, we continued student presentations.
Instructions for 29th homework (see Google Classroom for Google Doc)
40.
On the 40th day, we wrapped up student presentations and had more fun and games.
30th homework: Another self-assessment (Fresno State login required)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION BELOW
WEEK SIXTEEN
41.
On the 41st day, we started to review for our final exam.
42.
On the last day of scheduled instruction, we reviewed for our final exam.