Introduction to Game Theory Economics 171

Course requirements Class website Go to economics department home page. Under Links, find Class pages, then click on Econ 171 Textbook: Games, Strategies, and Decision Making by Joseph E. Harrington, Jr. Clicker available at campus bookstore i>clicker Register your clicker at

Is this the course for you? Regular assigned reading and homework. Frequent unannounced in-class quizzes— some with clickers, some pencil and paper. Strict grading. Challenging, but I hope interesting.

Cheating Sorry to have to mention this, but it has been a problem recently. If I catch you cheating, for example, by copying homework or exams, you will fail the course and I will turn the case over to university authorities. University ruling: “Being copied counts as cheating, just as much cheating as copying.”

Assignments: See class website Week 1 January 8 and 10. Readings: Harrington: Chapters 1 and 2. Complete readings by Thursday, Jan 10. As you read, do the "Check Your Understanding Exercises." Answers to these are found in the back of the book. You do not need to turn these in, but you should do them. Homework: Due January 10: problems 2 and 3 pp 49-50

Extensive Form Games with Perfect Information Example: The Entry Game Challenger Stay out 0101 Challenge Incumbent Give in Fight 1010

Vocabulary for Extensive form games Decision Tree Decision Node-Specifies whose turn Branches-Options Terminal Node—End of play Payoffs—For each person at each terminal node. Strategy—What will you do at each decision node where it is your turn

Iraq War and WMDs

Kidnapping Game