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14.12 | Fall 2025 | Undergraduate

# Economic Applications of Game Theory

### Course Meeting Times

Lecture: 2 sessions/week; 1.5 hours/session

Recitations: 1 session/week; 1 hour/session

### Prerequisites

- 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics

and one of the following:

- 14.04 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- 14.30 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics
- 6.041 Probabilistic Systems Analysis and Applied Probability
- 18.05 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

### Course Overview

Game theory is the mathematical analysis of strategic interaction. It is used to analyze situations in which one person’s best decision depends on the decisions taken by others. Examples include traditional games such as chess and poker, but also collusion by cartels, political competition, voting, bargaining, auctions, and evolution. This course will introduce the fundamental tools of game theory and use these tools to analyze applications.

Game theory began as a branch of mathematics and remains quite mathematical. The emphasis of this course will be conceptual rather than technical, but some math will be required. You should be comfortable with basic probability and calculus. More importantly, you should be used to thinking mathematically.

### Exams

There will be an in-class midterm exam. There will be a three-hour final exam during the final exam period. The exams are closed-book; computers, calculators, and other electronic devices are prohibited.

### Problem Sets

Problem sets will be posted approximately weekly. Working diligently on the problem sets is the best way to learn the material and prepare for the exams. However, problem sets will not be collected. Instead, each problem set will have a completion date (on a Friday). At the beginning of section on the completion date, there will be a brief comprehension quiz on material from the problem set.

### Grading

Cumulative scores will be computed as follows:

- Quizzes 20%
- Midterm exam 30%
- Final exam 50%

## Course Info

### Instructor

- Prof. Ian Ball

### Departments

- Economics

### As Taught In

Fall 2025

### Level

Undergraduate

### Topics

- Social Science
  - Economics
  - Game Theory

### Learning Resource Types

grading Exams
notes Lecture Notes
theaters Lecture Videos
assignment Problem Sets

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