Universität Wien

040178 UK Incentives and Strategic Behavior (BA) (2021S)

Track in Competition and Regulation

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
REMOTE
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 04.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 11.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 18.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 25.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 15.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 22.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 29.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 06.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 20.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 27.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 10.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 17.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 24.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course provides an introduction to Strategic Thinking. An individual takes part in a strategic interaction if her outcomes depend not only on her own actions but also on the action of other individuals. Examples include international relations, collective decision-making processes (such as voting), litigation, war, environmental negotiations, online auctions, business interactions, biological evolution, sports competitions, etc.
The course is structured in two different parts. We shall begin with an introduction to the basic concepts of decision-making and strategy and a brief discussion on strategic reasoning and equilibrium. We will then move to real-world applications.

Assessment and permitted materials

Grading will be as follows. There will be one written exam (45%). In addition, students should participate actively in class (10%), hand in two problem sets and write one small essay (3-4 pages) (25%). The final exam will be on June 26th.
As per the new regulations, there will be a retake on July 10th.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Grades and Percentage Points:
>85%, 1
75-85, 2
60-75, 3
50-60, 4
less than 50%, 5

Examination topics

Course Outline:
Part I: Methods
1. Introduction
2. Principles of Decision-Making
3. Games and Dominant Strategies
4. Equilibrium and Disequilibrium Concepts
Part II: Applications
5. Coordination: Communication, Uncertainty and Focal Points.
6. Bargaining
7. Conflict: Mixing, Commitment and the Order-of-Moves.

Reading list

The main texts for the course are A. K. Dixit and B. J. Nalebuff "Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life", 1993, and J. Mc Millan "Games, Strategies, and Managers", New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
This may be supplemented by some additional readings as we go along, which will be posted on my web page.
For reference you can also use any introductory and other game-theory books, such as R.
Gibbons "A Primer in Game Theory", M. J. Osborne "An Introduction to Game Theory",
R. Myerson "Game Theory: Analysis of Conflict".

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:12