Universität Wien

040245 UK Incentives and Strategic Behavior (BA) (2020W)

Track in Competition and Regulation

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

  • Friday 02.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 09.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 16.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 23.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 30.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 06.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 13.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 20.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 27.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 04.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 11.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 18.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 08.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 15.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 22.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Friday 29.01. 15:00 - 16:30 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.
This semester, the classes will take place online through Collaborate.

Assessment and permitted materials

Grading will be as follows. There will be one written exam (45%). In addition, students should participate actively in class (15%), hand in two problem sets (20%) and write one small essay (3-4 pages) (20%). The final exam will be on January 29th. There will be a retake on March 5th
Exams will take place through Collaborate

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:
1. Introduction
2. Principles of Decision-Making
3. Normal Form Games: Dominant Strategies, Equilibrium.
4. Applications: Coordination Games, Focal Points
5. Extensive Form Games: Subgame Perfection.
6. Applications: Conflict, Commitment.
7. Rationality
8. Applications: Cooperation, Repeated Interactions.
9. Applications: Collective Decisions and Politics.

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.
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