Game Theory Lectures May 2026

But they also gave me a superpower. I now see the invisible architecture of conflict and cooperation everywhere. I understand why voting feels pointless (Median Voter Theorem). I understand why you tip at a diner you'll never visit again (Subgame Perfect Equilibrium).

The magic happens during the module. The professor draws a tree diagram. You have two players: an Entrant and a Monopolist. The Entrant decides to "Fight" or "Acquiesce." The Monopolist decides to "Price War" or "Accommodate." Game Theory Lectures

But then the professor introduces the . It proves that rational players will betray each other immediately , even though waiting would make them both millionaires. But they also gave me a superpower

Let me be honest with you. I walked into my first Game Theory lecture expecting a semester of The Dark Knight . I thought I’d spend fifteen weeks watching clips of the Joker blowing up ferries and nodding wisely about "rational actors." I understand why you tip at a diner

You learn to solve this via Backward Induction . You start at the end of the game and rewind. Suddenly, you realize the Monopolist is bluffing. A price war hurts them more than you. Therefore, the Entrant should always enter.