Tentative. Subject to Change.

“Games in Politics”

Political Science 399

Summer 2008

Instructor: Mikhail Myagkov, 913 PLC

August 18^th – August 28^th 2008; No class on Fr

M,T,W,U,F (only August 22^nd) 1000:150 ( with a 45 minute break)

Office Hours M,U,W,H 320:420

e-mail myagkov@uoregon.edu

General Description

We often think that the term "politics" refers mostly to the processes by which collective decisions are made – in particular, by governments. On the other hand this word (politics) can be used more generally to refer to the processes by which we all try to influence each other’s behavior. In the process of influencing each other decisions we often play “games” with other people. This course focuses on the foundations of “Game Theory” as modeling tool to study these particular situations. Some of the material of this course are analytical – that is, they provide "tools" by which one can address a wide range of specific instances. Other materials are psychological or cognitive – that is, they address attributes of humans as they engage in one another aspect of "everyday politics". Finally, a part of this class will be devoted to learning about laboratory experiments design. Students will have an opportunity to design their own laboratory experiment to study a problem of their choice.

Requirements

Class attendance, in-class quizzes and a short (4-5 pages) essay writing is required. The quizzes will be in the form of multiple choice type questions covering basics of in-class lectures and discussions. It will be administered five times during the class. All quizzes will be open books/notes.

Essays can be in the form of an article review from an optional reading package (available in the library on reserve) or a student can pick his/her own topic of interest related to the main subject of the class. It can be a political/economic or everyday life situation that can be analyzed from game theoretic point of view.

Note: there will be no midterm nor final exam in the class. Grades will be posted by September 10th. Requests for earlier grade submission will be considered.

Incompletes: All the work (essays) should be complete by the due date (July 28th). An incomplete grade may be given in some cases if there is evidnce of some kind of emergency (medical/family) that prevented the student from completing the work on time. It is instructor’s discretion whether or not to grant such a request. If the request is granted then the student has to sign an agreement regarding the date of work completion or a failing grade can be given.

Practical Topics (tools):

Theory of Games; Experimental Design

 Required Book:

“Analyzing Politics” by Kenneth Shepsley

Additional Articles to Read will be posted on class web site.

Theoretical Topics:

1. What the Games are, and what do they have to do with the word “Politics”?

2. The basic ideal behind modeling human decision making, and simple representation of a game

3. Game trees and Game matrixes: two ways of representing games:

4. How are games played? Nash equilibrium

5. Examples of various political games: elections, manipulation, paradox of power etc.

6. Political Games with incomplete information.

7. Cooperation and Coalition building

Daily Class Organization:

Lecture1: 1700-1800;

Lecure2: 1815-1915;

Break 1915-1945;

Lecture3 2000-2050;