Politics of
Everyday Life
Political
Science 491
Fall, 2009
Instructor: Mikhail Myagkov
Office Hours M 1130-1430
Lectures: MW
10-1120 – STB 142
Email mygakov@uoregon.edu
GDF Joe Deckert jdeckert@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 normal course of everyday life.
This course puts together readings from game theory, psychology, decision
research and a variety of other disciplines that all, in some way, address such
"everyday politics". Some of the materials are analytic – 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".
The main theoretical focus of the class
will be on learning how to use so called “Game Theory” to analyze various
everyday life issues. “Game Theory” is a set of tools and methods that allow us
to model situations that involve people (players) with competing interests and
strategies. The main goal of building such models is to predict the outcomes,
and to analyze how these outcomes are affected by rules and other parameters of
the games. The centerpiece of Game
Theory ( and the main predictive tool) is called “Nash Equilibrium”.
Finally, a part of this class will be
devoted to learning about Behavioral Game Theory and Laboratory Experiments Design. Students will
have an opportunity to design their own laboratory experiment to study a
problem of their choice.
Requirements
Exams:
There
will be one multiple choice type midterm exam (35%) during the 6th
week of the class and essay-type final exam (40%) . A week before the midterm
exam, I will circulate a list of study questions; at the time of the final
exam, I will select three questions and you should write on any one. The final
essay should be a “project type” work on any subject related to the main theme
of class.
Experiments:
Students are required to participate in at least one laboratory experiments (during class time), and write a short report about their participation. This will be worth 10% of the grade. Class time during the 10th week is reserved for experiments, although they might be scheduled during other times as well.
Quizzes:
There
will be at least three multiple choice type quizzes during regular class time.
Quizzes will be scheduled at some random times. Each quiz is worth 5% of the grade.
Practical Topics (tools):
Theory of Games; Behavioral Economics; Experimental
Design
Evolutionary Psychology
1. Research papers as posted on the
web site ( uoregon.edu/~myagkov/ps491_Fall09.html ) (required)
2. An Introduction to Game Theory by Martin
Osborne ( highly recommended)
2. Analyzing Politics by
Kenneth Shepsley ( recommended)
3. Political Theory Primer, by Peter Ordeshook (recommended)
Theoretical Topics:
1. Examples of Everyday Life
situations that can be viewed as “Games”
2. Rationality and “Economic” behavior
3.
Game Theory and its “pieces”
4.
Nash Equlibrium
5.
Conflict, Power, Agenda Setting and Trust
6.
Risk, Risky Decisions, Gains and Losses
7.
Bargaining and Negotiations. Who gets what?
8.
Sex, Gender and All That
9.
Repeated Games
10. Designing
Laboratory Experiments
Debate
on the use of rational choice theory
NY
Times Article about Game Theory and Iran
Article ( Video ) about the Prisoner’s
Dilemma
The paper on “PD Games and Prospect Theory” is
here
Original
Prospect Theory article ( 1979 )
Article
#1 ( Prisoner’s Dilemma)
Article #2 ( Prisoner’s Dilemma)
Article
# 3 ( Game of “Chicken” )
Article #4 ( Evolution of
Cooperation / PD Game )
Article #5 ( Game
Theory in Everyday Life )
Article #6 ( Dominant Strategies in
Campaign)
Article
#7 ( Game Theory Predictions vs. Human Instincts )
Article
#8 ( Flying Club)
Article
#9 ( How to Vote? Let us Count the Ways )
Article
#10 ( Clinton vs. Obama as a “Tragedy of Commons” )
Article #11 (
Prospect Theory and Breast Cancer Awareness )
Article #12 ( Why do we take risks? )
Article
#13 ( Hollywood signaling game )
more to be added
Communication:
All routine issues should be first addressed to our
GTF Joe ( see email above ). I am available for students during regular office
hours M 1130-1430.
Final Notes:
Attendance is very
important in this class. If you miss some lectures due to illness or other
reasons, please stop by my office to make sure that you know what had been covered
in class and what you are supposed to read.
If you have a problem
of any kind as far as this class is concerned, please, let me know about it
ASAP. I will do my best to help you.