GAME THEORY POSTS

exploring strategic interaction

A beetle saying 'Life's a game'

As non-zero-sum games are an element of game theory, we have created some introductory articles about game theory topics. If this is your interest, check out the game theory page which provides a short glossary and links.

One thing you might notice, is that the examples used aren't necessarily your usual examples—this is not a comprehensive game theory guide, but a growing site. When I notice an interesting aspect of the world that reflects a game theory concept, I'll write a post about it, starting with What are Non-Zero-Sum Games?.

The Nash Equilibrium post came to me while sitting in traffic. The examples are generally unique real world situations—providing something different for game theory nerds and something accessible for lay-people.

Hercules beetles pushing against each other GAME THEORY PAGE
a glossary & overview
Hercules beetles as a metaphor for interactive games WHAT ARE NON-ZERO-SUM GAMES?
an introduction
Traffic lights symbolising equilibrium NASH EQUILIBRIUM
the real reason you stop at a red

GETTING HANDS ON

For those learning or teaching, we have some hands-on resources, beginning with this workshop introducing non-zero thinking to kids. Designed for a large group of 10 year old students at my daughter's school, the page is structured so it can be used by a teacher. There is also the interactive Capitalising on Trust which steps outside static payoff matrices and explores a simulation that shows the long term benefits of cooperation when agents have the ability to avoid defectors.

One of our surprisingly popular pages is the Shapley Value Calculator which steps through and explains how Shapley Value (an important element of game theory and AI) is calculated.

A representation of kids learning through play NON-ZERO THINKING FOR KIDS
a workshop for young learners
Buttons representing cooperation and defection choices CAPITALISING ON TRUST
an interactive simulation
A coalition of cats representing sharing gains SHAPLEY VALUE CALCULATOR
a tool for fair allocation

However, I also have criticisms, which I explain in Shapley Value is Ridiculous, as well as introductory posts on combinatory games and Pareto Efficiency.

A humorous take on complex allocation SHAPLEY VALUE IS RIDICULOUS
where theory meets real-world limits
Chips representing combinatorial game states COMBINATORY GAMES
games of perfect information
A tick and cross representing efficiency choices PARETO EFFICIENCY
when everyone can be better off

ADVANCED

If you're looking to get more serious, Jaiveer Singh has created a series for us which goes into more technical areas of Game Theory:

A cat scenario illustrating strategic layers SUB-GAME PERFECT NASH EQUILIBRIUM
breaking down complex strategies
A prisoner scenario repeated over time REPEATED GAMES
finite vs infinite interactions
A depiction of long-term consequences DISCOUNT FACTOR
valuing the future in ongoing negotiations