16 January 2020, Computational Social Choice Seminar, Bernhard von Stengel

Abstract:

Game theory is the 'science of interaction'. This talk will explain some insights of game theory and apply them to current politics.

Of course politicians play games. They offer cheap promises that they think they don't have to fulfil. Such as a "simple" in-out referendum on EU membership in Britain. That game plan went wrong. Game theory may have helped, with tools for thinking ahead and concepts of strategy, to counter the wishful thinking that seems to drive such decisions. Game theory can also help explain the incentive problems of climate change and reasons for democratic deadlock. A game-theoretic analysis shows the importance of the rules of the game, for example in electoral  systems. The aim of the talk is to highlight some uses and mis-uses of game theory and decision theory with examples from politics, for a general audience.

For more information on the Computational Social Choice Seminar, please consult https://staff.science.uva.nl/u.endriss/seminar/.