This course introduces game theory concepts. It helps you understand strategic interactions, equilibrium, rationality, and cooperation. The course requires minimal mathematics, making it ideal for those seeking a conceptual introduction to game theory.
This course is for professionals and students in business, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, biology, and computer science, or anyone interested in strategic decision-making.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand core game theory concepts like equilibrium and rationality.
- Analyze strategic situations in business and social contexts.
- Explain how cooperation can be sustained in games.
- Apply game theory principles to diverse fields.
To be successful, you should have a basic understanding of logical reasoning. No advanced mathematical background is required.
Overview
Syllabus
- Why Do We Need Game Theory, and What Does it Tell Us?
- Can a single framework analyze diverse social and economic problems? This module introduces game theory as a unified way to study strategic situations, where each person’s best action depends on what others do. You will learn how social problems can be formulated as games with players, strategies, and payoffs, why rational decision-making alone is not enough in strategic settings, and how Nash equilibrium provides a basic solution concept. Through examples from traffic, politics, location choice, and a simple card game, this module builds the foundation for understanding strategic interaction.
- Game Theory: Understanding Nash Equilibrium
- This module deepens your understanding of Nash equilibrium through a wider range of examples, including the Prisoner’s Dilemma, coordination games, market competition, auctions, and sports. You will examine why people may play Nash equilibrium, when rationality alone is sufficient, and when communication, learning, or repeated adjustment are needed to support equilibrium behavior. The module also introduces mixed strategies, showing why randomization can be optimal in games such as rock-paper-scissors and penalty kicks. By the end of the module, you will see both the power and the limits of Nash equilibrium as a tool for analyzing strategic interaction.
- Game Theory: Rationality, Evolution, and Strategic Behavior
- This module examines the relationship between rationality and equilibrium in game theory. You will explore how Nash equilibrium can arise through careful reasoning, trial-and-error learning, and even evolutionary processes. Along the way, you will study payoffs, expected utility, dominated strategies, common knowledge of rationality, and mixed-strategy predictions. The module shows why game theory remains useful even when players differ greatly in sophistication.
- Game Theory: Strategies for Sustaining Cooperation
- This module focuses on cooperation and the tension between individual rationality and social efficiency. You will learn why Nash equilibrium often leads to outcomes that are stable but socially undesirable, and how game theory explains this conflict in settings such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma, market competition, and global warming. The module also introduces major ways to sustain cooperation, including better institutional design, binding contracts, repeated interaction, and reputation. By the end, you will see how game theory helps explain both the failure and the enforcement of cooperation in social and economic life.
Taught by
Michihiro Kandori
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Reviews
4.5 rating, based on 16 Class Central reviews
4.7 rating at Coursera based on 2024 ratings
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My difficulty review may be slightly biased by the fact that I have taken another game theory course previously (offered on Coursera by Matt Jackson - Prof Kandori does make mention of this course in Welcome to Game Theory as well) which I found ins…
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Introduces major concepts in Game Theory in an easy way. Very good to begin in this topic. Most lectures are interesing, so I didn't get bored at all (I often do in MOOCs).
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Great and easy introduction to the subject. It was easy to follow, and while not in depth, it allowed me to understand the theory and basic principles behind Game Theory. If you want to learn basic this is very good course.
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A fundamental introduction to game theory. Actually it is Tokyo University that attracts me to take the course. The professor's lecture is elaborate and course design is nice. Nevertheless, Japanese English is a bit sucked!
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Rin Tsukimi4Love this course! The professor provides an engaging introduction about the basic ideas of Game Theory with tons of examples. The course contents are easy to understand even for someone, like me, who doesn't have a advanced math background! He also recommended several following courses to take for people who is interested in this area. -
very good introductory course on game theory. no mathematical background needed, and interesting applications provided to illustrate some of the concepts taught. a good course to get started on the basics and give background and an overview on the topic!
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A very brief and simple introduction to Game Theory using real life examples. There are no pre-requisites.
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Zoltan Sánchez12 -
Dhanesh Kumar Kasinathan1
