Business Economics I Statistics

This course introduces the basic concepts of Game Theory and shows how they can be applied to analyze a wide range of topics in all areas of Business Studies. By the end of the course, students should be able to i) apply game-theoretical tools to think rigorously about problems in which there is strategic interaction (almost any interesting problem fits this description); ii) understand the models of strategic interaction published in the leading academic journals across fields; and iii) be able to build their own models to analyze strategic interaction problems of interest. Although we will study many applications of our game theoretical tools, the emphasis in the course will be placed on how to apply those tools to study problems of interest, and not so much on the individual applications. However, along the way we will study some of the building blocks of Industrial Organization and Marketing (and the economic analysis of Strategy), Corporate Finance, and Personnel Economics.

1. Game Theory: Basic Concepts 1.1. Games and strategies. 1.2. Simultaneous-move games. 1.2.1. Domination. 1.2.2. Nash equilibrium. 2. Simultaneous-move Games: Applications. 2.1. Models of imperfect competition 2.1.1. Cournot (quantity) competition 2.1.2. Bertrand (price) competition 2.1.3. Product differentiation and price competition 3. Dynamic Games and Subgame Perfect Equilibrium 4. Games with Incomplete Information 4.1. Bayesian equilibrium 4.2. Adverse selection 4.3. Signaling and Perfect Bayesian equilibrium 5. The Principal-Agent Model 5.1. The basic setup 5.2. Moral hazard and incentives

Problem sets. There will be a problem set per lecture. Some of the problem sets will be aimed at clarifying theoretical concepts previously discussed in class. However, since the goal is that you learn to apply game theoretical tools, other problem sets will ask you to work on the applications yourself before we discuss them in class. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that you work hard on the problem sets. The lectures devoted to applications will be targeted to an audience that has done that prior work. Short midterm exam. To ensure that the key building blocks are well understood, there will be a short midterm exam. Readings. In the syllabus, I describe the main references for the course and recommend specific readings for each section. I will expect you to read the assigned readings prior to class. For some parts of the course, I will also distribute notes prior to the lectures.