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Course Syllabus

Master 2021/2022

Microeconomics II

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Compulsory course (Applied Economics and Mathematical Methods)
Area of studies: Economics
Delivered by: Department of Economics
Where: St.Petersburg School of Economics and Management
When: 1 year, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Alexander S. Nesterov
Master’s programme: Applied Economics and Mathematical Methods
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 52

Course Syllabus

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The main question of the course is how to aggregate individual interests into the unique social or group one. To answer on this question different concepts of fairness are applied and characterized. The course begins with the simplest game-theoretic models with two participants and then develops to more complicated n-person, dynamic and cooperative games. Another part of the course is devoted to social choice theory mainly to voting problems. The problems of existence optimal solutions and their finding are studied with the help of the modern mathematical methods.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The main purpose of the course “Microeconomics 2” is to develop the competence of students in Microeconomics, with an especial attention to decision-making models including game theory and social choice theory.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • The student should know cost/profit sharing methods.
  • The student should know based competitive economics models
  • The student should know methods of finding optimal behavior in some classes of strategic games.
  • The student should know optimality concepts on conflict situations and their characterizations.
  • The student should know voting models
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • The subject and methods of game theory. Conflicts and cooperation, their mathematical models.
  • Matrix games. Saddle points. Mixed strategies. Minimax Theorem.
  • Infinite two-person zero-sum games. Existence theorems
  • Non-cooperative n-person games. Optimality concepts in non-cooperative games, equilibrium. Game-theoretic models of oligopolies. Auctions.
  • The mixed extension of non-cooperative games. Nash’s Theorem on existence of equilibria in mixed strategies in finite n-person games.
  • Refiniments of equilibria. Perfect equilibria, strong equilibria, correlated equilibria.
  • Games with incomplete information. Bayesian equilibria.
  • Games in extensive form. Zermelo's Theorem on the existence of pure equlibria in finite extensive games with perfect information. Behavioral strategies Kuhn's Theorem.
  • Dynamic games. Stochastic and recursive games. Repeated games with complete information.
  • Cooperative games with transferable utilities. Characteristic functions. Solutions of cooperative games. The core and its existence. The Shapley value.
  • Cost and profit sharing rules. Egalitarian and utilitarian rules.
  • Bargaining problems. Axiomatic characterizations of bargaining solutions.
  • Social welfare functions. Arrow’s Theorem and its extensions.
  • Voting theory. Manipulation of preferences.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking 2-hour written test
  • non-blocking Home assignments
  • non-blocking In-class tests and class participation
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2021/2022 4th module
    0.2 * Home assignments + 0.6 * 2-hour written test + 0.2 * In-class tests and class participation
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Barron, E. N. (2013). Game Theory : An Introduction (Vol. Second edition). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=565752
  • Binmore, K. (2007). Game Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.oxp.obooks.9780199218462
  • Webster, T. J. (2014). Analyzing Strategic Behavior in Business and Economics : A Game Theory Primer. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=748851

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Schmidt, C. (2003). Game Theory and Economic Analysis : A Quiet Revolution in Economics. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=93028