News

Game theory in the popular press.

 

Game theory and economics in the news

August 17, 2006 BBC News, All is fair in love, war and poker
Game theory can be used to become the world champion of poker and to understand the commitment power of engagement rings. (by Tim Harford)
July 19, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CMU deals a winning hand for Texas Hold 'em
Computer scientists use game theory to create poker-playing computers. (by David Templeton)
May 5, 2006 Financial Times, The Poker Machine
A lengthy discussion of the game-theoretic aspects of poker (by Tim Harford)
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March 15, 2006 ABC News, Lose the weight, or wear the bikini on TV
Thomas Schelling's Nobel prize winning theory helps people diet, with public humiliation facing those who do not lose the weight.
November 11, 2003 The Register, Oracle chokes on PeopleSoft's poison pill
Strategic commitment highlighted through a poision pill provision, creating an additional $800 million cost to be assumed by Oracle in case of a takeover.
November 9, 2003 New York Times, The imperfect science of release dates
Strategic selection of movie release dates is often a game of chicken and often requires credible preemption.
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September 23, 2003 KESO News Channel, Man behind recall urges Schwarzenegger or McClintock to drop out
Worried that the two republican frontrunners will split the vote, Congressman Issa issues a threat to oppose both.
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March 16, 2003 Post-Gazette , Bush is playing 'chicken' not only with Saddam, but with the U.N. and allies, as well
Diplomatic and military brinkmanship games require strong commitments to win. Who will blink first on each front?
December 30, 2002 University of Washington, In mutually beneficial relationship, slowest-evolving species gains upper hand
When species coevolve, the one that adapts slower effectively commits and may be better off.
December 17, 2002 Cato Institute, Why the United States should not attack Iraq
Argues that Saddam Hussein is rational and deterrence may be achieved through credible commitment.
November 8, 2002 Chronicle of Higher Education, Calculus of the battlefield
Describes at length research noting that deterrence in international relations requires fending off only select attacks.
October 23, 2002 Slate, Should we pay off the sniper?
Payoffs may encourage copy-cats, a moral hazard but may be worth considering if the threat is sufficiently credible
October 18, 2002 Slate, Conspiracy at State College
Joe Paterno's seeming irrationality may be commitment device to instill fear in officials.
September 9, 2002 The Guardian, Terror training
Alan Dershowitz argues that a credible commitment not to negotiate with terrorists decreases terrorist attacks.
July 25, 2002 Fox News, Living Together Before Marriage May Hurt Chances of Staying Together
Explores the commitment of marriage and its higher success rate than cohabitation.
June 1, 2002 Natural History, Cheaters and chumps
Discusses game theory's contribution to evolutionary cooperation, noting the role of anonymity, repeated play, and kinship.
February 9, 2002 CNet News.com, Partners today, rivals tomorrow
Notes the need to consider strategic moves by current partners, including post-contractual hold up and moral hazard.
August 2, 2001 Science Daily, Adversaries would find other attack methods, game theory shows
Credibility in missile defense systems.
March 14, 1997 Financial Times, Lemon economics
Only recently have economists provided explanations for the existence of advertising. It may be informative, reducing the lemons problem, or a commitment device, by "burning money." (by John Kay)