The necktie paradox
In the spirit of the season, I thought it would be fun to discuss a Christmas related paradox. The necktie paradox begins as follows (source). Two men are given neckties by their wives as Christmas presents. Over drinks they start arguing about who has the cheaper necktie. They decide to make a ...

Gifts for economists, 2009
What gift would you give an economist? It's the time of year when I discuss a few ideas. This is not easy to answer because economists are highly individualist. But there are a few guidelines I go by. All else equal, I feel economists prefer three things. First, they prefer practical ...

Game theory on Colbert Report – mutually assured destruction
I get a kick out of the edgy comedy on The Colbert Report. It's amazing how Stephen Colbert makes a mockery of opposing ideas through caricature and showmanship. Last week Colbert was playfully discussing nuclear arms. He was interviewing Joseph Cirincione, a representative of a nuclear disarmament lobby, the Ploughshares Fund. ...

Game theory in Numb3rs: hide and seek
I occasionally enjoy watching the TV show Numb3rs. The show is about a team of FBI agents who solve crimes with the help of a fictional mathematics professor, Charlie Eppes. During a crime investigation, Charlie comes on the scene to analyze all of the numbers and look for patterns that ...