Video: strategy in a TV game show
Game theory concepts can often help when trying to win prizes on a TV game show. I have previously written about a couple of the scenarios from the U.S. show The Price is Right: Optimal strategy in spinning the wheel Strategy for Pay the Rent Strictly dominated strategies in Lucky Seven I came across ...

Another way to explain the Prisoners’ Dilemma to high school students
The Prisoners' Dilemma is one of the most interesting problems in game theory. It demonstrates the idea of Nash equilibrium in a stark fashion, and the mathematical requirement is very minimal. Perhaps its only flaw, if there is one, is the subject matter of criminals and police, which is sexy but ...

Dilbert Prisoner’s Dilemma – Youtube video
An amusing clip from the short-lived Dilbert TV series. Dilbert and his friends find themselves in a three-way Prisoner's Dilemma. See how it turns out:

Game theory and the Golden Rule
There's a nice game theory cartoon over at Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal The cartoon is very well done, though I must address a common misunderstanding. The Golden Rule is not opposed but rather entirely compatible with game theory. In fact, the golden rule emerges naturally as a strong strategy in the repeated ...

Why tobacco companies might like the advertising ban
Several years ago, the U.S. government came down hard on tobacco companies and limited advertising on TV and in magazines. The move was meant both to discourage smoking and to punish the tobacco companies. Is that what really happens? It's worth analyzing since advertising bans are often discussed. There used to ...

Excessive punishments and game theory
How much punishment is enough? This is an interesting question for game theory. One of the reference models is the repeated Prisoner's dilemma where players have to use the threat of punishment as a means to achieve cooperation. Sometimes harsh punishment is the right move. I discussed this before in the context ...

Las Vegas and game theory: an application of the Prisoner’s Dilemma
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a great example from game theory. The game illustrates why individuals might not cooperate even if it is their best interest to do so. I will briefly summarize the game below, but if you're familiar with the Prisoner's dilemma you can safely skip ahead to the section ...

How to improve health care using game theory: the Prisoner’s Dilemma
"So take these pills, get a blood report, and see me in a few weeks," said my doctor. I was somewhat taken aback. It was my first physical as an adult. I was healthy overall, but I was being advised to take a prescription drug as a precaution...for the rest ...