Study information

Microeconomic Theory II

Module titleMicroeconomic Theory II
Module codeBEEM140
Academic year2019/0
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Edwin Ip (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

12

Module description

This is the second module in microeconomic theory. You will study rational strategic decision making, i.e. game theory in static and dynamic contexts, both with and without complete information. After developing the tools to theoretically analyse core games, you will study applications to bargaining, auctions, signaling games, strategic information transmission, repeated games, issues of reputation and market design. This will be complemented by understanding the actual behavior of decision makers in strategic settings, i.e. behavioural game theory.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the module is to develop formal reasoning abilities and apply tools of strategic thinking and strategic problem solving widely used by economists and other social scientists. After completing this course, you will be able to reason formally and model strategic decision makers in a variety of economic contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. develop formal mathematical reasoning abilities.
  • 2. formally model strategic interactions.
  • 3. formally describe suitable equilibrium outcomes of the strategic interactions.
  • 4. analytically solve models of games.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. critically evaluate frontier research in game theory and its applications.
  • 6. develop formal modelling abilities of core economic phenomena.
  • 7. theoretically build and solve formal models of economic phenomena requiring strategic reasoning.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 8. develop formal reasoning abilities and engage in abstract thinking.
  • 9. recognise and model strategic interactions.

Syllabus plan

• Static game theory with complete information: Nash Equilibrium:
• Static Game Theory with Incomplete Information: Bayesian Nash Equilibrium
• Dynamic Game Theory with complete information: Subgame Perfect Equilibrium
• Dynamic Game Thoery with incomplete information: Sequential Equilibrium
• Repeated Games
• Bargaining
• Auctions
• Signalling Games
• Strategic Information Transmission
• Reputation
• Behavioural Game Theory

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
321180

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching22Lecturers (2 hours per week)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching10Tutorials (1 hour per week)
Independent Study118Independent study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Problem sets (2 over the course of the term)10 questions per problem set1-9Oral, and written(ELE)

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
50500

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Midterm Exam251 hour1-9Oral and written feedback(ELE)
Problem Set2510 questions1-9Oral and written feedback(ELE)
Problem Set2510 questions1-9Oral and written feedback(ELE)
Examination251 hour1-9Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Mid TermExam (1 hour) 25%1-9Aug/Sep
Problem SetProblem set (10 questions) 25%1-9July
Problem SetProblem set (10 questions) 25%1-9July
ExaminationExamination (1 hour) 25%1-9Aug/Sep

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Microeconomic Theory, Mas-Colell, A , Whinston, M.D and Green, OUP USA, 1995.
Game Theory, Fudenberg and Tirole, ANE Books, 2009.
Game Theory, Maschler, Solan and Zamir, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Economics and the Theory of Games, Fernando Vega-Redondo, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Theory of Learning in Games, Fudenberg and Levine, MIT Press, 1998.

Key words search

Game theory, static games, dynamic games, complete information, incomplete information.

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

BEEM137

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

04/04/2016

Last revision date

20/08/2019