Category Archives: Game Theory

The legal philosophy of red-light cameras

Posted on August 25, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Many cities around the world have installed high-tech red-light cameras at busy intersections to increase safety and raise traffic revenues — although some cities are already starting to phase-out these cameras. The debate over the legality of such cameras not only presupposes that many drivers run red … Continue reading →

Posted in Game Theory, Law, Philosophy, Traffic | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Reverse auction (Super Bowl edition)

Posted on August 19, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Another day, another potentially creative use of an auction mechanism. According to this report in the Wall Street Journal, the NFL has reportedly requested its top three choices for the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show — Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Coldplay (Cold…who?) — to pay the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Game Theory | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Why doesn’t the Coase Theorem work in Gaza?

Posted on August 7, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

The “Coase Theorem” is a beautiful prediction or simple model from the world of academic economics that does not always hold up in the real world. (Look it up.) (Bonus link: check out our related research on this topic “Does the Prisoner’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Economics, Game Theory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Should the NFL stop suspending players?

Posted on August 4, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Harry Cheadle makes the case in this essay for ending the NFL Commissioner’s unilateral and arbitrary power to suspend players for “off-field behavior”: Announce that no one is going to be suspended or fined by the league for any off-field behavior and … Continue reading →

Posted in Game Theory, Sports | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Our peace plan for Palestine

Posted on August 1, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

How about a “one-state” solution? That is, what if the Government of Israel were to annex the Gaza Strip outright; (ii) extend full Israeli citizenship as well as voting rights to every person living in Gaza, (iii) allow all political parties incorporated in Gaza (including Hamas) … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Game Theory, Justice, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Public service announcement: merge rudely*

Posted on July 31, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

* Especially in dense, slow-moving traffic! (hat tip: tyler cowen)

Posted in Game Theory, Traffic | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The science of aircraft boarding

Posted on July 24, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Roya Wolverson explains in this short essay why boarding a commercial airplane “feels unfair and chaotic”: If your aircraft boarding experience feels totally random, that may be because it is. Random boarding is a scientific method (pdf) invented in 2008 by a frustrated Illinois-based astrophysicist named Jason Steffen who, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Ethics, Game Theory, Justice | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Do free agents play game theory?

Posted on July 10, 2014 by F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Who will sign first? Melo, Lebron, or Bosh? In game-theory terms, what type of “game” are these free agents playing: Prisoner’s Dilemma, Chicken, Stag Hunt, or Battle of the Sexes?

Posted in Game Theory, Sports, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment