Explore UCD

UCD Home >

ECON2004J

Academic Year 2025/2026

Game Theory (J) (ECON2004J)

Subject:
Economics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Economics
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Diogo Geraldes
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades
Campus of Delivery:
BDIC(UCD) Beijing

Curricular information is subject to change.

Game theory is a field of economics that studies a formal way of how individuals think in strategic interactions. The first aim of this course is to advance and explain strategic considerations that one can take into account while making strategic choices, including in situations of incomplete information. The second aim of the course is to predict how others behave in strategic settings. As you will realize, the latter two aims are closely related. A third aim of this course is to apply game theory concepts and methods to real-life strategic settings.

The approach in the course is more analytical than descriptive. Accordingly, a standard level of undergrad mathematical economics knowledge is assumed. The ability to think mathematically and logically is fundamental to following this course.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the student is capable of:
- Identifying the key elements of a game.
- Representing a strategic situation in a game.
- Understanding the concept of a Nash equilibrium.
- Understanding the difference between static and dynamic games.
- Understanding the difference between actions and strategies.
- Representing games in normal form or extensive form.
- Understanding the difference between complete and incomplete information.
- Identify the relevant information structure in a given strategic situation.
- Solving for the relevant Nash equilibrium concept by first identifying the type of game.


Indicative Module Content:

Part I | Static Games of Complete Information
Part II | Dynamic Games of Complete Information
Part III | Static Games of Complete Information (revisited)
Part IV | Dynamic Games of Complete Information (revisited)
Part V | Static Games of Incomplete Information
Part IV | Dynamic Games of Incomplete Information

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Lectures

36
Total

116

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This course consists of a combination of lectures, live tutorial discussions, and problem sets for self-practice.

As standard in university-level education, the course lectures, as well as the selected problems that will be discussed in the tutorials, aim to provide a “big picture” guidance for students’ self-study. That is, the lectures and tutorials are not designed to be exhaustive regarding all potential problems and questions that can show up in the exams. This means that students aiming to master the course contents and obtain a good grade need to read the required readings as well as self-practice as many problems as possible. In other words, *students’ self-study is a centerpiece of the course*.

The use of AI for any purpose is not allowed in this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
ECON20100 - Game Theory


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Final Exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No
Exam (In-person): Midterm Exam End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback: Regular problem sets will be assigned throughout the semester for self-assessment; solutions will be posted on Brightspace and will be explained in detail during tutorials.

Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.