Game Changer - the game theory podcast

Jeffrey Ely, a renowned microeconomic theorist, discusses the risks of AI-driven feedback loops and the importance of AI transparency. They explore the challenges of AI delegation, the threat of AI reproduction, and the power of market forces in AI utilization. The podcast highlights the need for transparency to mitigate the dominance of rogue AI.

In this episode, we explore with Marta Serra-Garcia the paradoxes of human behaviour in the realms of self-deception and lie detection. Marta's research, rooted in behavioural and experimental economics, questions why lying persists in a society that values morality. We delve into her experiments that examine how people reconcile their self-image with material interests, the timing of incentive information in ethical decision-making, and the effectiveness of algorithms in detecting deception.   Marta Serra-Garcia is an Associate Professor of Economics and Strategy at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management. Specialising in behavioural and experimental economics, her acclaimed work focuses on the dynamics of ethical decision-making and its influence on behaviours like lying and charitable giving. A prolific researcher, Marta's work has been published in esteemed journals, earning her a place among the 2020 Best 40 under 40 MBA Professors. You can find her paper on self-deception here and her paper on lie detection here.

In this episode, our guest Alain Cohn helps us to understand the complex relationship between wealth and perceptions of fairness in society. We explore his innovative research methodology, which move beyond traditional surveys to more accurately reflect the nuances of economic behaviors. The conversation also highlights the differences in attitudes towards inequality among the wealthy, particularly contrasting those with inherited wealth and the newly affluent. Through Alain's studies, we gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play between wealth, fairness, and policy influence in today’s society. Alain Cohn is Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, focused on the social and psychological determinants of economic behaviors. His work has significantly contributed to our understanding of honesty, financial risk-taking, and the impact of wealth on fairness perceptions and redistribution policies. In the episode, we also briefly mention the ultimatum game and the dictator’s game. If you want to find out more about these games, you can also check out our episode on first offers in bargaining with Lionel Page.

In this episode, Marc Robinson, an expert in strategy and risk management with a rich automotive industry background, delves into the recent UAW strikes and negotiations from a Game Theorist perspective. He discusses key success factors for the UAW, broader implications for the automotive industry, and future union negotiations. Topics covered include simultaneous negotiations, corruption scandals within the UAW, demands made by the new union president, wage increases, joint venture battery plants, sustainability concerns, and the need for better preparation for future negotiations.

Game Theory podcast features Frank Zagare, expert on deterrence and game theory. They discuss the shortcomings of classical deterrence modeling, introduce perfect deterrence theory, and explore its distinctions. They examine the fragility of bilateral strategic relationships, the breakdown of deterrence, and offer insights into the war in Ukraine.

In this episode we are talking to Michel Maréchal about honesty from an economist’s perspective. He shares with us two studies he has conducted on honesty: Firstly, we talk about a mega-study in which Michel and his colleagues have tested in more than 300 cities around the globe with more than 17000 wallets whether people would rather return lost wallets if there were a higher or lower amount of money in them. Secondly, he shares a lab experiment in which he studied whether humans are more honest when interacting with other humans versus interacting with machines. Both studies give an understanding on human’s behaviour when being incentivized to being dishonest.     Michel Maréchal is a Visiting Professor of Economics at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego and Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics from the University of Zürich. His research is interdisciplinary and lies at the intersections of economics, social psychology, criminology, political science and biology. Here you can find Michel’s papers on civic honesty and honesty in the digital age. You can also check out his website for other research topics he is currently working on.

Shengwu Li, Associate Professor of Econ, discusses simplicity in game theory. He explains how simplicity facilitates real-world application of game theory. Dominant strategies and their role in auctions are explored. The importance of simplicity in game theoretic concepts is emphasized, along with the challenges of value assignment in decision making.

For many companies reaching their self-imposed CO2 targets has become quite a tall order. While procurement has tried to rise to the occasion progress is often slow. In this episode we are talking to Daniel Helmig who explains to us how companies can get unstuck and move forward in reaching their CO2 targets. We discuss what the past can teach us about possible solutions, which three important questions CEOs and other leaders should answer for an honest assessment of their situation and what gradual progress for companies could look like in the future.   Daniel Helmig is founder and Managing Director of the Helmig Advisory, which supports organizations in uncovering hidden potential in their supply chain, procurement, or operations area. Prior to this he held positions such as Corporate Transformation Leader, Group Head of Operations & Quality, Chief Procurement Officer, Senior Vice President, and Managing Director in five different industries.

In this episode, our guest Florian Englmaier explores the effectiveness of monetary incentives in driving team efficiency and innovation. He shares insights from an experimental study conducted in an escape room setting, uncovering surprising findings about the impact of incentives on non-routine tasks and the emergence of leadership dynamics within teams.  Florian Englmaier is professor of organisational economics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. His main research interests lie in the fields of the economics of organisations and human resources, where he focuses on agency problems in organisations. You can find the papers on his studies conducted in the escape room setting here and here.

Former FBI hostage negotiator and author, Chris Voss, shares insights on negotiations in various contexts. He discusses the similarities between hostage and business negotiations, emphasizing the role of emotions and 'tactical empathy.' He also highlights the importance of collaboration, curiosity, positive mindset, and humor in achieving successful outcomes.