Game Changer - the game theory podcast

The game of chess has been around for centuries and still hasn't lost its touch which is demonstrated by the sheer number of professional and non-professional players and countless pop culture references. In this episode chess grandmaster Daniel King walks us through his very own journey from being a professional chess player to becoming author, live commentator and YouTuber and what it takes to come up with the perfect strategy. We talk about why chess theoretically can be solved but still hasn't lost its appeal as one of the most popular board games in history and how professional players' strategies have evolved due to the rise of powerful computers and machine learning.   Daniel King is known for being an English chess grandmaster, a well-known chess live commentator, an award-winning author of several books, a freelance journalist and many more. On top of that he has his own YouTube channel called PowerPlayChess where he shares knowledge and passion for all things chess.

In this episode we talk to Paul Smaldino about identity signaling. He walks us through its definition, the most common examples of identity signaling like language or fashion choices and how game theory can be used to model it. He explains why it is sometimes wise to signal covertly rather than overtly, how this depends on the heterogeneity of groups and what experimental evidence from Twitter has to say about all this.   Paul Smaldino is associate professor of cognitive and information sciences at UC Merced. His research interests include social and cultural evolution, cooperation, communication, and the philosophy of sciences. He studies the feedback between individual behaviors and the sociocultural environments in which they are situated, using both empirical studies and theoretical models (e.g. Game Theory models).

Jamey Stegmaier, a board game designer, talks about designing board games and what makes a great game. He discusses game mechanisms that foster player interaction, his experience with crowdfunding through Kickstarter, and his upcoming game that is a reimagined version of a previous one.

Cailin O'Connor, a professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science, discusses how inequity in society can be modeled using evolutionary game theory. Topics include the division of groups into social categories, implications for gender and division of labor, and the difficulty of breaking inequitable patterns.

Guest Lionel Page, Professor of Economics at UTS, discusses his recent research on starting offers in bargaining. Explore the unexpected behavior in making offers, theories on individuals' reactions to inequality, and the influence of the first offer in negotiations. Gain insights into the dynamics of haggling and practical tips for crafting a successful first offer.

Eric Maskin, Nobel Prize laureate and professor at Harvard, discusses mechanism design and its applications in market design, carbon emissions reduction, and spectrum rights. Learn about the engineering approach required for mechanism design, the importance of aligning individual and social goals, and the use of bidding mechanisms to allocate valuable assets. Explore how second price auctions incentivize truthful bidding and how mechanism design can be applied to solve environmental issues like pollution and climate change.

Michael Ostrovsky, Professor of Economics, discusses the history and evolution of online advertising auctions, including the challenges faced and innovative solutions developed. Topics explored include the transition from first price to second price auctions, the implementation of the Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism, the success of Amazon's advertising platform, and the expansion of sponsored listings on platforms like Google Play Store and Uber Eats.

Paul Hünermund, assistant professor of Strategy and Innovation, discusses why the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to David Card, Joshua Angrist, and Guido Imbens. They explore the revolutionary framework of natural experiments and the practical implications of their research in labor markets, education, and business decision-making. The podcast also delves into the role of machine learning in causal analysis and invites feedback and subscription.

Jos Cozijnsen, carbon specialist at the Carbon Neutral Group, discusses the cap & trade system in Europe and the role of carbon credits in reducing emissions. He highlights the expectations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and the link between game theory and climate change. The podcast also explores offset mechanisms and positive solutions for companies and individuals to address climate change.

Kevin Zollman, Professor of Philosophy and Social and Decision Sciences, explains game theoretic concepts to study non-verbal communication between animals. The podcast explores the application of game theory in animal communication, focusing on peacocks' extravagant tails as costly signals. It discusses the honest communication in evolutionary biology, the mystery of chicks' communication, and the concept of equilibrium in evolutionary game theory.