'Game Theory' on Coursera (Jan 7 - Feb 25) (1 Viewer)

[OzKo]

Coursera are a for-profit company which specialise in delivering free university courses to the public with partner universities. At the moment, they are running a Game Theory unit delivered in conjunction with Stanford University and the University of British Columbia.

A few BoS'ers are attempting the course and it would be nice if we could all collaborate together to learn about Game Theory is the next 7 weeks.

For anyone interested in majoring in Economics or with a general interest in what Game Theory is about, it will probably be worth checking out considering we're on holidays.

https://www.coursera.org/course/gametheory

 

[OzKo]

 

[GoldyOrNugget]

Sounds good, I'll sign up. The coursera course I'm doing right now (Stanford's Algorithms II) finishes next week and I'm in the mood for another.

 

[OzKo]

Sounds good, I'll sign up. The coursera course I'm doing right now (Stanford's Algorithms II) finishes next week and I'm in the mood for another.

Sweet.

How have you found Coursera in general?

 

[GoldyOrNugget]

I've never actually finished a course on it before, only gotten partway through three. They were fun and informative and all, but none felt like proper study. I think many of the top universities dumb down their courses significantly for coursera (at least, this is true for the 3 courses I've done).

 

[iBibah]

I just joined too, hopefully there isn't much prereq.

 

[OzKo]

I just joined too, hopefully there isn't much prereq.

No prerequisites needed from what I can see.

Just an understanding on things like set notation would be useful.

 

[Sy123]

Wait how fast are we supposed to be going through this?

I just noticed the Week 1 for 1-(1-10)

o_o I just watched the whole weeks worth dammit...
Should I just go over problems now for the rest of the week or something?

 

[seanieg89]

Wait how fast are we supposed to be going through this?

I just noticed the Week 1 for 1-(1-10)

o_o I just watched the whole weeks worth dammit...
Should I just go over problems now for the rest of the week or something?

However fast you like, think about the things you have read and play around with the games. Would advise against shooting ahead even if the material seems slow for now.

 

[Bobbo1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Uos2fzIJ0

Your welcome

 

[OzKo]

Wait how fast are we supposed to be going through this?

I just noticed the Week 1 for 1-(1-10)

o_o I just watched the whole weeks worth dammit...
Should I just go over problems now for the rest of the week or something?

Have you done the problem set for this week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Uos2fzIJ0

Your welcome

Thanks for posting that. Great example of game theory in action (albeit not appropriate for a game show).

That being said, I really loved this one.

 

[seremify007]

Watching the preview. The Stamford guys seem quality but the other dude on Google+ has a really shit webcam (and microphone) which detracts from the experience.

If I had the capacity to commit 7 hours a week and take it seriously I'd do it but in all honesty I doubt I will. These guys do look a whole lot more interesting than the lecturer I had in first year uni at UNSW who taught game theory in one week's lecture.

 

[Sy123]

Have you done the problem set for this week?



Thanks for posting that. Great example of game theory in action (albeit not appropriate for a game show).

That being said, I really loved this one.

Nope, I'm not that fast lol I guess that will keep me occupied for the next few days I won't go through them as fast.

And my Economics teacher showed us that when he was talking about Economics in Uni and he talked about how its always best to pick Steal in that game -> it is what gave me interest in game theory

 

[Bobbo1]

For those people who are Econ majors is there more stuff like Game Theory in higher years or does it go more into Macroeconomics like government policies and stuff. Still contemplating whether to major in Finance or Economics

 

[seanieg89]

Nope, I'm not that fast lol I guess that will keep me occupied for the next few days I won't go through them as fast.

And my Economics teacher showed us that when he was talking about Economics in Uni and he talked about how its always best to pick Steal in that game -> it is what gave me interest in game theory

When treating it as a one-off game with a stranger at least. If played repetitively or with a friend etc I think it is a little less clear cut.

 

[OzKo]

For those people who are Econ majors is there more stuff like Game Theory in higher years or does it go more into Macroeconomics like government policies and stuff. Still contemplating whether to major in Finance or Economics

Generally in an economics major you do both macroeconomics and microeconomics at a junior and intermediate level (e.g. a pair in first year and a pair in second year).

After that, you can customise the rest of your units if you're interested in a specific area of economics including game theory.

For example, here are the units offered by USYD and UNSW respectively within their Schools of Economics.

USYD: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/economics/undergrad/ug_uos.shtml
UNSW: http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/plans/2013/ECONA13543.html

 

[Bobbo1]

Have you done the problem set for this week?



Thanks for posting that. Great example of game theory in action (albeit not appropriate for a game show).

That being said, I really loved this one.

Gosh, that's painful to watch - I mean the one which I posted

 

[Bobbo1]

Generally in an economics major you do both macroeconomics and microeconomics at a junior and intermediate level (e.g. a pair in first year and a pair in second year).

After that, you can customise the rest of your units if you're interested in a specific area of economics including game theory.

For example, here are the units offered by USYD and UNSW respectively within their Schools of Economics.

USYD: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/economics/undergrad/ug_uos.shtml
UNSW: http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/plans/2013/ECONA13543.html

Oh ok, so doing Economics as opposed to Finance doesn't close off the private sector? Keep hearing all these stories oh how Economics gets you working in the RBA and the government but that really puts me off... I see Economics as being so practical and want to apply in a business/private sector sense but just worried about job opportunities :S

 

[Sy123]

When treating it as a one-off game with a stranger at least. If played repetitively or with a friend etc I think it is a little less clear cut.

Yeah definitely, but it is essentially the same as a Prisoner's dilemma. I can see how being a friend could change the outcome, but how would repetition change it?

 

[OzKo]

Oh ok, so doing Economics as opposed to Finance doesn't close off the private sector? Keep hearing all these stories oh how Economics gets you working in the RBA and the government but that really puts me off... I see Economics as being so practical and want to apply in a business/private sector sense but just worried about job opportunities :S

Economists are well appreciated in consultant or analyst positions.

I would definitely recommend going for honours as that will allow you to somewhat target your interests to specific firms. For example, I'm thinking of doing a thesis on the energy industry this year so that would put me in good stead for companies which are within the energy industry (utilities, consultancies) or have interests within the industry (e.g. banks).