This book introduces game theory and its applications from an applied mathematician's perspective, systematically developing tools and concepts for game-theoretic modelling in the life and social sciences. Filled with down-to-earth examples of strategic behavior in humans and other animals, the book presents a unified account of the central ideas of both classical and evolutionary game theory. Unlike many books on game theory, which focus on mathematical and recreational aspects of the subject, this book emphasizes using games to answer questions of current scientific interest.
In the present third edition, the author has added substantial new material on evolutionarily stable strategies and their use in behavioral ecology. The only prerequisites are calculus and some exposure to matrix algebra, probability, and differential equations.
Mike Mesterton-Gibbons, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Preface Acknowledgments Agenda Chapter 1. Community Games Chapter 2. Population Games Chapter 3. Cooperative Games in Strategic Form Chapter 4. Cooperative Games in Nonstrategic Form Chapter 5. Cooperation and the Prisoner’s Dilemma Chapter 6. Continuous Population Games Chapter 7. Discrete Population Games Chapter 8. Triadic Population Games Chapter 9. Appraisal Appendix A. Bimatrix Games Appendix B. Answers or Hints for Selected Exercises Bibliography Index