CE322-6-AU-CO:
Algorithmic Game Theory
2023/24
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
24 July 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module prepares students to understand and design the kinds of systems that are coming to define modern life, such as Amazon, Uber, eBay, etc. These companies need analysts who can decide which objectives to maximize, what information and choices to offer, what rules to set, and so on. These questions require a broad understanding of topics at the interface of theoretical computer science and economics.
This module will take a computational and algorithmic approach to designing and analyzing such systems. Students will explore the interaction between self-interested agents and strategic scenarios through the lens of Algorithmic Game Theory and Mechanism Design.
Algorithmic game theory lies at the exciting intersection of CS and Economics and is an area of expertise that is in great demand within the UK Finance Industry, forming one of the primary recruiting sectors for graduates from Computer Science.
The aim of this module is to introduce this subject to students using research-led teaching that uses expertise from staff within the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents (CCFEA) at the University of Essex.
This model also provides an excellent opportunity for students to explore continuing their studies in a postgraduate CCFEA degree programme.
By the end of this module, students will:
1. Be able to model various situations as strategic games
2. Understand and use computational and algorithmic aspects of game theory
3. Appreciate incentive structures used in certain situations
4. Carry out a model of a realistic scenario, perform evaluations and draw conclusions from the model evaluation.
Syllabus
Game Theory Basics:
2-Player Zero-Sum Games and The Minimax Theorem
Mixed Strategies, Expected Payoffs, and Nash Equilibrium
Correlated equilibria and Introduction to Linear.
Programming
Selfish Network Routing, Congestion Games, and the Price of Anarchy
Auctions and Mechanism Design Basics;
Auctions as games, Vickrey auctions, truthfulness and monotonicity.
Single-minded auctions and Greedy
Combinatorial auctions and VCG
Sponsored search auctions and GSP
Mechanism design without money
Algorithms and complexity theory basics
Computing Nash equilibria
NP-Completeness.
Current research challenges in algorithmic game theory.
Lectures discussing the theory of the course.
Labs that put the theory to practice.
Formative assessment through means like in-class quizzes.
Summative assessment through a progress test and one take-home assignment.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Additional coursework information
The assignment will evaluate the students' ability to model in game-theoretic terms a real life situation and/or evaluate a given model's quality. In this respect, the students will compute the equilibria of a specific game and/or consider possible variations of the game's incentive structures and compare their possible outcomes. The students will submit their model as working code and an accompanying report that documents the code, evaluates the game and draws conclusions from the work carried out.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Adam Chester
University Of Warwick
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 50 hours, 34 (68%) hours available to students:
16 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.