[Game Theory] Games in Economic Development [2008].pdf

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GAMES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Games in Economic Development examines the roots of poverty and prosperity through
the lens of elementary game theory, illustrating how patterns of human interaction can
lead to vicious cycles of poverty as well as virtuous cycles of prosperity. The book shows
how both social norms and carefully designed institutions can help shape the “rules of
the game,” making better es in a game possible for everyone involved. The book is
entertaining to read, intended for a broad audience, and can be accessed with little back-
ground in development economics or game theory. Its chapters explore games in natural
resource use, migration, education, coping with risk, borrowing and lending, technology
adoption, governance and corruption, civil conflict, international trade, and the impor-
tance works, religion, and identity to economic development. It illustrates concepts
with numerous anecdotes from recent world events. An appendix explaining basic ideas
in game theory used in the book is provided for interested readers.
Bruce Wydick is Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, where he has
taught since 1996 pleting his . at the University of California at Berkeley. His
research focuses on applications of game theory, empirical and experimental methods to
address poverty and development issues, especially microfinance. Professor Wydick has
published more than a dozen articles in academic journals such as the Journal of Develop-
ment Economics, Economic Development and Cultural Change, World Development, and
the Economic Journal, and received grants and awards for his research from USAID, the
Jesuit Foundation, the McCarthy Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trust. He is codirec-
tor of the masters program in International and Development Economics at the University
of San Francisco, has served as a consultant on a number of research projects of the World
Bank, and is activel