Game theory

11 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it.

1. Why your behavior is rarely just your own choiceIn social psychology, the idea that you are an independent agent making isolated choices is a myth. Interdependence theory suggests that every interaction is a complex dance where…
2. The myth of the perfectly rational, self-interested human agentIn economic theory, we are often modeled as Homo economicus: a creature of pure logic, calculating every move to maximize personal utility. But does this mathematical ghost actual…
3. Why we feel guilty for winning: the psychology of advantageous inequityHumans have a strange tendency to sacrifice their own gains to avoid unfair outcomes. While we naturally recoil at being treated poorly, we also feel a distinct unease when we rec…
4. Why the hardest part of a conspiracy is staying honestCollusion is the ultimate economic paradox: to maximize profits, rivals must cooperate, but to keep those profits, they must never betray one another. It is a high-stakes game of …
5. Can a single price change ripple through every market in existence?In a global economy, no product exists in a vacuum. A shift in the cost of one raw material can trigger a chain reaction across millions of interconnected markets. General equilib…
6. Why it is so hard to undo the things we buildOnce a system expands, it often becomes structurally impossible to shrink. From government bureaucracies to software features, the 'ratchet effect' explains why human progress—and…
7. Game theory is often misunderstood as a tool for winning at all costs.While commonly associated with cutthroat business competition, game theory actually offers profound insights into cooperation. This video explores how the framework functions more…
8. Can your professional career give you a winning edge on Survivor?Three former Survivor winners discuss how their workplace skills translated into success on the show. This episode examines the intersection of career experience and the game's hi…
9. Can magicians use game theory to maximize their weekly earnings?This video explores a classic game theory dilemma involving two magicians, Bob and Al. By analyzing their decision to either stick to a one-show-per-week agreement or cheat to per…
10. Is global military spending a necessary evil or a massive waste of resources?This video examines why nations commit $2.2 trillion annually to defense. By applying the prisoner's dilemma to international relations, it explores whether this massive expenditu…
11. Is there a mathematical blueprint for winning a penalty shootout?Even legends like Lionel Messi may only perform at an average level during penalty kicks. This video explores how the principles of game theory can reveal the optimal strategy for…

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