The term “rational action” as used in the economic approach is generally equated with maximizing behavior. Individual human agents are assumed to have consistent and stable preferences over alternatives each of which is assigned some “utility.” Maximization entails choosing the course of action that yields the highest expected utility. One is rational to the extent one uses the best means to achieve one’s goals.

In this course we will learn a variety of social and political models based on such a notion of individual rationality and to investigate its collective consequences. In particular, we will find through the “Prisoner’s Dilemma,” the “Tragedy of the Commons,” and the “Free-Rider Problem” a contrast between rational man and irrational society. Self-serving behavior of individuals does not usually lead to collectively satisfactory results.

So this course is about the stories of the Prisoners, the Herdsmen, and the Free-Riders. As a matter of fact, we will show that the Dilemma, the Tragedy, and the Problem share essentially the same mathematical structure, and hence they are essentially the same story - a story about human destiny. We will then explore the ways by which we might be able to escape such a destiny.

每週進度及教學內容簡述

(Note: The Following schedule is based on a 6-week, 12-session semester.)
Week 1-1: The Prisoner’s Dilemma, the Tragedy of the Commons & Social Science Models
Week 1-2: The 2-Person and N-Person Prisoner’s Dilemma
Week 2-1: The Evolution of Cooperation I
Week 2-2: The Evolution of Cooperation II
Week 3-1: Reputational Concerns
Week 3-2: The Problem of Collective Action I
Week 4-1: The Problem of Collective Action II
Week 4-2: Institutional Approaches to the Prisoner’s Dilemma
Week 5-1: Governing the Commons I
Week 5-2: Governing the Commons II
Week 6-1: The Internet as a Virtual Commons
Week 6-2: Student Presentations