Using Game Theory in sci fi

[Geoff_N]

I want to use some elements of Game Theory in my sci fi (I wrote sci if in my first attempt here - hah, it kinda fits) novel where the protagonist astronaut has to a) find cogent arguments to stop the military blasting away at an alien orbiting artefact, and b) in her attempt to communicate with the alien.

I googled and gagged at the plethora of sites purporting to explain Game Theory. Can anyone point me at a site or book that would help me without the requirement of spending 6 months in heavy research?

Because of the amazingly rapid turnover of messages here - I am likely to lose any responses so I'd be grateful for those to be copied in an e-mail to me - or contact via my website.
Cheers

Geoff

[Ed]

When in doubt, I consult the Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory

Good luck on weedling that lot into a story. My eyes had glazed over by the first diagram - I guess you could use some of the terminology easily enough, though

[Geoff_N]

That was the first place I tried. Some wiki articles are badly explained. I hope that is one or I've dimmed a lot lately

[Ed]

That was the first place I tried. Some wiki articles are badly explained. I hope that is one or I've dimmed a lot lately

My thoughts exactly. I started reading and thought, ah right, I think I'm getting it, and then - ffft! Nope.

[Ed]

Geoff - did you see there was a programme on TV the other night about game theory and how it had affected the economies of the US and UK? Fascinating. They interviewed John Nash (A Beautiful Mind) and several other scientists who had worked in the field. One got quite shirty and walked off camera when the interviewer challenged the validity of his research. This research was the basis for a model of human behaviour that eventually went on to influence the market economy. Turns out the research is flawed, and the only humans whose behaviour fits the model are economists and... psychopaths

[Geoff_N]

Bugger, I missed it. The famous Nash and his Nash Equilibrium too, a living legend in Game Theory ellipses. I managed to do quite a lot of research with the help of some strategists. It seemed like a good idea before I started but now I've written it into the relevant chapter, it feels too artificial. It'll probably get slaughtered in my SF novel critique group and I'll subtract it. However, the learning was useful - different aspects of considering strategies is always handy for some future novel.

I wonder if that programme is to be repeated. I don't suppose you recall its name, channel etc?

[Ed]

I think it was on BBC2, but I don't remember what it was called. It was primarily concerned with how the Labour Party modeled itself on the Clinton administration and gave away the government's control over the economy by letting the independent Bank of England set interest rates. The theory was that the free market economy would run itself and automatically create wealth throughout the various sectors of the economy, from top to bottom. This theory is grounded in Game Theory, which they spent at least half the programme exploring and finding former exponents who now discredit the research, one of whom was the legendary John Nash. The upshot at the end of the programme was over the past decade the poor have got poorer and more entrenched in their poverty, while the rich have effectively tripled their income. Interesting prog.

I nearly posted on here while the prog was on, thinking you might be watching. Wish I had now.

[Geoff_N]

I've a feeling I have notes on that programme somewhere.

Is there an economy anywhere where the poor haven't become poorer relative to the richest 2%?

Maybe it's a given grim reality.

Geoff

[Ed]

I don't know, but one of the stats given by a top US economist was that ten years ago the poorest in America took home, after tax, $9,000 and the richest averaged about $230,000. Ten years on, the poorest are on about the same, $12,000 (poorer in real terms) and the rich are netting an average of $600,000.

Scary.

From my dealings with people over the years I can vouch for the fact that a fool and his money are soon parted, though. And I think you can draw a few parallels between the poor, their lack of money, and their lack of common sense.