Homework 1
Homework 1
12 Game Theory
Prof. Muhamet Yildiz
TA: Youngjin Hwang
Fall 2002
Homework 1
Due on 9/25/2002 (in class)
1. Consider an agent with Von Neumann and Morgenstren utility function u with u (x) =
(x 1)2 . Check whether the following VNM utility functions can represent this agents
preferences. (Provide the details.)
(a) u : x 7 x 1;
(b) u : x 7 (x 1)4 ;
(c) u : x 7 (x 1)2 ;
(d) u : x 7 2 (x 1)2 1.
2. Compute the set of rationalizable strategies in the following game that is played in a
class of n students where n 2: Without discussing with anyone, each student i is to
write down a real number xi [0, 100] on a paper and submit it to the TA. The TA
will then compute the average
x =
x1 + x2 + + xn
n
L
2,2
3,3
1,3
1,1
M
3,0
2,0
5,5
1,1
R
4,0
1,0
0,2
2,3
1
L
2
r
1
x
2
1
1
2
0
0
2
1
0
0
2
2
b
1
0
0
1
Figure 1:
(a) Iteratively eliminate all strictly dominated strategies; state the assumptions necessary for each elimination.
(b) What are the rationalizable strategies?
(c) What are the pure-strategy Nash equilibria?
5. We have an employer and a worker. The employer provides the capital K (in terms
of investment in technology, etc.) and the worker provides the
labor L (in terms of
the investment in the human capital) to produce f (K, L) = KL, which they share
equally. The parties determine their investment level (the employers capital K and
the workers labor L) simultaneously. The per-unit costs of capital and the labor for
the employer and the worker are r > 1/4 and c > 1/4, respectively. The worker cannot
which is positive. The payos for the employer and the worker are
invest more than L
1
f (K, L) rK
2
and
1
f (K, L) cL,
2
respectively. Everything described up to here is common knowledge. Find all the
rationalizable strategies.