Monash University > Publications > 2014 Handbooks > Units

Postgraduate - UnitLAW7659 - Game theory and the law

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Law
Offered	Prato Term 2 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Adi Ayal

Quota applies

The number of places available for a unit taught in Prato is strictly limited to 45. This is the maximum room capacity at the Prato Centre.

Synopsis

The course will present the basic models of game theory and their legal applications, with special emphasis on interactive learning through participating in games (both online and in-class), and discussion of the dynamics of decision-making present within each game. Course material will focus on non-cooperative game theory (where each actor is presumed to be a self-utility-maximising individual or firm), though some models of cooperative game theory will be presented as well (formation of coalitions among members). Application to legal issues will be discussed, both based on scholarly writings and on students' input as to real-life situations where similar strategic interactions arise (relying both on case law and non-legal everyday experience). The focus of this course is on understanding and being able to apply game theory's insights to everyday and legal decision-making, rather than theoretical knowledge alone.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

apply knowledge and understanding of game-theoretic concepts a they apply to legal reasoning with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning and so as to shed new light on day-to-day experiences and political interactions;
investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories of competing applications of game-theoretic models in the legal literature;
conduct research in game theory based on knowledge of appropriate research principles.

Assessment

Completion of online games prior to and in class and participation in class discussion about the implications and application of games to the relevant aspect of the syllabus: 60%
Research assignment of 3,000 words: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ayal Adi

Workload requirements

This will vary depending upon the demands of Prato and the timetable. Indicative hours would be: 6 hours a week for 6 weeks or 12 hours per week for 3 weeks. The total number of hours contact will remain 36.