Game Theory in Action

Comparative politics is the study of institutions, policy making and most importantly, how to achieve an individual’s most desired outcome. Being able to accomplish a desired outcome is an important skill at an individual level as well as a governmental one. How you go about attaining these goals is equally an important process. Rational thought, tragedy of the commons, stationary bandit, manipulation, tragedy of the commons, and many other methods can be employed to reach ones preferred goal.

A driving force behind decision making is rational thought. Rational thought is the belief that people will act in their own best interest to get the outcome that they most desire. Sometimes rational thought can lead to societal trouble because when everyone is acting in their own best interest the group tends to suffer. This can be seen in the theory of the tragedy of the commons, which is the belief that everyone will act in their personal best interest and destroy the greater good. This can be seen in the overfishing of the oceans today. As read in “A survey of the sea a second fall” fishermen are abusing the ocean by overfishing. In an attempt to stay competitive with other fishermen they are taking too much out of the ocean too quickly and devastating fish populations. Though this is good for them and their profits it hurts the rest of the world that depend on our oceans. In the Economist article “Going with the herd” parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children because of risks associated with vaccines. Also they believe that if every other child is vaccinated then it does not matter that their child is not because no one will have the disease for them to catch. They would be “free riding” or receiving all of the ...

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