Influence Pays – Game Theory for Smarter Workplace Incentives | with Pau Milán
In this episode, we explore how game theory and network effects intersect to inform optimal incentive structures in organizations. Pau Milán walks us through his recent research, co-authored with Nicolás Oviedo-Davila and Marc Claveria, which uses a novel game-theoretic model to show how the productivity of one employee can amplify the output of others in their network—and how firms can leverage this to design smarter compensation schemes. Drawing on real-world examples and his theoretical work, Pau offers practical insights for employers and economists alike. Pau Milán is an Associate Professor of Economics at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and an Affiliated Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE). His research interests include Social and Economic Networks, Information Economics, Development Economics, Organisations, and Applied Game Theory. You can find the working paper "Incentive Contracts and Peer Effects in the Workplace" here.
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Are equilibria a good predictor for real-life behaviour? | with Colin Camerer
In this episode we explore the most classical topic from Game Theory – equilibrium analysis. Our guest Colin Camerer shares insights on the game LUPI ('lowest unique positive integer'). We first discuss the actual mathematical equilibrium analysis and then dive into real life: results from a Swedish game show in which the game was played in a lottery format. Colin also compares the results from the game show with a study of the same game in a controlled lab environment. We finish the episode by deep-diving into level-k reasoning and Colin shares an example based on the role of published movie reviews. Colin Camerer is the Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Economics at Caltech. His research interests include decisions, games, and markets.
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The Power of Connection – A Game Theoretic View on Networks | with Matthew Jackson
In this episode we explore the economic and strategic foundations of networks – from personal connections in the labor market to complex webs of international trade and conflict together with our guest Matthew Jackson. He unpacks how networks shape opportunities, inequalities, and global dynamics, and how game theory helps us understand the power and fragility of these structures. Along the way, we discuss surprising applications, including the role of tariffs in supply chains and how network insights can explain patterns of cooperation and rivalry. Matthew Jackson is the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University. His research interests include game theory, microeconomic theory, and the study of social and economic networks.
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Robbing the many to pay the one – game theory and temptation | with Carlos Alós-Ferrer
In this episode we are talking about corporate scandals, selfishness, and how game theory can help us understand when people give in to temptation. Carlos Alós-Ferrer explains how his "Big Robber" experiment shows that while people often act pro-socially in classical economic games, things change when individuals are given the chance to earn large sums of money at the expense of harming many others. We also discuss how insights from psychology and neuroscience enrich economics by highlighting the importance of process data such as response times. Carlos Alós-Ferrer is Chair Professor of Economics at Lancaster University (UK). His research spans economics, psychology, and neuroscience, with a focus on decision-making processes and the interdisciplinary field of psycho-economics. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Economic Psychology and also writes the blog Decisions and the Brain on Psychology Today.
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From First Offer to Final Minute: Lessons from Unstructured Bargaining | with Emin Karagözoğlu
In this episode, we dive into the world of experimental research on unstructured bargaining, exploring how real-world negotiations unfold when stripped of rigid rules and scripts. Our guest Emin explains how opening offers shape the conversation, the unspoken dance of reputation, and the ticking clock of deadlines – showing that even in seemingly messy contexts, strategic patterns emerge. Emin Karagözoğlu is Associate Professor of Economics at Bilkent University. His work spans behavioural and experimental economics, game theory, and neuroeconomics, with a strong research focus on bargaining, fairness, morality, and dynamic negotiation processes.
In Game Changer, the podcast by TWS Partners, we want to share our enthusiasm and passion for game theory and its applications.
We invite guests from business and academia to discuss how they use the power of game theory in their profession to make a difference – and to learn some fun anecdotes, useful facts and valuable insights along the way. Join us on this journey, and find out that game theory is much more than a topic for ivory tower discussions.
Colombia