Modeling Politics and International Relations

Catalog description

This course provides a gentle introduction to modeling political behavior, using game theory to investigate political problems. Topics will include the policy position of political parties (the median voter problem), allocating cabinet positions within governments (divide the dollar problem), use of the Presidential veto (and other agenda setting problems) and how political institutions affect the types of policies government implement (selectorate theory). International relations problems will also be considered: models of bargaining and war, arms expenditures, the democratic peace and the provision of foreign aid. For instance, recently US President Trump has told NATO members that they need to spend more of defense. Using a model of collective action we will see why the US spends so much more that its NATO allies and how changes in threats over time have affected the imbalance in spending. The course assumes no prior mathematical modeling, although students should not be afraid of math. Students should expect to use basic algebra to solve problems (if you can solve two equations for two unknowns then you have all the required math skills).