Game theory is a mathematical area that investigates strategic decision-making. It provides a framework for studying scenarios in which numerous individuals or organizations, referred to as “players,” make decisions that impact the payoffs of one another. From commercial marketplaces to political disputes to biological evolution, game theory is used to describe and evaluate a wide range of situations.

Some fundamental notions in game theory are as follows:

• Strategic games: These are scenarios in which the result is determined by the decisions of two or more players, each of whom is aware of the game’s payout structure but is unaware of the choices of the other players.
• Equilibrium: A collection of tactics, one for each participant, in which no player can increase their payout by altering their approach unilaterally.
• Nash equilibrium: A sort of equilibrium in which each player’s approach is the optimal response to the other players’ tactics.
• Dominant strategy: A strategy that is the best decision for a player independent of the other players’ plans.

Game theory has several applications in economics, political science, biology, computer science, and engineering. Game theory is used in economics to simulate and evaluate market competition, negotiation, and contract design. It is used in political science to analyze voting, international relations, and political institutions. It is used in biology to study the development of animal behavior and the dynamics of ecosystems.

“Game Theory: An Introduction”: Steven Tadelis’s

This book gives a thorough introduction to game theory, covering both its mathematical basis and applications in a variety of domains.

“The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior” by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern’s

This famous work, which was initially published in 1944, is widely regarded as the basic text of game theory. It introduces the mathematical idea of a “game” and establishes the fundamental tools for studying them.

“Game Theory for Political Scientists” by James D. Morrow

This book is aimed primarily at political scientists and uses game theory to examine political behavior and institutions.

“Rational Choice in an Uncertain World” by Rebecca Goldstein and David A. Schum

This book offers a straightforward introduction to game theory and its applications, with an emphasis on how it may be used to explain and predict human behavior.

“Systems: Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations” by Yoav Shoham and Kevin Leyton-“Multiagent Brown

This book gives a thorough introduction to the area of multi-agent systems, which analyzes the behavior of several interacting agents using game theory.

“The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life” by Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff

This book relates game theory to a variety of real-world situations, such as business, politics, and everyday life, and offers practical guidance for making strategic decisions.

“Game Theory Evolving” by Herbert Gintis

Herbert Gintis’s “Game Theory Evolving” offers a comprehensive introduction to the evolution of game theory, encompassing its historical history, current position, and future possibilities.

“A Course in Game Theory” by Martin J. Osborne and Ariel Rubinstein

This book provides a thorough introduction to game theory, both in terms of principles and applications, and is suited for use as a textbook in a game theory course.

“An Introduction to Game Theory”by Martin J. Osborne

Martin J. Osborne’s “An Introduction to Game Theory” presents a basic introduction to game theory, encompassing important ideas and the major solution concepts for non-cooperative games.

“Game Theory for Applied Economists” by Robert Gibbons

This book gives a comprehensive introduction to game theory and its applications in economics, covering the application of game-theoretic concepts and methods in industrial organization, labor economics, and development economics.

All of the works mentioned above are widely regarded as the greatest texts on game theory, and they cover the theoretical underpinnings, mathematical principles, and practical applications of game theory. These books are appropriate for students, researchers, and practitioners who want to learn more about game theory.