A Computer Science Toolbox for Modern Economic Theory

Harvard FAS

How can we use tools from machine learning theory to design better auctions? Can we use cryptography to better implement matching mechanisms? And how should we approach formally proving that welfare in Nash equilibria for many games is not "much worse" than in the social optimum? This course explores the application of diverse ideas, techniques, and solution aesthetics from theoretical computer science to derive meaningful new insights into classic economic problems. The three main…