What Is Game Theory?

August 9, 2026

Game theory is a set of mathematical techniques for thinking about how people should choose when their choices interact. But real people aren’t exactly rational actors. Can a mathematical model explain real-world decisions? How can game theorists account for the fact that we don’t always know each other… or ourselves? Josh and Ray play no games with economist Jonathan Levin, president of Stanford University and author of “Learning in Games.”

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Man in suit smiling in front of Stanford University architecture
Jonathan Levin, 13th President of Stanford University

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