Simulations / models in code?

[juanfranblanco]

Any thoughts about creating some models in code? Or just plain excel?

[MrChico]

It would be interesting to explore once we have some decent grasp on the theory, I think. To me, it seems like there are different approaches to this:

• Heuristic/object oriented approach where one models a couple of different agents to see how they perform (comparable to Vitaliks approach to modeling different strategies for validators here http://vitalik.ca/files/timing.html)
• Theoretical/Functional approach where one calculates Nash equilibria in a mathematical fashion and formally verifies certain results about strategies

I, of course, have a penchant for the second approach

[karlfloersch]

Great point! I think this would be super cool. I do agree though that it will be something we work towards as we get a better grasp of the theory. I also feel like we can get a lot of the way there by getting used to mathematically defining the games we talk about.

However, it prompted me to do a little research and here's some cool stuff I found:

• A matlab solver for n-person non-cooperative games
• A wikipedia article on "algorithmic game theory". It isn't super enlightening on common algorithms, but it does have really interesting points on mechanism design and it's relevance in the internet age.

[karlfloersch]

After our last discussion it seems we are leaning towards trying out Python as a language for these sims