Blog
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Who Buttoned My Waistcoat?
Who did button my waistcoat, a human or a sufficiently intelligent algorithm, (SIAL)? At Manchester and Smurfit business schools we explore the economics of the sharing economy from a game theory perspective. We have shared observations and experiences of online transactions. They represent data patterns that are embedded in the clicking and scrolling behaviour of…
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Polar Bear & Seal Dilemma in the Apollonius Circle
Abstract Polar bears pursue seals. But polar bears cannot swim as well as seals. As the ice cap melts, there is less ice caps for the seals to rest. Both have to survive. With melting ice caps, the seal as victim should adapt to the same speed as the pursuer, the polar bear. In the…
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The Dark Pool of Empty Markets
Many have commented that the job market has become an enigma over the past few years. The jobless rate is low, but pay has risen slowly. Are we[1] measuring pay imperfectly? Vacancies co-exist with unemployment and the old phenomenon of under-employment and the new challenge of a zero-hours contract have emerged to colour the landscape.…
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Raw War: Google ∧ Apple = 1
Google and Apple are like chess players in a smart game – their war is raw. They are as thran as a pair of cloth galluses. Both players attack: they have developed a cognitive awareness of each other as competitors and like[1] Radar O’Reilly they always know the rival strategy before the rival does. Players…
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Soft Law: Google & The Coffice
The EU regulators should settle the long running case[1] against Google. They should present Google with the opportunity to amend any alleged or putative anti-competitive practices. Markets are evolving eco-systems – contest, combat and scramble market systems[2] – and new markets are created by technology. The challenge for the law is how to handle technology…
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Agincourt 1415: Henry V vS Charles VI
Sunday 25th October 2015 marks the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. It is an interesting battle from the perspective of non-cooperative game theory. It has elements of both imperfect information on how the game is played and incomplete information of player type. The optimal strategy for Henry V or Charles VI…
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Wistful Economics
Economics of times past, of Adam Smith and Keynes alas! Has economics become an illusion? Yes. It is an accidental tourist in the political landscape. Economic policy making is[1] ‘but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage’ of natural numbers, coupled with policymakers throwing[2] ‘sixes and fives in…
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Edited Ethics: Mr ‘Three Eyes’
What you and I need is ethics redefined. Would you sacrifice the life of one man to save five? – check the debate at bit/ly/otfatman. What’s your decision? Your answer will reveal a philosophy, your sense of ethics. .Can we apply a philosophical reasoning to the business world? This is the challenge we set in…
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Whither the Euro? The Liar’s Paradox
Whither the Euro? The Liar’s Paradox In Dickens’ Hard Times the character Mr Gradgrind can’t help but speak about Facts to his pupils: ‘Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else’. As we listen to…