POSC015: Comparative Politics Problem Set I
1. (45 pts.) Solve problems 3 (10 pts), 9 (only last four statements, 10 pts),
11 (only the statement about the senators, 10 pts), and 13 (15 pts) in
Chapter 2 of Clark, et al.
2. (40 pts.) Solve problems 2 (15 pts) & 4 (25 pts) in Chapter 3 of Clark, et
al.
3. (10 pts.) Consider the extensive form game below.
(a) What are the strategies of each of the three players?
(b) What are the subgame perfect equilibria of the game?
P1
P2
(3,4,1)
C
(1,3,3)
D
(1,2,1)
E
A
P2
(6,1,1)
F
P3
(6,0,1)
I
(2,2,2)
H
G
B
Indridi H. Indridason Winter 2023
POSC015: Comparative Politics Problem Set I
4. (10 pts) Consider the extensive form game below.
(a) What are the subgame perfect equilibria of the game?
P1
P2
(3,4,1)
C
(1,3,3)
D
(1,2,1)
E
A
P2
(6,2,1)
F
P3
(6,0,1)
I
(2,3,2)
H
G
B
5. (15 pts.) Find the Nash equilibria of the games. [Note on best replies:
If the best reply is not unique then all the actions that result in the highest
payo are best replies.]
(a) .
Candidate 2
L R
Candidate 1 U 0, 0 1, 1
D 1, 1 0, 0
(b) .
Candidate 2
L R
Candidate 1 U 0, 0 100, 100
D 1, 1 0, 0
Indridi H. Indridason Winter 2023
POSC015: Comparative Politics Problem Set I
(c) .
Candidate 2
L R
Candidate 1 U 1, 1 1, 1
D 1, 1 1, 1
6. (5 pts.) Watch these two clips from the British game show `Golden Balls’:
Clip 1 and Clip 2. Draw the strategic form game of the second clip (the
structure of the game in the two clips is identical only the money at stake
diers). Does the game resemble any game that you are familiar with?
The way the game is played in the second clip is a little may seem a little
surprising? Consider the game you have just drawn can you make sense
of why the players adopted their strategies?
7. (5 pts.) Can you think of a political situation that resembles the prisoner’s
dilemma (the state of nature game)? That is, a situation where, e.g., both
(all) actors have an incentive to choose a particular action when the actors
would have been better o not choosing that action. Briey explain why
(bonus for sketching the game)
Make sure you explain how you arrive at your solution you won’t receive
partial credit for incorrect answers unless we can see that you have done a part
of the problem correctly. It is your responsibility to convey the answers in a
clear manner. The homework is due at the beginning of class on January 26.
Indridi H. Indridason Winter 2023
