Evolutionary game theory

Evolutionary game theory (EGT) is the application of game theory to evolving populations in biology. It defines a framework of contests, strategies, and analytics into which Darwinian competition can be modelled. It originated in 1973 with John Maynard Smith and George R. Price's formalisation of contests, analysed as strategies, and the mathematical criteria that can be used to predict the results of competing strategies.[1]

Evolutionary game theory differs from classical game theory in focusing more on the dynamics of strategy change.[2] This is influenced by the frequency of the competing strategies in the population.[3]

Evolutionary game theory has helped to explain the basis of altruistic behaviours in Darwinian evolution. It has in turn become of interest to economists,[4] sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers.

  1. ^ Maynard Smith, John; Price, G. R. (1973). "The Logic of Animal Conflict". Nature. 246 (5427): 15–18. Bibcode:1973Natur.246...15S. doi:10.1038/246015a0. S2CID 4224989.
  2. ^ Newton, Jonathan (2018). "Evolutionary Game Theory: A Renaissance" (PDF). Games. 9 (2): 31. doi:10.3390/g9020031.
  3. ^ Easley, David; Kleinberg, Jon (2010). Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning About a Highly Connected World (PDF). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521195331.
  4. ^ Michihiro, Kandori (1997). "Evolutionary game theory in economics". In Kreps, David M.; Wallis, Kenneth F. (eds.). Advances in Economics and Econometrics : Theory and Applications. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 243–277. ISBN 0-521-58983-5.