I will consider the design of efficient and profit-maximizing Bayesian incentive-compatible mechanisms for general dynamic environments with private information. In the environment, agents observe a sequence of private signals over a number of periods. In each period, the agents report their private signals and choose public (contractible) and private actions based on the reports. The probability distribution over future signals may depend on both past signals and past decisions. The general...

In his seminal 1950 paper, John NashIn his seminal 1950 paper, John Nash defined the bargaining game; the ensuing theory of bargaining lies at the heart of game theory. In this work, we initiate an algorithmic study of Nash bargaining games. For a certain class of Nash bargaining games, we show that they can be transformed into a market (in a new variant of a traditional market model from mathematical economics). We then extend techniques developed in theoretical computer science over the...

In this talk, Dr.Scott E. Page, University of Michigan, will present three models for explaining the wisdom of crowds phenomenon, in which collections make better predictions than the individuals that comprise them. The first two models will be traditional models based on error cancellation and averaging. The third will be based on aggregating diverse predictive models using a framework developed by Hong and Page (2008). This talk is part of Calit2's 2008-2009 Behavioral, Social and Computer...

Social networks influence the evolution of cooperation and they exhibit strikingly systematic patterns across a wide range of human contexts. Both of these facts suggest that variation in the topological attributes of human social networks might have a genetic basis. While genetic variation accounts for a significant portion of the variation in many complex social behaviors, the heritability of egocentric social network attributes is unknown. Here we show that three of these attributes...

We think of intelligence as a deliberate, conscious activity guided by the laws of logic. Yet much of our mental life is unconscious, based on processes alien to logic: gut feelings, or intuitions. I argue that intuition is more than impulse and caprice; it has its own rationale. This can be described by fast and frugal heuristics, which exploit evolved abilities in our brain. Heuristics ignore information and try to focus on the few important reasons. More information, more time, even more...

"The Living Matrix: The Science of Healing," trailer; The movie uncovers new ideas about the intricate web of factors that determine our health and interviews a group of dedicated scientists, psychologists, bioenergetic researchers and holistic practitioners, who are finding healing potential in new places. (The energetic information-based medicine looks particularly powerful.) http://www.thelivingmatrixmovie.com/