What is game theory primarily concerned with?

Game theory is primarily concerned with decision-making involving competitive players who strategize to maximize their own outcomes, often in the context of limited resources or conflicting interests. It provides a framework for analyzing situations where individuals or groups make decisions that are interdependent, meaning the outcome for one participant depends not only on their own decisions but also on the choices of others.

This branch of mathematics and economics allows for the exploration of various scenarios, such as negotiations, market competition, and even social dilemmas, where the interests of different players may collide. The central concept is the "game," which can encompass situations ranging from simple two-player games to complex multi-player environments.

While cooperation among organizations, understanding group psychology, and assessing individual choices in isolation are important in their respective fields, they do not capture the essence of game theory, which is rooted in strategic interaction and the competitive aspects of decision-making. The core of game theory is understanding how rational decision-makers can use strategies to achieve favorable outcomes in competitive situations.