Content:
Econ/CS C147/C177 provides an introduction to algorithmic questions in economic design. We will introduce
normative (desirable) principles and find algorithmic solutions that respect those principles. From the perspective of social principles, we focus on
efficiency, fairness, and equity. In terms of private goals, the focus is on revenue maximization. The course will cover voting, fair
division, matching, pricing, auctions and market mechanisms; with applications to organ allocation, ecommerce, school choice, and centralized market clearing. There is an emphasis on the algorithmic questions (computational and communication complexity) that arise naturally in economic design.
Prerequisites:
The class is meant to be broadly accessible to students in economics and computer science, so there is no required prior coursework, and the class will be self-contained. But the content of the class is mathematical. It is based on definitions,
theorems, and proofs. Students must be comfortable writing simple proofs on their own. I do not recommend that you take this class if you have doubts about this. If you have, for example, taken any of: Econ 103, Math 104, Math 110, CS 170, or CS 172, you should be OK with Econ C147/ CS C177 (these are not prerequisites for the class; you don't need to know the material in these classes to take Algorithmic Economics, just examples of courses that use a similar formal reasoning).
Syllabus:
Here is the syllabus for Spring 2025.