Analyzing Global Environmental Issues: Theoretical and Experimental Applications and their Policy Implications

Our world witnesses environmental dilemmas and political conflicts leading us to appreciate the need for individuals and groups to behave strategically in order to achieve their goals and maintain their wellbeing. Global issues such as climate change, migration, resource depletion, and pollution, as well as revolts and protests against corporations, regimes, and other central authorities are the result of increased levels of externalities among individuals and nations (e.g., fisheries, global warming, transboundary water, ecological services, and poverty). These all require policy intervention at international and global levels. Game theory has become one of the main analytical tools for addressing strategic issues in the field of economics, and is increasing its influence in other social sciences like politics, sociology, and law, and in computer science and evolutionary biology. With globalization and openness of societies, and with the growing level of communication and analytical capacity, game theory is perceived as a major tool for policy makers and not only for theoreticians. The proposed book includes chapters by experts proposing game theoretical solutions to a variety of social issues related to global and international conflicts over natural resources and the environment. The focus of the book is on applications that have policy implications, relevance and, consequently, could lead to the establishment of policy dialogue. The objective of this book is to illustrate the usefulness of game theory in policy making at multiple levels and for various aspects related to global and international issues.