Power in Game Theory

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to discuss power in game theory, in order to model the asymmetries of forces among the players of the game. The starting point is that games are strategic interactions between rational individuals in a social environment, and the players do not have equal forces. Game theory has increased greatly in recent years, including several new branches. However, the concept of power in game theory has not been explored to any great extent. Indeed, power is a broad concept that has no clear definition. This paper formalizes a model, taking account the asymmetric forces between players. Examples are given, using some well-known games, to illustrate this relation involving power. As a result, this paper presents an approach in two still distant scientific fields: sociology and game theory.