Опис курсу

“Economics and Business Strategies of Board Games” is an innovative elective course that explores economic processes, business models, and strategic managerial decisions through the analysis of modern board game systems. The course combines economic theory, strategic analysis, and practical modeling of complex socio-economic systems.

Within the discipline, board games are considered as tools for economic, behavioral, and strategic modeling, enabling students to dynamically analyze competition for resources, decision-making under uncertainty, coalition formation, information asymmetry, risks, and the consequences of strategic choices.

Financial literacy, cash flow management, investment thinking, and the formation of a personal financial strategy are studied through the game Cashflow, which clearly demonstrates the logic of assets and liabilities, the impact of financial decisions on long-term stability, and the role of investments in achieving economic independence.

Issues of corporate governance, conflicts of interest, the responsibility of owners and managers, and the interaction between formal and informal centers of influence are analyzed through the game Ultimate Beneficiary, which allows modeling real business situations related to control, ownership, and strategic decision-making.

Spatial economics, competition for territories, resource optimization, and the formation of long-term advantages are examined using the game Carcassonne, which demonstrates how incremental decisions and efficient use of limited resources affect overall economic outcomes.

Political economy, strategic management, competition for power, resources, and influence are explored through A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, where economic decisions are closely intertwined with diplomacy, military power, and coalition politics, and success depends on the ability to anticipate the actions of other participants.

Strategic planning and trade-offs between economic development, military strength, and political influence are analyzed using Dune: Imperium, which models a multi-level decision-making system within a complex competitive environment.

Behavioral aspects of economics, information asymmetry, trust, manipulation, reputational risks, and collective choice are examined through social-deduction games such as Mascarade, Detective Club, Hellapagos, and Secret Hitler, which vividly demonstrate the role of communication, hidden information, and social dynamics in economic and managerial decision-making.

The course is oriented toward active learning, teamwork, analytical discussions, and reflection. It develops students’ ability to think strategically, analyze complex economic systems, assess risks and managerial consequences, and understand the economy as a dynamic system of interactions among people, resources, and interests.

Within the course, board games are treated as instruments for modeling real economic and business situations, allowing students to practically explore the behavior of economic agents, strategic planning, coalition formation, and decision-making under limited information and uncertainty. Special attention is paid to analyzing game mechanics, their correspondence to economic models, and the applicability of derived insights to real business environments.

Main Objectives of the Course

• To develop students’ strategic thinking and economic analysis skills;
• To study principles of resource management, risk management, and competition;
• To analyze behavioral models of economic agents under limited information and uncertainty;
• To explore mechanisms of coalition formation, negotiations, and conflicts of interest;
• To develop the ability to assess the effectiveness of strategic decisions and their long-term consequences;
• To apply game mechanics as tools for modeling business processes and economic systems.

Upon Completion of the Course, the Student Will:

a) Know:

• The essence of economic games and their role in modeling real business and market processes;
• Basic concepts of economic theory, strategic management, and game theory;
• Principles of managerial and strategic decision-making under resource constraints;
• Mechanisms of competition, cooperation, and coalition formation;
• Behavioral characteristics of economic agents under uncertainty and incomplete information;
• The role of risk, incentives, and motivation in strategic game models;
• The relationship between board game mechanics and real economic and business strategies;
• Typical strategic mistakes and their consequences in economic game models.

b) Be Able To:

• Analyze economic and business situations using game-based models;
• Apply strategic thinking in competitive environments;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of resource, risk, and capital management;
• Identify and analyze behavioral patterns of market participants;
• Formulate and adjust strategies depending on the actions of other participants;
• Provide well-argued justifications for decisions and forecast their consequences;
• Work in teams, conduct negotiations, and participate in coalition building;
• Conduct independent analysis of strategic decisions based on board game outcomes.