COWLES FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ECONOMICS
AT YALE UNIVERSITY

Post Office Box 208281
New Haven, CT 06520-8281

COWLES FOUNDATION DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 829

"Game Theory Models of Strategic Behavior and Nuclear Deterrence"

Martin Shubik

March 1987

This essay offers an exposition of the potential uses of game theoretic reasoning and mathematical models in the study of the prevention of nuclear war.

JEL Classification: 026, 114

Keywords: Game theory, nuclear deterrence, arms race, escalation, retaliation, threat