A Beautiful Mind

Chapter 39

101. Johann Schuck, reporter, article in Dagens Nyheter, Dagens Nyheter, 12.10.94. Schuck broke the storv of the behind-the-scenes fight between Stahl and Lindbeck that delayed the announcement of the prize. A translation was provided by Hans Carlsson, professor of economics, Lund University, 12.4.95. 12.10.94. Schuck broke the storv of the behind-the-scenes fight between Stahl and Lindbeck that delayed the announcement of the prize. A translation was provided by Hans Carlsson, professor of economics, Lund University, 12.4.95.

102. Confidential source.

103. Ibid.

104. Harold Kuhn informed Alicia Nash on Friday, October 7, and Nash himself on October 10, the day before the official announcement.

105. Kiselman, interview.



106. Confidential source with access to the report.

107. Confidential source.

108. Ibid.

109. Confidential source with access to the report.

110. Confidential source.

111. Jacobson, interview.

112. Maler, interview.

113. Jacobson, interview.

114. Ibid.

49: The Greatest Auction Ever

1. Harold Kuhn, interview, 1.95.

2. William Safire, "The Greatest Auction Ever," New York Times, New York Times, 3.16.95, as quoted by Paul Milgrom, 3.16.95, as quoted by Paul Milgrom, Auction Theory" for Privatization Auction Theory" for Privatization (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming). (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).

3. Edmund Andrews, "Wireless Bidders Jostle for Position," New York Times, New York Times, 12.5.94. 12.5.94.

4. Milgrom, Auction Theory for Privatization, Auction Theory for Privatization, op. cit. op. cit.

5. Michael Rothschild, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School, remarks at conference, "Market Design: Spectrum Auctions and Beyond," Princeton University, 11.9.95.

6. Peter C. Cramton, "Dealing with Rivals? Allocating Scarce Resources? You Need Game Theory" (Xerox, 1994). Nash provided the fundamental theory used to a.n.a.lyze and predict behavior in simple games in which rational players have complete knowledge of each other"s preferences and abilities. Harsanyi, in papers published in 1967 and 1968, a.n.a.lyzed games in which some parties had private information. Selten, in 1976, extended the theory to dynamic games, games that take place over time. Cramton gives the offers and counteroffers during a merger negotiation as an example of a dynamic game.

7. Peter Pa.s.sell, "Game Theory Captures a n.o.bel," New York Times, New York Times, 10.12.94. 10.12.94.

8. Paul Samuelson as quoted by Vincent P. Crawford, "Theory and Experiment in the a.n.a.lysis of Strategic Interaction," Symposium on Experimental Economics, Econometric Society, Seventh World Congress, August 1995 (draft: September 1994).

9. See, for example, Robert Gibbons, "An Introduction to Applicable Game Theory," Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 11, no. 1 (Winter 1997), pp. 12749. vol. 11, no. 1 (Winter 1997), pp. 12749.

10. Avinash Dixit, interview, 7.97.

11. Avinash Dixit, as quoted by Pa.s.sell, op. cit.

12. Ibid.

13. John McMillan, Games, Strategies and Managers Games, Strategies and Managers (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992). (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992).

14. R. H. Coase, "The Federal Communications Commission," Journal of Law and Economics Journal of Law and Economics (October 1959), pp. 140, quoted by John McMillan, "Selling Spectrum Rights," (October 1959), pp. 140, quoted by John McMillan, "Selling Spectrum Rights," Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 8, no. 3 (Summer 1994). vol. 8, no. 3 (Summer 1994).

15. Peter C. Cramton, "The PCS Spectrum Auction: An Early a.s.sessment," The Economist The Economist (August 25, 1995). (August 25, 1995).

16. Milgrom, Auction Theory for Privatization Auction Theory for Privatization, op. cit.

17. Ibid. See also McMillan, "Selling Spectrum Rights," op. cit., pp. 15355.

18. Ibid.

19. See, for example, McMillan, "Selling Spectrum Rights," op. cit.; Paul Milgrom, "Game Theory and Its Use in the PCS Spectrum Auction," Games "95, conference, Jerusalem, 9.29.95.

20. Milgrom, Auction Theory for Privatization, Auction Theory for Privatization, op. cit. op. cit.

21. Ibid.

22. Ibid.

23. Ibid.

24. McMillan, "Selling Spectrum Rights," op. cit.

50: Reawakening

1. Sylvain Cappell, interview, 2.29.96.

2. Jorgen Weibull, interview, 11.14.96.

3. Harold and Estelle Kuhn, interviews, 1.95.

4. Weibull, interview.

5. Lena Koster, "For the First Time in 30 Years: Economy Prize Winner Lectured in Uppsala," Uppsala Nya Tidning, Uppsala Nya Tidning, 12.94. 12.94.

6. Christer Kiselman, interview, 3.4.97.

7. Weibull, interview.

8. John Forbes Nash, Jr., Les Prix n.o.bel 1994, Les Prix n.o.bel 1994, op. cit. op. cit.

9. As quoted by Harold Kuhn, interview, 7.24.96.

10. E-mail from John Nash to Harold Kuhn, 3.26.96.

11. John Nash, plenary lecture, World Congress of Psychiatry, Madrid, 8.26.96, op. cit.

12. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 11.94.

13. Ibid., 8.6.95 and 8.26.95.

14. Harold Kuhn, interview, 1.95.

15. Armand Borel, interview, 3.1.96.

16. This conversation took place in a taxi on the way to Newark Airport on 12.5.94 and was recounted by Harold Kuhn, interview, 1.95.

17. As quoted by H. Kuhn, interview, 1.95.

18. E-mail from John Nash to Herbert Meltzer, 7.8.97.

19. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 7.16.95.

20. Confidential source.

21. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 5.12.95.

22. Alicia Nash, interview, 5.16.95.

23. H. Kuhn, interview, 7.26.95.

24. Avinash Dixit, personal communication, 1.31.96.

25. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 8.6.95.

26. Ibid.

27. Alicia Nash, personal communication, 11.29.97.

28. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 6.6.96.

29. Ibid., 9.94.

30. John Nash, personal communication, 3.22.96.

31. H. Kuhn, interview, 8.95.

32. Interviews with John David Stier, 9.20.97; Eleanor Stier, 7.95; Arthur Mattuck, 11.7.95.

33. Martha Nash Legg, interview, 3.1.96.

34. J. D. Stier, interview.

35. Ibid.

36. E. Stier, interview.

37. J. D. Stier, interview.

38. E-mail from J. Nash to H. Kuhn, 9.26.95.

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