Game theory has proven useful to represent and conceptualize problems of conflict and cooperation in a formal way, and to predict the outcome of such situations. Differential games are dynamic games that are particularly designed to study systems where observations and decisions are made in real time.
The book conveys to the reader the state of the art of research in marketing applications of differential game theory. This research started about 25 years ago and the literature has now reached an extent and a maturity that makes it natural to take stock.
The book deals with differential games in advertising, pricing, and marketing channels, as well as with marketing-production and pricing-advertising interfaces. It provides also a tutorial on main concepts in differential games.

Game theory has proven useful to represent and conceptualize problems of conflict and cooperation in a formal way, and to predict the outcome of such situations. Differential games are dynamic games that are particularly designed to study systems where observations and decisions are made in real time. The book conveys to the reader the state of the art of research in marketing applications of differential game theory. This research started about 25 years ago and the literature has now reached an extent and a maturity that makes it natural to take stock. The book deals with differential games in advertising, pricing, and marketing channels, as well as with marketing-production and pricing-advertising interfaces. It provides also a tutorial on main concepts in differential games.

This volume contains a selection of papers that were presented at the International Workshop on Dynamic Competitive Analysis, held in Montr6al, Canada, September 1-2, 1995. The workshop was organized by the editors of the proceedings volume. The proceedings contain both "full papers" and shorter pieces, to be considered as "work in progress." The choice of a rather broad theme for the workshop was deliberate and done in order to attract researchers from different areas of the marketing science community that usually do not get together. Obviously, a volume like this cannot be exhaustive in the coverage of the dynamics of marketing competition but we are confident that it will convey to the reader an impression of what are the current themes in this field of research. The book should be useful to researchers in marketing science, applied game theorists, graduate students, as well as practitioners in marketing with an interest in methods and examples of dynamic competitive analysis.

This book is a comprehensive, self-contained survey of the theory and applications of differential games. No prior knowledge of game theory is assumed, although a basic knowledge of linear algebra, ordinary differential equations and mathematical programming is required. This book is designed as a research resource for researchers and scholars as well as a text for advanced undergraduates and first year graduate students. Those in all aspects of economics, as well as in industrial organizations, decision sciences, management science, marketing, operations research and quantitative methods will benefit from this book.

This collection of selected contributions gives an account of recent developments in dynamic game theory and its applications, covering both theoretical advances and new applications of dynamic games in such areas as pursuit-evasion games, ecology, and economics. Written by experts in their respective disciplines, the chapters are an outgrowth of presentations from the 11th International Symposium on Dynamic Games and Applications.

Key topics covered include:

* stochastic and differential games

* dynamic games and their applications in various areas, such as ecology and economics

* numerical methods and algorithms in dynamic games

* zero- and nonzero-sum games

* pursuit-evasion games

* evolutionary game theory and applications

The work will serve as a state-of-the art account of recent advances in dynamic game theory and its applications for researchers, practitioners, and advanced students in applied mathematics, mathematical finance, and engineering.