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An excellent Economist’s Podcast that features Kelly Clancy—a neuroscientist, physicist, and author of Playing With Reality—discussing the profound impact of games on our lives and societal dynamics. Clancy emphasizes that games are a powerful form of learning, shaping how we think and interact with the world.

Games like Chess, Go, Dice, and Cards introduced humanity to the concept of uncertainty, paving the way for probability theory (via Pascal and Fermat’s correspondence) and, subsequently, modern statistics.

The episode also highlights the critical role of war games, such as Chess and Go, which evolved into more complex systems like Kriegsspiel. The latter was instrumental in training military officers and predicting battlefield outcomes, particularly during World War II.

Clancy then connects this history to Game Theory, one of the most significant developments in economics, pioneered by John von Neumann. Game Theory has informed concepts like nuclear deterrence and continues to influence modern strategic thinking. However, it’s essential to complement it with insights from behavioral economics to understand human decision-making fully.

The takeaway? Games are not just entertainment; they’re essential tools for education and skill-building. They can influence our behavior, shape our knowledge, and enhance problem-solving abilities. For instance, Miegakure (miegakure.com) challenges players to solve problems in four dimensions—a fascinating way to expand your cognitive boundaries.

All of this in just 38 minutes (at normal speed)—a fantastic return on your time!

(revised by a LLM)

The surprising ways in which games have changed the world—an interview with Kelly Clancy