Solutions in multi-actor projects with collaboration and strategic incentives

This dissertation focuses on the mathematical analysis of projects involving decisions by multiple players. These players all have their own capabilities, requirements, and incentives, but their (monetary) outcome is dependent on the decisions of other players as well. Game theory is a mathematical tool to analyze the interactive decision-making process, generally paired with a method to ‘resolve’ the conflict situation. The way in which players interact in such a situation is commonly divided in two categories, distinguishing between cooperative and competitive (non-cooperative) behavior. This dissertation first studies two models within a cooperative framework, starting with the definition and analysis of a new influence measure for general, collaborative projects. The second model applies to situations where players cooperate on the construction of a new joint infrastructure, with a specific focus on cost allocation for CO2 transport infrastructure. Next, two-stage models are considered, in which a noncooperative first stage is followed by a cooperative second stage. Subsequently, social welfare loss in auctions with a corrupt auctioneer is studied. Finally, a new solution concept is presented that refines the notion of Nash equilibria for a general class of non-cooperative games.