Quote from MGJ:
sjfan I think you're a tad too pessimistic. I think even chapter 1 of an introductory book on game theory can be useful to traders. Simply being exposed to the idea of a "mixed strategy", as defined in game theory, can be an eye-opening experience for a trader. At least, it was for me. It suggests all kinds of new trading ideas that are back-testable.
If we are going with game theory as a general framework for disciplined and rigorious thinking process, then I'll agree with you completely. A lot of high order market mechanics can be simplified into a set of "dominant" players with their own motivations and payoffs. For example, a simple game theory argument can be made for why certain things like super senior CLOs can trade at values far off from their actual risk adjusted cashflow (that is, arguments that don't appeal to simple name calling like "Greed" or "corruption").
Where I disagree, I think, is that there's some game theoretical formula for trade management. In my experience, applied real options are far more fruitful for dynamic trade position sizing.
