Choice, Contracts and Computation

June 9-10, 2008

Organizers: Dirk Bergemann and Larry Samuelson

MONDAY
8:00 Continental Breakfast
  SESSION 1. MECHANISM DESIGN — Chaired by Dirk Bergemenn
9:00 Alex Gershkov (University of Bonn), “Dynamic Revenue Maximization with Heterogeneous Objects: A Mechanism Design Approach” (with Benny Moldovanu) and “The Trade-off Between Fast Learning and Dynamic Efficiency”
10:00 Break
10:15 Ilya Segal (Stanford University), “Dynamic Mechanism Design: Revenue Equivalence, Profit Maximization and Information Disclosure”
11:15 Break
11:30 Susan Athey (Harvard University), “An Efficient Dynamic Mechanism”
12:30 Lunch
  SESSION 2. DECISION THEORY — Chaired by John Geanakoplos
2:30 Bart Lipman (Boston University) “Costly Self Control vs. Overwhelming Temptation” (with Eddie Dekel)
3:30 Break
3:45 Haluk Ergin (Washington University, St. Louis), “Framing Contingencies”
4:45 Break
5:00 Larry Blume, David Easley and Joe Halpern (Cornell University), “Constructive Decision Theory”
7:00 Dinner, Bentara, 76 Orange Street
TUESDAY
  SESSION 3. COMPUTABILITY — Chaired by Don Brown
9:00 Tim Roughgarden (Stanford University), “Potentials and Approximation”
10:00 Break
10:15 Shanghua Teng (Boston University), “Game and Market Equilibria: Approximation and Smoothed Analysis”
11:15 Break
11:30 Jason Hartline (Northwestern University) and Tim Roughgarden (Stanford University), “Optimal Mechanism Design and Money Burning”
12:30 Lunch
  SESSION 4. DYNAMIC CONTRACTING — Chaired by Larry Samuelson
2:30 Yulie Sannikov (UC Berkeley), “Learning in Dynamic Incentive Contracts” (with Peter M. DeMarzo)
3:30 Break
3:45 Noah Williams (Princeton University), “Persistent Private Information”
4:45 Break
5:00 Bruno Biais (Toulouse), “Accident Risk, Limited Liability and Dynamic Moral Hazard” (with Thomas Mariotti, Jean-Charles Rochet, Stéphane Villeneuve)
7:00 Dinner, Sabor, 266 College Street

Attendees
David Ahn (University of California-Berkely)
Susan Athey (Harvard University)
Bruno Biais (Toulouse)
Larry Blume (Cornell University)
Don Brown (Yale University)
Luciano de Castro (University of Illinois)
Yeon-Koo Che (Columbia University)
Martin Cripps
Rahul Deb (Yale University)
Haluk Ergin (Washington University, St. Louis)
Eduardo Faingold (Yale University)
Kyna Fong (Stanford University)
Oliver Funck (Yale University)
John Geanakopolos (Yale University)
Dino Gerardi (Yale University)
Alex Gershkov (University of Bonn)
Joe Halpern (Cornell University)
Jason Hartline (Northwestern University)
Bart Lipman (Boston University)
Qinming Liu (Yale University)
Lucas Maestri (Yale University)
George Mailath (University of Pennsylvania)
Moritz Meyer-ter-Vehn (UCLA)		 Steven Morris (Princeton University)
David Parkes (Harvard University)
Andrew Postlewaite (University of Pennsylvania)
James Powell
Jean-Marc Robin
Tim Roughgarden (Stanford University)
Kareen Rozen (Yale University)
Maher Said (Yale University)
Bill Sandholm (University of WI-Madison)
Yuliy Sannikov (Berkeley)
Todd Sarver (Northwestern)
Herb Scarf (Yale University)
Ilya Segal (Stanford University
Ji Shen (Yale University)
Bruno Strulovici (University of Oxford)
Shanghua Teng (Boston University)
Xianwen Shi (University of Toronto)
Tomasz Strzalecki (Northwestern University)
Richard Vanweelden (Yale University)
Jonathan Weinstein (Kellogg School of Management)
Noah Williams (Princeton University)
Steve Williams (University of Illinois)
Muhamet Yildiz (MIT)

Conference Frequently Asked Questions

How can I connect to the Yale Wi-Fi network while attending a conference?

Yale provides visitors two Wi-Fi network options:

  • YaleGuest
  • Eduroam

YaleGuest is a public, insecure wireless network available for anyone’s use, but has limited network access. Due to security reasons, certain programs and functionality may not be accessible via the YaleGuest network, e.g., Dropbox, Skype, and Box.  

If possible, we recommended you use the Eduroam wireless network.  Eduroam (education roaming) is a secure, world-wide roaming access service that allows students, researchers and staff from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity across campuses when visiting other participating institutions.

If your institution is a partner, access the Eduroam network by selecting Eduroam from the Wi-Fi list on your mobile device and sign-in using your home institution’s credentials*. View Eduroam’s complete listing of U.S. participating schools; International visitors can look for institutional listings on this country page.

For additional details, please contact your institution’s IT department or search your institution’s support page.

*Credential format is typically ID@UniversityName.edu, e.g., YaleNetID@yale.edu or SUNetID@win.stanford.edu
How do I get to the conference location from the Blake Hotel?

The conference will be held at the Yale School of Management (SOM), Evans Hall located at 165 Whitney Ave and is about a 20 minute walk from the Blake Hotel. The easiest route to SOM from the Blake Hotel is to go south-east on George Street and turn left on Temple St. Temaple will merge into Whitney Avenue. SOM will be on the right side of the street across from the Peabody Museum (see map below).
How do I get to the conference location from the Omni Hotel?

The conference will be held at the Yale School of Management (SOM), Evans Hall located at 165 Whitney Ave and is about a 15 minute walk from the Omni Hotel. The easiest route to SOM from the Omni Hotel is to go north on Temple St. which merges into Whitney Avenue. SOM will be on the right side of the street across from the Peabody Museum (see map below).
Is reimbursement offered for my travel expenses?

For travel expense reimbursement for the 2020 Cowles GE Conference, please send the following items by Friday, July 31, 2020.

For travel expense reimbursement for the 2020 Cowles Summer Conferences, please send the following items by Friday, September 11, 2020.

FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

  • Complete the appropriate online conference travel reimbursement form (These online forms allow you to upload any/all relevant forms and receipts which will be bundled together as one document):
  • Please upload any/all receipts for airfare (economy only)/rail and ground transportation. Receipts must be itemized and show proof of payment (i.e., if paid by credit card the receipt should show the last 4 digits of the credit card).

Note, vouchers for previously canceled or unrelated travel cannot be reimbursed if used to pay for any Cowles related travel.

FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ONLY

IF YOU HOLD A B1/B2/WB/WT VISA:

IF YOU HOLD A G4/H-1B/J1/01 VISA:

IF YOU HOLD A F1 VISA:

Email or send original receipts, completed travel reimbursement form, and applicable international forms to:

Darlene Smith
darlene.a.smith@yale.edu
Event & Visitor Assistant Administrator
Cowles Foundation at Yale University
30 Hillhouse Avenue
P.O. Box 208281
New Haven, CT 06520

Email questions to Darlene Smith

Contacts
Is there a building map of the conference venue?

The conference sessions are held on the second floor in Evans Hall at the Yale School of Management. Restrooms can be found on the perimeter of the building along the sides and back of the building.

Click to enlarge
What can I do in New Haven during my stay?

Yale and New Haven offer many attractions to bide your time while in the Elm City. Below is a list of a few:

Yale Attractions

New Haven Attractions

Performing Arts
Where can I find a campus map?

The Cowles Foundation is located in the heart of Yale’s campus at 30 Hillhouse Avenue.  Use the Yale online campus map to help find your way around.
Who do I contact for assistance with Omni Hotel room reservations?

If you need assistance with an Omni Hotel room reservation, please contact Alyson Perri, Convention Services Manager, Omni Hotels.
Who do I contact in case of an emergency?

In cases of emergency, contact the appropriate department listed below:

You can also report a crime or send an anonymous text tip through our Bulldog Mobile (LiveSafe) app. (To register for Bulldog Mobile please visit the Yale LiveSafe page)

For addtional emergency information, visit the Yale Emergency Management website.
Will transportation be provided in case of inclement weather?

Yes, a shuttle bus will be arranged to drive between the hotel and conference location. Typically, an announcement will be sent out from Darlene Smith the day before with additional information.