Table 1.

Game theoretic concepts in the analysis of comparative statics and evolutionary dynamics.

	outcome for an agent depends on its own strategy and strategies of other agents	distribution of strategies that agents display is influenced by strategies of agents with which they interact	solution condition
comparative statics	a pay-off matrix is a table of pay-offs (utilities) an agent is anticipated to receive in different scenarios	an agent can adopt a strategy that maximizes pay-off by comparing numerical entries in a pay-off matrix. Changing the problem by changing the pay-off matrix can change the ‘best’ strategies agents can adopt	interacting agents adopt a set of strategies so that no agent can increase her pay-off by unilaterally changing her strategy
evolutionary dynamics	net cell population expansion rate is a function of the demographic composition of the cells in the environment	in many models, individual agents lack the intelligence needed to scrutinize entries in a pay-off matrix. Less fit cells do not ‘know’ to quit. Nevertheless, a population can become relatively pruned of less fit cell types over generations of reproductive competition	relative proportions of different cell types in a population achieve a stable (homeostatic, tends to self-restore) steady state