Multiagent Systems
Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations
Yoav Shoham
Stanford University
Kevin Leyton-Brown
University of British Columbia
Multiagent systems consist of multiple autonomous
entities having different information and/or diverging interests.
This comprehensive introduction to the field offers a computer
science perspective, but also draws on ideas from game theory,
economics, operations research, logic, philosophy and linguistics.
It will serve as a reference for researchers in each of these
fields, and be used as a text for advanced undergraduate and
graduate courses.
Emphasizing foundations, the authors offer a broad and rigorous
treatment of their subject, with thorough presentations of
distributed problem solving, non-cooperative game theory, multiagent
communication and learning, social choice, mechanism design,
auctions, coalitional game theory, and logical theories of
knowledge, belief, and other aspects of rational agency. For each
topic, basic concepts are introduced, examples are given, proofs of
key results are offered, and algorithmic considerations are
examined. An appendix covers background material in probability
theory, classical logic, Markov decision processes, and mathematical
programming.
- “This is by
far the best text in the field of multiagent systems, one of the fastest-growing
areas in computer science.”
- — Stuart Russell, University of California at Berkeley
- “Through excellent side-by-side presentation of the main approaches
in computer science, game theory and economics, this pioneering textbook
is a major advance towards the education of a better-equipped generation
of computer scientists as well as social scientists.”
- — Ehud Kalai, Northwestern University
- “Written by two of the leading researchers in the area, this engaging
and accessible book is unique in covering the diverse foundations of
multiagent systems, including logic. Its extensive treatment of the
interplay between computer science and game theory will define how the
subject should be taught.”
- — Joseph Halpern, Cornell University
- “Multiagent Systems touches all aspects of multiagent systems—from
artificial intelligence to algorithms to game theory, to logic, and
beyond—and presents, for the first time, all this cutting-edge
research in a textbook form. Written by leaders in this research area,
this book is certain to become the textbook of choice for classes on
multiagent systems.”
- — Noam Nisan, Hebrew University
- “The authors traverse several disciplines to bring together the most
salient and useful technical principles for understanding multiagent
systems. This text is the first to provide computer scientists with a
comprehensive treatment of the mathematical machinery they need to
analyze systems of autonomous agents, integrating their computational
and strategic dimensions.”
- — Michael Wellman, University of Michigan