Ph.D. Student Uses Game Theory to Model Manhattan - New York Institute of Technology
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A Ph.D. student is using game theory to model whether congestion pricing actually shifts Manhattan traffic — or just shifts who pays.
Game TheoryNash EquilibriumMechanism DesignTragedy of the Commons
Theory Briefing
- Helen Wu, an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student, is applying game theory to model how drivers respond to NYC's congestion pricing scheme.
- The research treats every commuter as a strategic player, each adjusting their route or timing based on what everyone else is doing.
- Congestion pricing assumes higher costs deter entry — but game theory can reveal whether drivers collectively find workarounds that undermine the policy.
- The model targets Manhattan specifically, where the density of competing routes and transit options makes strategic behavior especially complex.