Focal Points

This paper gives an overview of the literature on focal points. It starts with reviewing Schelling’s seminal book The Strategy of Conflict.I then discuss the problems that have to be faced when incorporating the notion of focal points in theory of games. Two recent approaches are discussed that deal with focal points. The eductive approach is static and concentrates on how players can use aymmetries in the descriptions of strategies. The evolutive approach is dynamic and focuses in the adaptive behaviour of players.