“Well well well…that’s the last property available for purchase, and I do believe that I will be purchasing it!”

My brother looks over at me with a menacing smile, knowing all too well that I was dying to get my hands on Illinois Avenue before he could.  It was my last chance at acquiring a “natural monopoly”.  Now I have to play ball.

“I guess it’s time to trade, bro.  Talk to me!”

And here we have it…the most dynamic, intricate, and (apparently) LEAST scientifically analyzed part of Monopoly:  TRADING!

The art of trading in Monopoly is ultimately what makes the game so seductive.  It draws upon our humanity — our creativity, our social skills, and our biases.  But in the end, no matter how you slice it and dice it, trading simply boils down to an exchange of assets.

So why not attempt to analyze it like any other part of the game?

First we will look at the dynamics behind trades made in a two-player game.  Unlike in games with more players, one-on-one monopoly battles are often decided with only one trade (or fewer).  From an analytic perspective, this makes it the perfect place to begin.

To be continued…