The citation certainly doesn't support his claims. It refutes them.

The citation means that games of strategy is being used in the book to explain all economic behavior because both are mathematically the same.

Going to have to disagree with your interpretation. Several paragraphs in your excerpt indicate the authors believe them to be distinct and the bolded paragraph is more like what Rusty said.

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So that's your new revised position? I suppose it's an improvement over , "game theory = mathematical economics" which was just nonsense.

Some game theory games are equivalent to economics.

That does not mean that all game theory games are equivalent to economics. Right there in your bold it says "suitable games of strategy"

When they say suitable games of strategy, they mean some games are more inclined to represent certain economic situations more so than others. But if you take the sum total of all games of strategy, then this sum total is mathematically the same as all of economic behavior.

Now take decision making in computer programming, this is mathematically the same as that in both economics and game theory. If we we're to mathematically break down the entire field of mathematical economics, we would find that it is exactly the same as the science of game theory. Thus, the authors are attempting to study economic behavior from an entirely different perspective, that from the perspective of games of strategy, because the two are mathematically the same. And if you read through all of Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, you will draw the conclusion that game theory = mathematical economics = economics. Thus, I will use mathematical economics to make the +EV decision to say no more for now.

I would say a degree in stats would be the most useful. But honestly, a degree is useless for poker. You go to school, not to learn, but to get a degree so you can get a job when you get out period. Poker requires no degree so you don't need it. Most of what you can learn in school you can find on the internet for cheaper and you can learn it even faster.

I can go to school for free in my country. I don't mind to have job options besides poker. I am not a very social person neither, so besides programming/poker/trading and similar I don't see many options with good expectations for me.

My take on this thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ3fjQa5Hls

OP, if you're still reading, just let me chime in with another opinion:
Like you can see from the above posts, all scientific degress will be of some help to your poker skills, but in all of those degrees, you will only spend very very little time in subject matters that help you directly.
Basically, what this means, is that being good at poker is mainly about personal development with a good dosis of scientific mind. You need good analytical skills and you need to be a good learner to be able to get any skill that your degree won't teach you.

So, my opinion: go to school! Work hard! On both your degree and your poker! Any scientific degree will help develop your mind in the right direction! So if you can see yourself as an IT guy in the future, go for computer science. If you don't, something else, economics or whatever. Taking a year off for poker too early screws a lot of people! Go to college, learn to learn! Studying for a good degree is intense, and structuring! Make it even more intense by developing your poker skills! And if you start being really good at it, then take your shot! It's all about good timing...

I don't think a degree in college itself whether Math or Statistics will make you a better poker player because the courses might not contain sufficient focus on concepts related to poker and I doubt you should decide which degree to pursue based on becoming a better poker player.

More than a degree I think it is how much work you are willing to put on the side to understand the concepts related to the game that will help you better long term. While a knowledge of math is important to calculate some numbers it is not something you need to get a degree on to excel in. Again there are concepts of statistics in this game, but getting a degree and hoping it will make you a better poker player is wishful thinking.

There have been books written on game theory with a focus on poker that will serve you better than any game theory course you take in college whether in Math or Statistics.

And there are many aspects of the game that you will learn quickly by following forum topics and listening to other experienced players here than you can learn from any math or statistics course in college and trying to put it all together by yourself.

I am starting CS next month!

I see it as a good chance for learning something interesting to me besides poker with good job oportunities + socializing + improving my logical thinking, and for free!. I will work hard on both! (I hope my brain respond well to this challenge)

Thanks for all the responses, and keep the discussion if you want it, I enjoy it!

I think a degree in statistics or some related field – decision sciences, ops research/game theory, cs, etc. is an excellent path for someone aspiring to be a professional poker player. Not only because it will add the math dimension to his/her poker acumen, but because there is low probability of a successful poker career and therefore the degree will normally provide an increased chance for a successful career in business, government or academia

Computer science does a great job at ensuring professional opportunities as well and the math that will be developed in there will be good enough to at least provide OP with the tools to learn more poker-specific "science".

If you are interested in the best game theory class, I'll be teaching it this fall and I'm planning to make all lectures available publicly.
http://www.bestgametheoryclass.com/