A simple procedure for finding equitable allocations of indivisible goods

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A simple procedure for finding equitable allocations of indivisible goods

Author Info

Dorothea Herreiner () (Department of Economics, University of Bonn, Adenauerallee 24-42, 53113 Bonn, Germany)
Clemens Puppe () (Department of Economics, University of Bonn, Adenauerallee 24-42, 53113 Bonn, Germany)

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Dorothea K. Herreiner

Abstract

The paper investigates how far a particular procedure, called the "descending demand procedure," can take us in finding equitable allocations of indivisible goods. Both interpersonal and intrapersonal criteria of equitability are considered. It is shown that the procedure generally fares well on an interpersonal criterion of "balancedness"; specifically, the resulting allocations are Pareto-optimal and maximize the well-being of the worst-off individual. As a criterion of intrapersonal equitability, the property of envy-freeness is considered. To accommodate envy-freeness, a modification of the basic procedure is suggested. With two individuals, the modified procedure is shown to select the envy-free allocations that are balanced, i.e. the allocations that maximize the well-being of the worse-off individual among all envy-free allocations.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Springer in its journal Social Choice and Welfare.

Volume (Year): 19 (2002)
Issue (Month): 2 ()
Pages: 415-430
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Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:19:y:2002:i:2:p:415-430

Note: Received: 3 March 2000/Accepted: 27 November 2000
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Brams,S.L. & Kaplan,T.R., 2002. "Dividing the indivisible : procedures for allocating cabinet ministries to political parties in a parliamentary system," Working Papers 340, Bielefeld University, Institute of Mathematical Economics. [Downloadable!]
Other versions:
- Brams, S.J. & Kaplan, T.R., 2002. "Dividing the Indivisible: Procedures for Allocating Cabinet Ministries to Political Parties in a Parliamentary System," Working Papers 02-06, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University. [Downloadable!]
Brams, S. J. & Eldelman, P. H. & Fishburn, P. C., 2000. "Paradoxes of Fair Division," Working Papers 00-13, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University. [Downloadable!]

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