In this paper we analyze sequencing situations under incomplete information where agents have interdependent costs. We first argue why Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (or VCG) mechanism fails to implement a simple sequencing problem in dominant strategies. Given this impossibility, we try to implement simple sequencing problems in ex-post equilibrium. We show that a simple sequencing problem is implementable if and only if the mechanism is a `generalized VCG mechanism'. We then show that for implementable n agent simple sequencing problems, with polynomial cost function of order (n-2) or less, one can achieve first best implementability. Moreover, for the class of simple sequencing problems with ``sufficiently well behaved'' cost function, this is the only class of first best implementable simple sequencing problems.
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Paper provided by University of Bonn, Germany in its series Bonn Econ Discussion Papers with number
bgse20_2001.
Length: 30 Date of creation: Jul 2001 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:bon:bonedp:bgse20_2001
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Find related papers by JEL classification: C44 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Statistical Decision Theory; Operations Research C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information
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Alex Gershkov & Paul Schweinzer, 2006.
"When queueing is better than push and shove,"
Discussion Papers
144, SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
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