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Efficient mixtures of priority rules for assigning objects

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  • Harless, Patrick
  • Phan, William

Abstract

Equity motivates randomization, but often comes at the cost of efficiency. We study the tradeoff within the strategy-proof family of priority rules. Although randomization over all priority orders is incompatible with efficiency, we characterize the maximal subsets of priority for which randomization preserves efficiency: free-agent and adjacent-three families. Introducing equity measures for asymmetric rules, we show that mixtures within these subfamilies admit probabilistic guarantees that priority rules cannot deliver.

Suggested Citation

  • Harless, Patrick & Phan, William, 2022. "Efficient mixtures of priority rules for assigning objects," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 73-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:132:y:2022:i:c:p:73-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2021.11.009
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    Cited by:

    1. Shende, Priyanka & Purohit, Manish, 2023. "Strategy-proof and envy-free mechanisms for house allocation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Object allocation; Priority rules; Convex combinations; Efficiency; Guarantee;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General

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