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Ties matter: improving efficiency in course allocation by introducing ties

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  • Chen, Ning
  • Li, Mengling

Abstract

We study the course allocation system at Nanyang Technological University, where students submit strict preferences for courses and courses have implicit preferences for students. This formulates a many-to-many matching problem. We show the inefficiencies of the current mechanism and propose new competing mechanisms called Pareto-improving draft and dictatorship mechanisms, which introduce ties into students' preferences. Our mechanisms generate (group) stable and Pareto-efficient allocations, and the dictatorship mechanism can be implemented truthfully. Simulations on real data show that introducing ties into students' preferences can significantly improve efficiency, and the draft mechanism outperforms the dictatorship mechanism despite that the former is non-strategyproof.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Ning & Li, Mengling, 2013. "Ties matter: improving efficiency in course allocation by introducing ties," MPRA Paper 47031, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:47031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marilda Sotomayor, 2011. "The pareto-stability concept is a natural solution concept for discrete matching markets with indifferences," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 40(3), pages 631-644, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    matching; many-to-many; Pareto efficiency; stability; strategyproof;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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