Gregory Z. Gutin, Daniel Karapetyan, Philip R. Neary, Alexander Vicker, Anders Yeo
A run of the deferred acceptance (DA) algorithm may contain proposals that are sure to be rejected. We introduce the accelerated deferred acceptance algorithm that proceeds in a similar manner to DA but with sure-to-be rejected proposals ruled out. Accelerated deferred acceptance outputs the same stable matching as DA but does so more efficiently: it terminates in weakly fewer rounds, requires weakly fewer proposals, and final pairs match no later. Computational experiments show that these efficiency savings can be strict.
延迟接受(DA)算法的运行可能包含一些肯定会被拒绝的建议。我们引入了加速延迟接受算法,它的运行方式与 DA 算法类似,但排除了肯定会被拒绝的提议。加速延迟接受算法能输出与 DA 算法相同的稳定匹配结果,但效率更高:它能在极少数回合内终止,所需的提议数量也极少,而且最终配对匹配的时间不会晚于 DA 算法。
{"title":"Speeding up deferred acceptance","authors":"Gregory Z. Gutin, Daniel Karapetyan, Philip R. Neary, Alexander Vicker, Anders Yeo","doi":"arxiv-2409.06865","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.06865","url":null,"abstract":"A run of the deferred acceptance (DA) algorithm may contain proposals that\u0000are sure to be rejected. We introduce the accelerated deferred acceptance\u0000algorithm that proceeds in a similar manner to DA but with sure-to-be rejected\u0000proposals ruled out. Accelerated deferred acceptance outputs the same stable\u0000matching as DA but does so more efficiently: it terminates in weakly fewer\u0000rounds, requires weakly fewer proposals, and final pairs match no later.\u0000Computational experiments show that these efficiency savings can be strict.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142225108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We consider a model where an agent is must choose between alternatives that each provide only an imprecise description of the world (e.g. linguistic expressions). The set of alternatives is closed under logical conjunction and disjunction, but not necessarily negation. (Formally: it is a distributive lattice, but not necessarily a Boolean algebra). In our main result, each alternative is identified with a subset of an (endogenously defined) state space, and two axioms characterize maximin decision making. This means: from the agent's preferences over alternatives, we derive a preference order on the endogenous state space, such that alternatives are ranked in terms of their worst outcomes.
{"title":"Coarse Descriptions and Cautious Preferences","authors":"Evan Piermont, Marcus Pivato","doi":"arxiv-2409.06054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.06054","url":null,"abstract":"We consider a model where an agent is must choose between alternatives that\u0000each provide only an imprecise description of the world (e.g. linguistic\u0000expressions). The set of alternatives is closed under logical conjunction and\u0000disjunction, but not necessarily negation. (Formally: it is a distributive\u0000lattice, but not necessarily a Boolean algebra). In our main result, each\u0000alternative is identified with a subset of an (endogenously defined) state\u0000space, and two axioms characterize maximin decision making. This means: from\u0000the agent's preferences over alternatives, we derive a preference order on the\u0000endogenous state space, such that alternatives are ranked in terms of their\u0000worst outcomes.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142197097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We define and study obvious strategy-proofness with respect to a partition of the set of agents. It encompasses strategy-proofness as a special case when the partition is the coarsest one and obvious strategy-proofness when the partition is the finest. For any partition, it falls between these two extremes. We establish two general properties of this new notion and apply it to the simple anonymous voting problem with two alternatives and strict preferences.
{"title":"Obvious Strategy-proofness with Respect to a Partition","authors":"R. Pablo Arribillaga, Jordi Massó, Alejandro Neme","doi":"arxiv-2409.05315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.05315","url":null,"abstract":"We define and study obvious strategy-proofness with respect to a partition of\u0000the set of agents. It encompasses strategy-proofness as a special case when the\u0000partition is the coarsest one and obvious strategy-proofness when the partition\u0000is the finest. For any partition, it falls between these two extremes. We\u0000establish two general properties of this new notion and apply it to the simple\u0000anonymous voting problem with two alternatives and strict preferences.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"203 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142197098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The volunteer's dilemma is a well-known game in game theory that models the conflict players face when deciding whether to volunteer for a collective benefit, knowing that volunteering incurs a personal cost. In this work, we introduce a quantum variant of the classical volunteer's dilemma, generalizing it by allowing players to utilize quantum strategies. Employing the Eisert-Wilkens-Lewenstein quantization framework, we analyze a multiplayer quantum volunteer's dilemma scenario with an arbitrary number of players, where the cost of volunteering is shared equally among the volunteers. We derive analytical expressions for the players' expected payoffs and demonstrate the quantum game's advantage over the classical game. In particular, we prove that the quantum volunteer's dilemma possesses symmetric Nash equilibria with larger expected payoffs compared to the unique symmetric Nash equilibrium of the classical game, wherein players use mixed strategies. Furthermore, we show that the quantum Nash equilibria we identify are Pareto optimal. Our findings reveal distinct dynamics in volunteer's dilemma scenarios when players adhere to quantum rules, underscoring a strategic advantage of decision-making in quantum settings.
{"title":"Quantum Volunteer's Dilemma","authors":"Dax Enshan Koh, Kaavya Kumar, Siong Thye Goh","doi":"arxiv-2409.05708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.05708","url":null,"abstract":"The volunteer's dilemma is a well-known game in game theory that models the\u0000conflict players face when deciding whether to volunteer for a collective\u0000benefit, knowing that volunteering incurs a personal cost. In this work, we\u0000introduce a quantum variant of the classical volunteer's dilemma, generalizing\u0000it by allowing players to utilize quantum strategies. Employing the\u0000Eisert-Wilkens-Lewenstein quantization framework, we analyze a multiplayer\u0000quantum volunteer's dilemma scenario with an arbitrary number of players, where\u0000the cost of volunteering is shared equally among the volunteers. We derive\u0000analytical expressions for the players' expected payoffs and demonstrate the\u0000quantum game's advantage over the classical game. In particular, we prove that\u0000the quantum volunteer's dilemma possesses symmetric Nash equilibria with larger\u0000expected payoffs compared to the unique symmetric Nash equilibrium of the\u0000classical game, wherein players use mixed strategies. Furthermore, we show that\u0000the quantum Nash equilibria we identify are Pareto optimal. Our findings reveal\u0000distinct dynamics in volunteer's dilemma scenarios when players adhere to\u0000quantum rules, underscoring a strategic advantage of decision-making in quantum\u0000settings.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142197101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Elisa Celis, Amit Kumar, Nisheeth K. Vishnoi, Andrew Xu
This paper considers the scenario in which there are multiple institutions, each with a limited capacity for candidates, and candidates, each with preferences over the institutions. A central entity evaluates the utility of each candidate to the institutions, and the goal is to select candidates for each institution in a way that maximizes utility while also considering the candidates' preferences. The paper focuses on the setting in which candidates are divided into multiple groups and the observed utilities of candidates in some groups are biased--systematically lower than their true utilities. The first result is that, in these biased settings, prior algorithms can lead to selections with sub-optimal true utility and significant discrepancies in the fraction of candidates from each group that get their preferred choices. Subsequently, an algorithm is presented along with proof that it produces selections that achieve near-optimal group fairness with respect to preferences while also nearly maximizing the true utility under distributional assumptions. Further, extensive empirical validation of these results in real-world and synthetic settings, in which the distributional assumptions may not hold, are presented.
{"title":"Centralized Selection with Preferences in the Presence of Biases","authors":"L. Elisa Celis, Amit Kumar, Nisheeth K. Vishnoi, Andrew Xu","doi":"arxiv-2409.04897","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.04897","url":null,"abstract":"This paper considers the scenario in which there are multiple institutions,\u0000each with a limited capacity for candidates, and candidates, each with\u0000preferences over the institutions. A central entity evaluates the utility of\u0000each candidate to the institutions, and the goal is to select candidates for\u0000each institution in a way that maximizes utility while also considering the\u0000candidates' preferences. The paper focuses on the setting in which candidates\u0000are divided into multiple groups and the observed utilities of candidates in\u0000some groups are biased--systematically lower than their true utilities. The\u0000first result is that, in these biased settings, prior algorithms can lead to\u0000selections with sub-optimal true utility and significant discrepancies in the\u0000fraction of candidates from each group that get their preferred choices.\u0000Subsequently, an algorithm is presented along with proof that it produces\u0000selections that achieve near-optimal group fairness with respect to preferences\u0000while also nearly maximizing the true utility under distributional assumptions.\u0000Further, extensive empirical validation of these results in real-world and\u0000synthetic settings, in which the distributional assumptions may not hold, are\u0000presented.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142225133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
There has been substantial recent concern that pricing algorithms might learn to ``collude.'' Supra-competitive prices can emerge as a Nash equilibrium of repeated pricing games, in which sellers play strategies which threaten to punish their competitors who refuse to support high prices, and these strategies can be automatically learned. In fact, a standard economic intuition is that supra-competitive prices emerge from either the use of threats, or a failure of one party to optimize their payoff. Is this intuition correct? Would preventing threats in algorithmic decision-making prevent supra-competitive prices when sellers are optimizing for their own revenue? No. We show that supra-competitive prices can emerge even when both players are using algorithms which do not encode threats, and which optimize for their own revenue. We study sequential pricing games in which a first mover deploys an algorithm and then a second mover optimizes within the resulting environment. We show that if the first mover deploys any algorithm with a no-regret guarantee, and then the second mover even approximately optimizes within this now static environment, monopoly-like prices arise. The result holds for any no-regret learning algorithm deployed by the first mover and for any pricing policy of the second mover that obtains them profit at least as high as a random pricing would -- and hence the result applies even when the second mover is optimizing only within a space of non-responsive pricing distributions which are incapable of encoding threats. In fact, there exists a set of strategies, neither of which explicitly encode threats that form a Nash equilibrium of the simultaneous pricing game in algorithm space, and lead to near monopoly prices. This suggests that the definition of ``algorithmic collusion'' may need to be expanded, to include strategies without explicitly encoded threats.
{"title":"Algorithmic Collusion Without Threats","authors":"Eshwar Ram Arunachaleswaran, Natalie Collina, Sampath Kannan, Aaron Roth, Juba Ziani","doi":"arxiv-2409.03956","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.03956","url":null,"abstract":"There has been substantial recent concern that pricing algorithms might learn\u0000to ``collude.'' Supra-competitive prices can emerge as a Nash equilibrium of\u0000repeated pricing games, in which sellers play strategies which threaten to\u0000punish their competitors who refuse to support high prices, and these\u0000strategies can be automatically learned. In fact, a standard economic intuition\u0000is that supra-competitive prices emerge from either the use of threats, or a\u0000failure of one party to optimize their payoff. Is this intuition correct? Would\u0000preventing threats in algorithmic decision-making prevent supra-competitive\u0000prices when sellers are optimizing for their own revenue? No. We show that\u0000supra-competitive prices can emerge even when both players are using algorithms\u0000which do not encode threats, and which optimize for their own revenue. We study\u0000sequential pricing games in which a first mover deploys an algorithm and then a\u0000second mover optimizes within the resulting environment. We show that if the\u0000first mover deploys any algorithm with a no-regret guarantee, and then the\u0000second mover even approximately optimizes within this now static environment,\u0000monopoly-like prices arise. The result holds for any no-regret learning\u0000algorithm deployed by the first mover and for any pricing policy of the second\u0000mover that obtains them profit at least as high as a random pricing would --\u0000and hence the result applies even when the second mover is optimizing only\u0000within a space of non-responsive pricing distributions which are incapable of\u0000encoding threats. In fact, there exists a set of strategies, neither of which\u0000explicitly encode threats that form a Nash equilibrium of the simultaneous\u0000pricing game in algorithm space, and lead to near monopoly prices. This\u0000suggests that the definition of ``algorithmic collusion'' may need to be\u0000expanded, to include strategies without explicitly encoded threats.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"129 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142197104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We study the equilibria of uniform price auctions where bidders have flat demands up to their respective quantity constraints. We present an iterative procedure that systematically finds a Nash equilibrium outcome under semi-complete information as well as a novel ascending auction under incomplete information that has this outcome as a dominant strategy equilibrium. Demand reduction and low price equilibrium may occur since it is sometimes advantageous for a bidder to give up some of his/her demand and get the remaining demand at a low price rather than to get his/her entire demand at a higher price.
{"title":"Uniform price auction with quantity constraints","authors":"Kiho Yoon","doi":"arxiv-2409.04047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.04047","url":null,"abstract":"We study the equilibria of uniform price auctions where bidders have flat\u0000demands up to their respective quantity constraints. We present an iterative\u0000procedure that systematically finds a Nash equilibrium outcome under\u0000semi-complete information as well as a novel ascending auction under incomplete\u0000information that has this outcome as a dominant strategy equilibrium. Demand\u0000reduction and low price equilibrium may occur since it is sometimes\u0000advantageous for a bidder to give up some of his/her demand and get the\u0000remaining demand at a low price rather than to get his/her entire demand at a\u0000higher price.","PeriodicalId":501188,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - ECON - Theoretical Economics","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142197102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A principal has $m$ identical objects to allocate among a group of $n$ agents. Objects are desirable and the principal's value of assigning an object to an agent is the agent's private information. The principal can verify up to $k$ agents, where $k