Bibliographic Information

Fair allocation

H. Peyton Young, editor

(Proceedings of symposia in applied mathematics, v. 33. : AMS short course lecture notes)

American Mathematical Society, 1985

  • alk. paper

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Note

Lecture notes prepared for the AMS short course entitled Fair allocation, held in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 7-8, 1985

Includes bibliographies

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This collection of six papers provides a valuable source of material on the real-world problem of allocating objects among competing claimants. The examples given show how mathematics, particularly the axiomatic method, can be applied to give insight into complex social problems. Originally presented as an AMS Short Course, these papers could serve as a suitable text for courses touching on game theory, decision sciences, economics, or quantitative political science. Most of the material is accessible to the mathematically mature undergraduate with a background in advanced calculus and algebra. Each article surveys the recent literature and includes statements and sketches of proofs, as well as unsolved problems which should excite student curiosity.The articles analyze the question of fair allocation via six examples: the apportionment of political representation, the measurement of income inequality, the allocation of joint costs, the levying of taxes, the design of voting laws, and the framing of auction procedures. In each of these examples fairness has a somewhat different significance, but common axiomatic threads reveal broad underlying principles. Each of the topics is concerned with norms of comparative equity for evaluating allocations or with standards of procedures for effecting them; it is this focus on normative properties which suggests that a mathematical analysis is appropriate. Though game theory provides a useful tool in many of these allocation problems, the emphasis here is on standards rather than strategy and equity rather than rationality, an approach which more accurately mirrors real-world social problems.

Table of Contents

The apportionment of representation by M. L. Balinski and H. P. Young Inequality measurement by J. E. Foster Cost allocation by H. P. Young The allocation of debts and taxes by H. P. Young Fairness and strategy in voting by H. Moulin Auctions and competitive bidding by R. J. Weber.

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