Efficient allocation of a "prize"-King Solomon's dilemma

Jacob Glazer*, Ching To Albert Ma

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

A planner is interested in allocating an indivisible good (a "prize") to one of many agents in the economy. His objective is to give the prize to the agent who values it most, without any payments being made by the recipient. The planner, however, does not know the identity of this agent, while the agents themselves do. This paper shows how the planner can construct simple, multistage mechanisms with a unique subgame perfect equilibrium outcome. At this outcome, the agent who values the prize most gets it without any transfer of money being made by any of the agents or the planner.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)222-233
Number of pages12
JournalGames and Economic Behavior
Volume1
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1989
Externally publishedYes

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