An average lexicographic value for cooperative games

For games with a non-empty core the Alexia value is introduced, a value which averages the lexicographic maxima of the core. It is seen that the Alexia value coincides with the Shapley value for convex games, and with the nucleolus for strongly compromise admissible games and big boss games. For simple flow games, clan games and compromise stable games an explicit expression and interpretation of the Alexia value is derived. Furthermore it is shown that the reverse Alexia value, defined by averaging the lexicographic minima of the core, coincides with the Alexia value for convex games and compromise stable games.     

A bankruptcy approach to the core cover

In this paper we establish a relationship between the core cover of a compromise admissible game and the core of a particular bankruptcy game: the core cover of a compromise admissible game is, indeed, a translation of the set of coalitionally stable allocations captured by an associated bankruptcy game. Moreover, we analyze the combinatorial complexity of the core cover and, consequently, of the core of a compromise stable game.     

C-complete sets for compromise stable games

The core cover of a TU-game is a superset of the core and equals the convex hull of its larginal vectors. A larginal vector corresponds to an ordering of the players and describes the efficient payoff vector giving the first players in the ordering their utopia demand as long as it is still possible to assign the remaining players at least their minimum right. A game is called compromise stable if the core is equal to the core cover, i.e. the core is the convex hull of the larginal vectors. This paper analyzes the structure of orderings corresponding to larginal vectors of the core cover and conditions ensuring equality between core cover and core. We introduce compromise complete (or c-complete) sets that satisfy the condition that if every larginal vector corresponding to an ordering of the set is a core element, then the game is compromise stable. We use combinatorial arguments to give a complete characterization of these sets. More specifically, we find c-complete sets of minimum cardinality and a closed formula for the minimum number of orderings in c-complete sets. Furthermore, we discuss the number of different larginal vectors corresponding to a c-complete set of orderings.     

The Compromise Value for Cooperative Games with Random Payoffs

This paper introduces and studies the compromise value for cooperative games with random payoffs, that is, for cooperative games where the payoff to a coalition of players is a random variable. This value is a compromise between utopia payoffs and minimal rights and its definition is based on the compromise value for NTU games and the τ-value for TU games. It is shown that the nonempty core of a cooperative game with random payoffs is bounded by the utopia payoffs and the minimal rights. Consequently, for such games the compromise value exists. Further, we show that the compromise value of a cooperative game with random payoffs coincides with the τ-value of a related TU game if the players have a certain type of preferences. Finally, the compromise value and the marginal value, which is defined as the average of the marginal vectors, coincide on the class of two-person games. This results in a characterization of the compromise value for two-person games.I thank Peter Borm, Ruud Hendrickx and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments.     

A generalization of the Shapley–Ichiishi result

The Shapley–Ichiishi result states that a game is convex if and only if the convex hull of marginal vectors equals the core. In this paper, we generalize this result by distinguishing equivalence classes of balanced games that share the same core structure. We then associate a system of linear inequalities with each equivalence class, and we show that the system defines the class. Application of this general theorem to the class of convex games yields an alternative proof of the Shapley–Ichiishi result. Other applications range from computation of stable sets in non-cooperative game theory to determination of classes of TU games on which the core correspondence is additive (even linear). For the case of convex games we prove that the theorem provides the minimal defining system of linear inequalities. An example shows that this is not necessarily true for other equivalence classes of balanced games.     

Individual and group stability in neutral restrictions of hedonic games

We consider a class of coalition formation games called hedonic games, i.e., games in which the utility of a player is completely determined by the coalition that the player belongs to. We first define the class of subset-additive hedonic games and show that they have the same representation power as the class of hedonic games. We then define a restriction of subset-additive hedonic games that we call subset-neutral hedonic games and generalize a result by Bogomolnaia and Jackson (2002) by showing the existence of a Nash stable partition and an individually stable partition in such games. We also consider neutrally anonymous hedonic games and show that they form a subclass of the subset-additive hedonic games. Finally, we show the existence of a core stable partition that is also individually stable in neutrally anonymous hedonic games by exhibiting an algorithm to compute such a partition.     

Resource allocation games: a compromise stable extension of bankruptcy games

This paper presents an extension of the traditional bankruptcy problem. In a resource allocation problem there is a common-pool resource, which needs to be divided among agents. Each agent is characterized by a claim on this pool and an individual linear monetary reward function for assigned resources. Analyzing these problems a new class of transferable utility games is introduced, called resource allocation games. These games are based on the bankruptcy model, as introduced by O’Neill (Math Soc Sci 2:345–371, 1982). It is shown that the properties of totally balancedness and compromise stability can be extended to resource allocation games, although the property of convexity is not maintained in general. Moreover, an explicit expression for the nucleolus of these games is provided.     

On multi-choice TU games arising from replica of economies

In this paper we derive a multi-choice TU game from r-replica of exchange economy with continuous, concave and monetary utility functions, and prove that the cores of the games converge to a subset of the set of Edgeworth equilibria of exchange economy as r approaches to infinity. We prove that the dominance core of each balanced multi-choice TU game, where each player has identical activity level r, coincides with the dominance core of its corresponding r-replica of exchange economy. We also give an extension of the concept of the cover of the game proposed by Shapley and Shubik (J Econ Theory 1: 9-25, 1969) to multi-choice TU games and derive some sufficient conditions for the nonemptyness of the core of multi-choice TU game by using the relationship among replica economies, multi-choice TU games and their covers.     

The stable set of the social conflict game with commitments: existence,uniqueness, and efficiency

We investigate the stable sets of social conflict games by employing the framework of the (abstract) system by Greenberg (Theory of social situations: an alternative game theoretic approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990). The social conflict game is a class of strategic games that includes the prisoners’ dilemma and the chicken game. We first show that the stable set generally fails to exist in a system that is directly derived from the social conflict game. In this system, the stable set exists if and only if the strong equilibrium exists in the underlying game. If the stable set exists, it coincides with the set of the strong equilibria that is equivalent to the core for the system. Then, we turn to a modified system where the players are allowed to make commitments. In the system with commitments, the stable set always exists, and it consists of efficient outcomes with a certain property. We also discuss the relationship between the core and the stable set for the system with commitments.     

Totally balanced combinatorial optimization games

Combinatorial optimization games deal with cooperative games for which the value of every subset of players is obtained by solving a combinatorial optimization problem on the resources collectively owned by this subset. A solution of the game is in the core if no subset of players is able to gain advantage by breaking away from this collective decision of all players. The game is totally balanced if and only if the core is non-empty for every induced subgame of it.?We study the total balancedness of several combinatorial optimization games in this paper. For a class of the partition game [5], we have a complete characterization for the total balancedness. For the packing and covering games [3], we completely clarify the relationship between the related primal/dual linear programs for the corresponding games to be totally balanced. Our work opens up the question of fully characterizing the combinatorial structures of totally balanced packing and covering games, for which we present some interesting examples: the totally balanced matching, vertex cover, and minimum coloring games. Received: November 5, 1998 / Accepted: September 8, 1999?Published online February 23, 2000     

Some results on cooperative interval games

Uncertainty is a daily presence in the real world. It affects our decision-making and may have influence on cooperation. On many occasions, uncertainty is so severe that we can only predict some upper and lower bounds for the outcome of our actions, i.e. payoffs lie in some intervals. A suitable game theoretic model to support decision-making in collaborative situations with interval data is that of cooperative interval games. Solution concepts that associate with each cooperative interval game sets of interval allocations with appealing properties provide a natural way to capture the uncertainty of coalition values into the players’ payoffs. In this paper, the relations between some set-valued solution concepts using interval payoffs, namely the interval core, the interval dominance core, the square interval dominance core and the interval stable sets for cooperative interval games, are studied. It is shown that the interval core is the unique stable set on the class of convex interval games.     

Analysis of the core of multisided Böhm-Bawerk assignment markets

We introduce the class of multisided Böhm-Bawerk assignment games which generalizes the well-known two-sided Böhm-Bawerk assignment games to markets with an arbitrary number of sectors. We reach the core and the corresponding extreme allocations of any multisided Böhm-Bawerk assignment game by means of an associated convex game defined on the set of sectors instead of the set of sellers and buyers. We also study when the core of a multisided Böhm-Bawerk assignment game is stable in the sense of von Neumann–Morgenstern.     

Approximating the least core value and least core of cooperative games with supermodular costs

We study the approximation of the least core value and the least core of supermodular cost cooperative games. We provide a framework for approximation based on oracles that approximately determine maximally violated constraints. This framework yields a 3-approximation algorithm for computing the least core value of supermodular cost cooperative games, and a polynomial-time algorithm for computing a cost allocation in the 2-approximate least core of these games. This approximation framework extends naturally to submodular profit cooperative games. For scheduling games, a special class of supermodular cost cooperative games, we give a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme for computing the least core value. For matroid profit games, a special class of submodular profit cooperative games, we give exact polynomial-time algorithms for computing the least core value as well as a least core cost allocation.     

On the bargaining set, kernel and core of superadditive games

We prove that for superadditive games a necessary and sufficient condition for the bargaining set to coincide with the core is that the monotonic cover of the excess game induced by a payoff be balanced for each imputation in the bargaining set. We present some new results obtained by verifying this condition for specific classes of games. For N-zero-monotonic games we show that the same condition required at each kernel element is also necessary and sufficient for the kernel to be contained in the core. We also give examples showing that to maintain these characterizations, the respective assumptions on the games cannot be lifted. Received: March 1998/Revised version: December 1998     

Consistent values and the core in continuum market games with two types of players

The consistent value is an extension of the Shapley value to the class of games with non-transferable utility.? In this paper, the consistent value will be characterized for market games with a continuum of players of two types. We will show that for such games the consistent value need not belong to the core, and provide conditions under which there is equivalence between the two concepts. Received: October 1998 RID="*" ID="*"  This thesis was completed under the supervision of Professor Sergiu Hart, The Center for Rationality and Interactive Decision Theory, Department of Mathematics, Department of Economics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I would like to thank Professor Hart for introducing me to this area of research, for his help and guidance, and, especially, for all his patience.? I would also like to thank Michael Borns for improving the style, and an anonymous referee for helpful comments.     

An axiomatization of the weighted NTU value

Non-symmetric generalizations of the non-transferable utility (NTU) are defined and characterized axiomatically. The first of these is a weighted NTU value that is identical to the (symmetric) NTU value when players have the same weights. On the class of transferable utility games, this weighted NTU value coincides with the weighted Shapley value and on the pure bargaining games it coincides with the non-symmetric Nash bargaining solution. A further extension, the random order NTU value, is also defined and axiomatized and its relationship to the core is discussed.     

The core and the Weber set for bicooperative games

This paper studies two classical solution concepts for the structure of bicooperative games. First, we define the core and the Weber set of a bicooperative game and prove that the core is always contained in the Weber set. Next, we introduce a special class of bicooperative games, the so-called bisupermodular games, and show that these games are the only ones in which the core and the Weber set coincide.