The Owen value values friendship

This paper presents two new axiomatizations of the Owen value for games with coalition structures. Two associated games are defined and a consistency axiom is required. The construction of the associated games presupposes that coalitions behave in an aggressive manner towards players who are not members of the same unions and in a friendly manner towards players that do belong to their unions. The consistency axiom necessitates the definition of only one associated game which is not a reduced game. Received: February 1999/Revised version: January 2000     

An axiomatization of probabilistic Owen value for games with coalition structure

In the framework of games with coalition structure, we introduce probabilistic Owen value which is an extension of the Owen value and probabilistic Shapley value by considering the situation that not all priori unions are able to cooperate with others. Then we use five axioms of probabilistic efficiency, symmetric within coalitions, symmetric across coalitions applying to unanimity games, strong monotone property and linearity to axiomatize the value.     

A cost allocation problem in urban solid wastes collection and disposal

In this paper we consider a cost allocation problem arising in a consortium for urban solid wastes collection and disposal. A classical allocation rule is the proportional division according to the volume of wastes collected; here we propose a different allocation method, rooted in game theory, based on a model developed by Fragnelli et al. [3], using the Shapley Value and the Owen Value as allocation rules. The model was applied to the data of the consortium Ovadese – Valle Scrivia, comparing our results and the actual ones.     

Owen coalitional value without additivity axiom

We show that the Owen value for TU games with coalition structure can be characterized without the additivity axiom similarly as it was done by Young for the Shapley value for general TU games. Our axiomatization via four axioms of efficiency, marginality, symmetry across coalitions, and symmetry within coalitions is obtained from the original Owen’s one by the replacement of additivity and null-player via marginality. We show that the alike axiomatization for the generalization of the Owen value suggested by Winter for games with level structure is valid as well. The research was supported by NWO (The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) grant NL-RF 047.017.017.     

The equivalence of uniform and Shapley value-based cost allocations in a specific game

This paper concerns the possible equivalence of the Shapley value and other allocations in specific games. For a group buying game with a linear quantity discount schedule, the uniform allocation results in the same cost allocation as the Shapley value. In this paper, we explore whether the Shapley axioms can be used to make such connections. We also characterize the functions that result in the equivalence of these two allocations among the class of polynomial total cost functions.     

灾后运输网络中的最短路修复合作博弈

在最短路修复合作博弈中,当灾后运输网络规模较大时,最优成本分摊问题难以直接求解。基于拉格朗日松弛理论,提出了一种最短路修复合作博弈成本分摊算法。该算法将最短路修复合作博弈分解为两个具有特殊结构的子博弈,进而利用两个子博弈的结构特性,可以{高效地}求解出二者的最优成本分摊,将这两个成本分摊相加,可以获得原博弈的一个近乎最优的稳定成本分摊。结果部分既包含运输网络的随机仿真,也包含玉树地震灾区的现实模拟,无论数据来源于仿真还是现实,该算法都能在短时间内为最短路修复合作博弈提供稳定的成本分摊方案。     

On the core of the minimum cost steiner tree game in networks

A cost allocation problem arising from the Steiner Tree (ST) problem in networks is analyzed. This cost allocation problem is formulated as a cost cooperative game in characteristic function form, referred to as theST-game. The class ofST games generalizes the class of minimum cost spanning tree games which were used in the literature to analyze a variety of cost allocation problems. In general, the core of anST-game may be empty. We construct an efficient Core Heuristic to compute a good lower bound on the maximum fraction of the total cost that can be distributed among users while satisfying the core constraints. Based on the Core Heuristic, we also provide a sufficient condition for a givenST not to be optimal for the linear programming relaxation of an integer programming formulation of theST problem. The Core Heuristic was implemented and tested on 76 data sets from the literature (Wong's, Aneja's and Beasley's Steiner tree problems). Core points were found for 69 of these cases, and points close to the core were computed in the others.     

一种资源投入不确定情形下的合作博弈形式及收益分配策略

首先,将经典合作博弈进行扩展,提出了一类模糊联盟合作博弈的通用形式,涵盖常见三种模糊联盟合作博弈,即多线性扩展博弈、比例模糊博弈与Choquet积分模糊博弈.比例模糊博弈、Choquet积分模糊博弈的Shapley值均可以作为一种特定形式下模糊联盟合作博弈的收益分配策略,但是对于多线性扩展博弈的Shapley值一直关注较少,因此利用经典Shapley值构造出多线性扩展博弈的Shapley值,以此作为一种收益分配策略.最后,通过实例分析了常见三类模糊联盟合作博弈的形式及其对应的分配策略,分析收益最大的模糊联盟合作对策形式及最优分配策略,为不确定情形下的合作问题提供了一定的收益分配依据.     

The Shapley value for the probability game

The main goal of this paper is to introduce the probability game. On one hand, we analyze the Shapley value by providing an axiomatic characterization. We propose the so-called independent fairness property, meaning that for any two players, the player with larger individual value gets a larger portion of the total benefit. On the other, we use the Shapley value for studying the profitability of merging two agents.     

The irreducible Core of a minimum cost spanning tree game

It is a known result that for a minimum cost spanning tree (mcst) game a Core allocation can be deduced directly from a mcst in the underlying network. To determine this Core allocation one only needs to determine a mcst in the network and it is not necessary to calculate the coalition values of the corresponding mcst game. In this paper we will deduce other Core allocations directly from the network, without determining the corresponding mcst game itself: we use an idea of Bird (cf. [4]) to present two procedures that determine a part of the Core (called the Irreducible Core) from the network.     

Cooperation in one machine scheduling

A combinatorial optimization problem can often be understood as the problem to minimize cost in a complex situation. If more than one party is involved, the solution of the optimization problem is not the end of the story. In addition it has to be decided how the minimal total cost has to be distributed among the parties involved. In this paper cost allocation problems will be considered arising from one-machine scheduling under additive and weakly increasing cost functions. The approach of the problem will be game theoretical and we shall in fact show that in many cases the games related to the cost allocation problems are balanced.     

A project game for PERT networks

An important topic in PERT networks is how to allocate the total expedition (or delay) for situations in which the project is not executed as planned. In order to do that we define a TU project game that satisfies some desirable properties from the management project and game theory point of view.     

“农超对接”下配送中心与n个超市的合作机制研究

“农超对接”已经成为我国农产品在城市与乡村等地流通的重要形式,近年来我国超市业发展迅速但也出现了效率低与利润分配不公等关键问题迫切需要解决。为此,本文提出了一个简单的合作博弈模型:由1个配送中心和n个超市构成一个供应链系统。首先,我们通过配送中心对这n个超市配置库存资源:专项使用库存与共享使用库存,并表明这能够有效地提高配送中心与各个超市的利润。其次,我们分别地利用Shapley值、加权Shapley值和Owen值对供应链系统中配送中心与各个超市进行合理的利润分配,并期望提供农产品供应链的合作与协调的激励机制设计。最后,我们也提供了一些数值算例来表明这些利润分配方案是简单且易操作的。     

A new axiomatization of the Shapley–solidarity value for games with a coalition structure

In this paper, we propose a new kind of players as a compromise between the null player and the A-null player. It turns out that the axiom requiring this kind of players to get zero-payoff together with the well-known axioms of efficiency, additivity, coalitional symmetry, and intra-coalitional symmetry characterize the Shapley–solidarity value. This way, the difference between the Shapely–solidarity value and the Owen value is pinpointed to just one axiom.     

A note on a core catcher of a cooperative game

In Driessen (1986) it is shown that for games satisfying a certain condition the core of the game is included in the convex hull of the set of certain marginal worth vectors of the game, while it is conjectured that the inclusion holds without any condition on the game. In this note it is proved that the inclusion holds for all games.

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Zusammenfassung In Driessen (1986) wurde für Spiele, die eine gewisse Bedingung erfüllen, gezeigt, da\ der Kern des Spieles in der konvexen Hülle von gewissen Vektoren der Marginalwerte liegt. Es wurde vermutet, da\ diese Inklusion ohne weitere Bedingung an das Spiel gilt. In dieser Note wird nun gezeigt, da\ die Inklusion für alle Spiele gilt.

     

On the serial cost sharing rule

In this paper we study a solution for discrete cost allocation problems, namely, the serial cost sharing method. We show that this solution can be computed by applying the Shapley value to an appropriate TU game and we present a probabilistic formula. We also define for cost allocation problems a multilinear function in order to obtain the serial cost sharing method as Owen (1972) did for the Shapley value in the cooperative TU context. Moreover we show that the pseudo average cost method is equivalent to an extended Shapley value. Received April 2000/Revised January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"  Authors are indebted to two anonymous referees for especially careful and useful comments. This research has been partially supported by the University of the Basque Country (projects UPV 036.321-HA197/98, UPV 036.321-HA042/99) and DGES Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (project PB96-0247).     

A new MIP model for mine equipment scheduling by minimizing maintenance cost

Mining investment has been recognized as capital intensive due mainly to the cost of large equipment. Equipment capital costs for a given operation are usually within the order of hundreds of million dollars but may reach to billion dollars for large companies operating multiple mines. Such large investments require the optimum usage of equipment in a manner that the operating costs are minimized and the utilization of equipment is maximized through optimal scheduling. This optimum usage is required to ensure that the business remains sustainable and financially stable. Most mining operations utilize trucks to haul the mined material. Maintenance is one of the major operating cost items for these fleets as it can reach approximately one hundred million dollars yearly. There is no method or application in the literature that optimizes the utilization for truck fleet over the life of mine. A new approach based on mixed integer programming (MIP) techniques is used for annually scheduling a fixed fleet of mining trucks in a given operation, over a multi-year time horizon to minimize maintenance cost. The model uses the truck age (total hours of usage), maintenance cost and required operating hours to achieve annual production targets to produce an optimum truck schedule. While this paper focuses on scheduling trucks for mining operation, concept can be used in most businesses using equipment with significant maintenance costs. A case study for a large scale gold mine showed an annual discounted (10% rate) maintenance cost saving of over $2M and more than 16% ($21M) of overall maintenance cost reduction over 10 years of mine life, compared with the spreadsheet based approach used currently at the operation.     

Shapley值与Winter值的解析关系

鉴于 Shapley 值和 Winter 值都是局中人边际贡献的平均值,探究了它们之 间的解析关系.证明了 Shapley 值是 Winter 值在层次结构集上对称概率分布下的期望均值. 作为这一结论的一个推论, 证明了 Shapley 值是 Winter 值在层次结构集的任意相似类中的平均值. 最后,还指出了这一结 论与推论的等价性.研究结果不仅扩展了 Shapley 值和 Owen 值与此对应的解析关系, 还大大简化了这些关系的已有证明.     

A new preventive maintenance strategy for items sold under warranty

When products are sold under warranty, the manufacturer incursadditional costs for warranty servicing. Preventive maintenanceactions can be used to reduce this cost and these are worthwhileonly if the extra cost incurred is less than the reduction achieved.In this paper we propose a new preventive maintenance policywhere the parameters are selected optimally to minimize thetotal warranty servicing cost.