Bayesian Auction Design and Approximation

We study two classes of problems within Algorithmic Economics: revenue guarantees of simple mechanisms, and social welfare guarantees of auctions. We develop new structural and algorithmic tools for addressing these problems, and obtain the following results: In the -unit model, four canonical mechanisms can be classified as: (i) the discriminating group, including Myerson Auction and Sequential Posted-Pricing, and (ii) the anonymous group, including Anonymous Reserve and Anonymous Pricing. We prove that any two mechanisms from the same group have an asymptotically tight revenue gap of 1 + θ(1 /√), while any two mechanisms from the different groups have an asymptotically tight revenue gap of θ(log ). In the single-item model, we prove a nearly-tight sample complexity of Anonymous Reserve for every value distribution family investigated in the literature: [0, 1]-bounded, [1, ]-bounded, regular, and monotone hazard rate (MHR). Remarkably, the setting-specific sample complexity poly(⁻¹) depends on the precision ∈ (0, 1), but not on the number of bidders ≥ 1. Further, in the two bounded-support settings, our algorithm allows correlated value distributions. These are in sharp contrast to the previous (nearly-tight) sample complexity results on Myerson Auction. In the single-item model, we prove that the tight Price of Anarchy/Stability for First Price Auctions are both PoA = PoS = 1 - 1/² ≈ 0.8647

Distributing Resources: An Exploration of Auctions and Other Allocation Mechanisms

This thesis consists of four largely independent essays on game theory and the allocation of resources. It applies both theoretical and empirical methods, covering both cooperative and non-cooperative game theoretical approaches. The thesis focuses on three different allocation mechanisms: auctions, grandfathering and the Shapley value. The first two mechanisms are applied directly within the fisheries context whilst the Shapley value is discussed in a general setting. Theoretical applications often employ a number of assumptions, which are rarely met in practice, and fail to take into account the contextual setting. This thesis empirically analyses real life examples in order to enhance our understanding of individual players and their interactions. The first chapter on the famous solution concept — the Shapley value — introduces a cooperative game in which some of the information may be missing from the characteristic function. We put forward two ways of extending the Shapley value to the missing information domain. Using our proposals, it is possible to find a ‘fair and efficient solution’ in situations where coalitions might not have formed or information is withheld. The second chapter presents a theoretical model for fisheries which is capable of exploring the effects of utilising different combinations of allocation mechanisms — grandfathering and auctions — for fishing quota. In the model, the government has applied an environmental tax, which can be reduced through investment, to limit the negative externalities of the fishing activity. This in turn affects the firms' valuations at the auctions, incorporating bidder valuations as an endogenous component within the model. The model demonstrates the effects of changing specific variables within the government's control on revenue, total welfare, level of investment and equilibrium prices at the auction. We conclude by stating that the model is applicable in the fisheries context, but further work is required to improve its relevance in the policy arena. The third chapter is an empirical essay on the ascending and uniform-price multiunit auctions of fishing rights in the Faroe Islands from 2016 to 2018. In the essay, we identify problems with signalling, bidding rings and low-price equilibria. We believe this is the first case of all three phenomena happening in the same bidding environment. We conclude that the underperformance of ascending and uniform-price auctions are not just theoretical curiosities, but rather a pervasive phenomenon in practical auction design. We continue in the empirical domain in the fourth chapter, where we use several methods to analyse price patterns in the auctions at the Faroe Fish Market in 2017. We apply the method employed by Ashenfelter (1989) in his work on the declining price anomaly. We also run regressions to establish how the auction round affects absolute and relative price changes and explore the impact of the number of bids, quantity sold and the price of the first round. Finally, we analyse the average price of cod in every round across the whole period. We find that declining prices are a strong feature of the Faroese fish market, but after considering contributing factors, we conclude that perhaps declining prices should not come as such a surprise after all

Fuelling the zero-emissions road freight of the future: routing of mobile fuellers

The future of zero-emissions road freight is closely tied to the sufficient availability of new and clean fuel options such as electricity and Hydrogen. In goods distribution using Electric Commercial Vehicles (ECVs) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs) a major challenge in the transition period would pertain to their limited autonomy and scarce and unevenly distributed refuelling stations. One viable solution to facilitate and speed up the adoption of ECVs/HFCVs by logistics, however, is to get the fuel to the point where it is needed (instead of diverting the route of delivery vehicles to refuelling stations) using "Mobile Fuellers (MFs)". These are mobile battery swapping/recharging vans or mobile Hydrogen fuellers that can travel to a running ECV/HFCV to provide the fuel they require to complete their delivery routes at a rendezvous time and space. In this presentation, new vehicle routing models will be presented for a third party company that provides MF services. In the proposed problem variant, the MF provider company receives routing plans of multiple customer companies and has to design routes for a fleet of capacitated MFs that have to synchronise their routes with the running vehicles to deliver the required amount of fuel on-the-fly. This presentation will discuss and compare several mathematical models based on different business models and collaborative logistics scenarios

Handbook of sociological science : contributions to rigorous sociology

22 of the 26 chapters are Open AccessThe Handbook of Sociological Science offers a refreshing, integrated perspective on research programs and ongoing developments in sociological science. It highlights key shared theoretical and methodological features, thereby contributing to progress and cumulative growth of sociological knowledge. Reflecting ‘unity in diversity’, chapters explore a wide variety of research fields, ranging from cultural capital, migration, social networks, gender inequality, historical sociology and ethnography to the intersection of sociology and the life sciences. Examining basic methodological standards for theory construction and empirical research, the Handbook exemplifies commonalities between research programmes within these fields. The contributors also explore rigorous sociology related to theory construction, empirical research, and methods, including statistical modelling and the integration of theoretical and empirical research. Forward-thinking and original, the Handbook concludes by illustrating the common core of rigorous sociology, how it can contribute to understanding societal problems and to policy making, and how research into sociological science can continue to thrive in the future. Accessible and engaging, this Handbook will be invaluable for scholars and researchers of sociology and sociological theory, research methods in sociology and social policy, and comparative social policy. Exploring new developments and applications, it will also act as a useful reference guide for policy makers. The Handbook will likewise be an important resource for teaching advanced courses and training graduate students.INTRODUCTION 1. Rigorous sociology 2, Werner Raub, Nan Dirk de Graaf, and Klarita Gërxhani PART I RESEARCH PROGRAMS 2. Order from chaos: sociology as a population science 21, Michelle Jackson 3. Analytical sociology 38, Gianluca Manzo 4. Computational approaches in rigorous sociology: agent-based computational, modeling and computational social science 57, Andreas Flache, Michael Mäs, and Marijn A. Keijzer 5. Stochastic network modeling as generative social science 73, Christian E.G. Steglich and Tom A.B. Snijders 6. Rational choice sociology: heuristic potential, applications, and limitations 100, Andreas Diekmann PART II NEW AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS IN SELECTED FIELDS 7. Cultural capital and educational inequality: an assessment of the state of the art 121, Mads Meier Jæger 8. Integration in migration societies 135, Frank Kalter 9. Social networks: effects and formation 154, Vincent Buskens, Rense Corten, and Werner Raub 10. Gender inequality, households, and work 176, Eva Jaspers, Tanja van der Lippe, and Marie Evertsson 11. Validation strategies in historical sociology (and beyond) 196, Ivan Ermakoff 12. Rigorous ethnography 215, Federico Varese 13. Evolution, biology, and society 232, Rosemary L. Hopcroft, Joseph Dippong, Hexuan Liu, and Rachel Kail 14. Sociogenomics: theoretical and empirical challenges of integrating molecular genetics into sociological thinking 250, Melinda C. Mills PART III METHODS 15. Causal inference with observational data 272, Richard Breen 16. Longitudinal designs and models for causal inference 287, Markus Gangl 17. Experimental sociology 309, Klarita Gërxhani and Luis Miller PART IV RIGOROUS SOCIOLOGY IN ACTION: SHOWCASES 18. Explaining educational differentials: towards a formal rational action theory 325, Richard Breen and John H. Goldthorpe 19. ‘Explaining educational differentials’ revisited: an evaluation of rigorous theoretical foundations and empirical findings 356, Rolf Becker 20. Structural holes and good ideas 372, Ronald S. Burt 21. Network mechanisms in innovation: borrowing and sparking ideas around structural holes 423, Balazs Vedres 22. Experimental study of inequality and unpredictability in an artificial cultural market 443, Matthew J. Salganik, Peter Sheridan Dodds, and Duncan J. Watts 23. Self-correcting dynamics in social influence processes 446, Arnout van de Rijt PART V FURTHER PERSPECTIVES 24. The climate crisis: what sociology can contribute 475, Dingeman Wiertz and Nan Dirk de Graaf 25. Roots of sociology as a science: some history of ideas 493, Thomas Voss 26. How to increase reproducibility and credibility of sociological research 512, Katrin Auspurg and Josef Brüderl -- Index 52