38 research outputs found

    The Cost of Stability in Coalitional Games

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    A key question in cooperative game theory is that of coalitional stability, usually captured by the notion of the \emph{core}--the set of outcomes such that no subgroup of players has an incentive to deviate. However, some coalitional games have empty cores, and any outcome in such a game is unstable. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of stabilizing a coalitional game by using external payments. We consider a scenario where an external party, which is interested in having the players work together, offers a supplemental payment to the grand coalition (or, more generally, a particular coalition structure). This payment is conditional on players not deviating from their coalition(s). The sum of this payment plus the actual gains of the coalition(s) may then be divided among the agents so as to promote stability. We define the \emph{cost of stability (CoS)} as the minimal external payment that stabilizes the game. We provide general bounds on the cost of stability in several classes of games, and explore its algorithmic properties. To develop a better intuition for the concepts we introduce, we provide a detailed algorithmic study of the cost of stability in weighted voting games, a simple but expressive class of games which can model decision-making in political bodies, and cooperation in multiagent settings. Finally, we extend our model and results to games with coalition structures.Comment: 20 pages; will be presented at SAGT'0

    A synthesis of decision models for analysis, assessment, and contingency planning for oil spill incidents

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    Oil spill incidents can have a devastating effect on the natural environment. The evidence is clear that a lack of attention to an integrative approach in response strategies has resulted in the poor performance of clean-up activities in many oil spill incidents. This paper critically presents and evaluates decision models related to the modelling, analysis, assessment and contingency planning for oil spill incidents. The models are presented according to the hierarchy that characterizes the decision-making process. We present an integrated conceptual framework that synthesizes all the above models and shows the interdependencies among the different echelons of the decision-making process. The framework also identifies directions of modelling approaches for future research.oil industry oil spills contingency models decision-making processes environmental studies optimization

    Taxonomy of DoS attacks and their countermeasures

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    Engineering and technology aspects of an e-Government architecture based on Web services

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    Applying the ISO RM-ODP standard in e-government

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