When queueing is better than push and shove

Gershkov, Alex and Schweinzer, Paul (June 2006): When queueing is better than push and shove. SFB/TR 15 Discussion Paper No. 144

Abstract

We address the scheduling problem of reordering an existing queue into its efficient order through trade. To that end, we consider individually rational and balanced budget direct and indirect mechanisms. We show that this class of mechanisms allows us to form efficient queues provided that existing property rights for the service are small enough to enable trade between the agents. In particular, we show on the one hand that no queue under a fully deterministic service schedule such as first-come, first-serve can be dissolved efficiently and meet our requirements. If, on the other hand, the alternative is service anarchy (ie. a random queue), every existing queue can be transformed into an efficient order.

• Item Type: Paper
• Keywords: Scheduling, Queueing, Mechanism design
• Faculties: Special Research Fields > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems; Special Research Fields > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems > A3 - Markt- und Auktionsdesign in komplexen Umgebungen
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
• JEL Classification: C72, D44, D82
• Language: English