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Computing the minimal covering set

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  • Brandt, Felix
  • Fischer, Felix

Abstract

We present the first polynomial-time algorithm for computing the minimal covering set of a (weak) tournament. The algorithm draws upon a linear programming formulation of a subset of the minimal covering set known as the essential set. On the other hand, we show that no efficient algorithm exists for two variants of the minimal covering set-the minimal upward covering set and the minimal downward covering set-unless P equals NP. Finally, we observe a strong relationship between von Neumann-Morgenstern stable sets and upward covering on the one hand, and the Banks set and downward covering on the other.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandt, Felix & Fischer, Felix, 2008. "Computing the minimal covering set," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 254-268, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:matsoc:v:56:y:2008:i:2:p:254-268
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dutta, Bhaskar, 1988. "Covering sets and a new condorcet choice correspondence," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 63-80, February.
    2. Laffond G. & Laslier, J. F. & Le Breton, M., 1996. "Condorcet choice correspondences: A set-theoretical comparison," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 59-59, February.
    3. Bhaskar Dutta & Jean-Francois Laslier, 1999. "Comparison functions and choice correspondences," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 16(4), pages 513-532.
    4. van Damme, Eric, 1998. "On the State of the Art in Game Theory: An Interview with Robert Aumann," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 24(1-2), pages 181-210, July.
    5. Laffond G. & Laslier J. F. & Le Breton M., 1993. "The Bipartisan Set of a Tournament Game," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 182-201, January.
    6. Bordes, Georges, 1983. "On the possibility of reasonable consistent majoritarian choice: Some positive results," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 122-132, October.
    7. Josep E. Peris & BegoÓa Subiza, 1999. "Condorcet choice correspondences for weak tournaments," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 16(2), pages 217-231.
    8. Gerhard J. Woeginger, 2003. "Banks winners in tournaments are difficult to recognize," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 20(3), pages 523-528, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Berghammer, Rudolf & Rusinowska, Agnieszka & de Swart, Harrie, 2013. "Computing tournament solutions using relation algebra and RelView," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 226(3), pages 636-645.
    2. Thomas Demuynck, 2014. "The computational complexity of rationalizing Pareto optimal choice behavior," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 42(3), pages 529-549, March.
    3. Fabrice Talla Nobibon & Laurens Cherchye & Yves Crama & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Frits C. R. Spieksma, 2016. "Revealed Preference Tests of Collectively Rational Consumption Behavior: Formulations and Algorithms," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 64(6), pages 1197-1216, December.
    4. Berghammer, Rudolf & Schnoor, Henning, 2015. "Control of Condorcet voting: Complexity and a Relation-Algebraic approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 246(2), pages 505-516.
    5. Daniel Carroll & Jim Dolmas & Eric Young, 2021. "The Politics of Flat Taxes," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 39, pages 174-201, January.
    6. Felix Brandt & Felix Fischer & Paul Harrenstein & Maximilian Mair, 2010. "A computational analysis of the tournament equilibrium set," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 34(4), pages 597-609, April.
    7. Brandl, Florian & Brandt, Felix, 2024. "A natural adaptive process for collective decision-making," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 19(2), May.
    8. Felix Brandt & Florian Grundbacher, 2023. "The Banks Set and the Bipartisan Set May Be Disjoint," Papers 2308.01881, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2024.
    9. Felix Brandt & Christian Geist & Paul Harrenstein, 2016. "A note on the McKelvey uncovered set and Pareto optimality," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 46(1), pages 81-91, January.
    10. Hudry, Olivier, 2009. "A survey on the complexity of tournament solutions," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 292-303, May.
    11. Felix Brandt & Chris Dong, 2022. "On Locally Rationalizable Social Choice Functions," Papers 2204.05062, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.
    12. Demuynck, Thomas, 2011. "The computational complexity of rationalizing boundedly rational choice behavior," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(4-5), pages 425-433.
    13. repec:hal:wpaper:hal-00756696 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Daniel R. Carroll & Jim Dolmas & Eric Young, 2015. "Majority Voting: A Quantitative Investigation," Working Papers (Old Series) 1442, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    15. repec:hal:pseose:hal-00756696 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. John Duggan, 2011. "Uncovered Sets," Wallis Working Papers WP63, University of Rochester - Wallis Institute of Political Economy.
    17. John Duggan, 2013. "Uncovered sets," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 41(3), pages 489-535, September.
    18. Felix Brandt & Markus Brill & Felix Fischer & Paul Harrenstein, 2014. "Minimal retentive sets in tournaments," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 42(3), pages 551-574, March.

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