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Fair allocation of a multiset of indivisible items

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  • Pranay Gorantla
  • Kunal Marwaha
  • Santhoshini Velusamy

Abstract

We study the problem of fairly allocating a multiset $M$ of $m$ indivisible items among $n$ agents with additive valuations. Specifically, we introduce a parameter $t$ for the number of distinct types of items and study fair allocations of multisets that contain only items of these $t$ types, under two standard notions of fairness: 1. Envy-freeness (EF): For arbitrary $n$, $t$, we show that a complete EF allocation exists when at least one agent has a unique valuation and the number of items of each type exceeds a particular finite threshold. We give explicit upper and lower bounds on this threshold in some special cases. 2. Envy-freeness up to any good (EFX): For arbitrary $n$, $m$, and for $t\le 2$, we show that a complete EFX allocation always exists. We give two different proofs of this result. One proof is constructive and runs in polynomial time; the other is geometrically inspired.

Suggested Citation

  • Pranay Gorantla & Kunal Marwaha & Santhoshini Velusamy, 2022. "Fair allocation of a multiset of indivisible items," Papers 2202.05186, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2022.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2202.05186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eric Budish, 2011. "The Combinatorial Assignment Problem: Approximate Competitive Equilibrium from Equal Incomes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 119(6), pages 1061-1103.
    2. Bilò, Vittorio & Caragiannis, Ioannis & Flammini, Michele & Igarashi, Ayumi & Monaco, Gianpiero & Peters, Dominik & Vinci, Cosimo & Zwicker, William S., 2022. "Almost envy-free allocations with connected bundles," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 197-221.
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