Dynamic Mechanism Design without Monetary Transfers: A Queueing Theory Approach

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Li, Zihao, Chen, Xuandong
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Li, Zihao
Chen, Xuandong
author_facet Li, Zihao
Chen, Xuandong
contents We study the design of optimal allocation mechanisms in an environment where agents and goods arrive stochastically. Agents have private types that determine the principal payoff. Either agents or goods can be held in a queue at a flow cost until allocation. The principal cannot use monetary transfers, but can verify agents types at a cost. We characterize the optimal mechanism at the steady state of the system. It is a dynamic threshold mechanism in which the principal sets type thresholds for agent admission and goods allocation. These thresholds depend on the current state of the mechanism. The model applies to public programs such as public housing and grant allocation, and to allocation problems within organizations such as capital budgeting.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_20728
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dynamic Mechanism Design without Monetary Transfers: A Queueing Theory Approach
Li, Zihao
Chen, Xuandong
Theoretical Economics
We study the design of optimal allocation mechanisms in an environment where agents and goods arrive stochastically. Agents have private types that determine the principal payoff. Either agents or goods can be held in a queue at a flow cost until allocation. The principal cannot use monetary transfers, but can verify agents types at a cost. We characterize the optimal mechanism at the steady state of the system. It is a dynamic threshold mechanism in which the principal sets type thresholds for agent admission and goods allocation. These thresholds depend on the current state of the mechanism. The model applies to public programs such as public housing and grant allocation, and to allocation problems within organizations such as capital budgeting.
title Dynamic Mechanism Design without Monetary Transfers: A Queueing Theory Approach
topic Theoretical Economics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.20728