No Screening is More Efficient with Multiple Objects
Not on the map. Why?
Abstract (arXiv)
We study the welfare-maximizing allocation of heterogeneous objects when screening uses costly effort rather than monetary transfers. No-screening mechanisms perform well as object variety increases. In a symmetric continuous market with i.i.d. values whose CDF is log-concave, the multidimensional problem reduces exactly to a single-dimensional problem in agents' best-option values. More options make low best-option values rarer, weakening the case for screening. We characterize when no screening is optimal and show it remains optimal as variety expands. Large-variety limits and numerical results for finite, correlated markets support this pattern. We apply these results to propose an invitation-based vaccine appointment system.
Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026). First posted on arXiv 19 Aug 2024.
Builds on
0 of 0 references.
No references here yet.
Built on by
Not cited yet.