Lange, Christoph and Caminati, Marco B and Kerber, Manfred and Mossakowski, Till and Rowat, Colin and Wenzel, Makarius and Windsteiger, Wolfgang (2013) A qualitative comparison of the suitability of four theorem provers for basic auction theory. In: Intelligent Computer Mathematics: MKM, Calculemus, DML, and Systems and Projects 2013, Held as Part of CICM 2013, Bath, UK, July 8-12, 2013. Proceedings 6 :. Springer, pp. 200-215. ISBN 978-3-642-39319-8
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Novel auction schemes are constantly being designed. Their design has significant consequences for the allocation of goods and the revenues generated. But how to tell whether a new design has the desired properties, such as efficiency, i.e. allocating goods to those bidders who value them most? We say: by formal, machine-checked proofs. We investigated the suitability of the Isabelle, Theorema, Mizar, and Hets/CASL/TPTP theorem provers for reproducing a key result of auction theory: Vickrey’s 1961 theorem on the properties of second-price auctions. Based on our formalisation experience, taking an auction designer’s perspective, we give recommendations on what system to use for formalising auctions, and outline further steps towards a complete auction theory toolbox.