Modelling Combinatorial Auctions in Linear Logic
Daniele Porello, Ulle Endriss

Abstract:
We show that linear logic can serve as an expressive framework in
which to model a rich variety of combinatorial auction mechanisms. Due
to its resource-sensitive nature, linear logic can easily represent
bids in combinatorial auctions in which goods may be sold in multiple
units, and we show how it naturally generalises several bidding
languages familiar from the literature. Moreover, the winner
determination problem, i.e., the problem of computing an allocation of
goods to bidders producing a certain amount of revenue for the
auctioneer, can be modelled as the problem of finding a proof for a
particular linear logic sequent.