Northwestern Social Networks 101
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Price of anarchy in real life

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Price of anarchy in real life Empty Price of anarchy in real life

Post  Kevin Kao Sun May 03, 2009 2:21 pm

and why trucks and slow drivers aren't allowed in the left lanes anymore.

"Interstate 5 stretches through California’s San Joaquin valley, straight and flat as far as the eye can see, giving drivers a unique
opportunity to observe game theory in action.
With only two lanes in each direction, most cars stay in the left lane, zipping past the slow moving trucks, which keep to the right.
Every so often, an impatient truck driver lumbers into the left lane, blockading the road for several long minutes as he edges ahead
of his even more sluggish comrades. Meanwhile, a long line of cars quickly builds up.
Eventually, car drivers start to swerve into the right lane, zooming past the line of cars, only to duck back in at the front of the
line. Each time a car cuts back in line, the cars behind brake, slowing traffic further. Soon, the right lane is clogged with impatient
car drivers trying to advance, which, in turn, induces more truck drivers to try to pass on the left.
Although some of the scofflaw traffic does get to Los Angeles in less than the average travel time, the average time increases.
In other words, the selfish behavior of some individuals increases the congestion of the highway."

http://www.siam.org/pdf/news/232.pdf

Kevin Kao

Posts : 21
Join date : 2009-03-31

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