Mean field analysis of two-party governance: competition versus cooperation among leaders
File(s)1_URconv.pdf (691.66 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Chu, Dantong
Ng, Kenneth Tsz Hin
Yam, Sheung Chi Phillip
Zheng, Harry
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This article studies linear–quadratic Stackelberg games between two dominating players (or equivalently, leaders) and a large group of followers, each of whom interacts under a mean field game (MFG) framework. Unlike the conventional major-minor player game, the mean field term herein is endogenously affected by the two leaders simultaneously. These homogeneous followers are non-cooperative, whereas the two leaders can either compete or cooperate with each other, which are respectively formulated as a Nash and a Pareto game. The complete solutions of the leader-follower game can be expressed in terms of the solutions of some non-symmetric Riccati equations. Notably, our analysis suggests that both modes of interactions between leaders has their own merits and neither of them is always more favorable to the community of followers. In our knowledge, a comparative study of the effect of different modes of governance on the society is relatively rare in the existing literature, we here provide its first preliminary quantitative analysis; under a broad class of practically relevant models, we provide sufficient conditions to decide whether cooperation or competition between leaders is more favorable to the followers. Being in common with modern folklore, the relative merits of the two Stackelberg games depend on whether the interests between the two leaders and the followers align among themselves. Representative numerical examples are also supplemented.
Date Issued
2025-03-01
Date Acceptance
2025-01-01
Citation
Automatica, 2025, 173
ISSN
0005-1098
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Automatica
Volume
173
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Subjects
Automation & Control Systems
Engineering
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Linear-quadratic
LOADS
Lyapunov equations
Mean field games
Nash or Pareto games for leaders
Non-symmetric Riccati equations
POLICY
Science & Technology
Stackelberg game for followers
STACKELBERG GAMES
STATE
SYSTEM
Technology
Two dominating players
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
112028
Date Publish Online
2025-01-20