THE GAME OF THE RULES

This paper discusses three different approaches to the multi-agent optimisation problem, with illustrative examples from 'optimal' traffic control schemes and the development of an 'optimal' transport system. The three approaches to the multi-agent problem are: (1) paternalistic public control; (2) conflicting decisions left to individuals or market forces; and (3) cooperative co-production. Traffic control schemes are usually 'optimised' by road authorities with respect to single criteria like total delay. Neither this approach nor the approach of each driver optimising his individual travel objective give the best results. Better results can be obtained by not having the system controlled by one agent but enabling it to evolve in a direction acceptable to all participants. This approach of coordination is being applied in ISTEA, which is the legal framework in the USA to improve the transport system. For the covering abstract see IRRD 880168.