Simultaneous EF1 and approximate MMS allocations for submodular valuations

Abstract

There are two common classes of fairness notions that are considered when allocating $m$ indivisible items to $n$ agents of equal entitlements. One is that of share-based fairness notions, with the maximin share (MMS) and its relaxations to $ρ$-MMS being prominent representatives of this class. The other is that of comparison-based fairness notions, with envy-freeness (EF) and its relaxations such as EF1 being prominent representatives of this class. In general, no class offers good guarantees for the other class. In this work, we design allocations that simultaneously satisfy notions from both classes, and specifically, are $ρ$-MMS for constant $ρ$ and EF1 (in fact, also EFL). Such results were previously known when agents have additive valuations, and we prove such results for the more general class of submodular valuations.