Steven Brams
Encyclopedia
Steven J. Brams is a game theorist
and political scientist at the New York University
Department of Politics. Brams is best known for using the techniques of game theory
and public choice to research voting systems and fair division
. He is one of the independent discoverers of approval voting
. Also, he was a co-discoverer, with Alan Taylor
of the first envy-free
solution to the n-person cake cutting problem. Previous to the Brams-Taylor procedure, the cake cutting problem had been one of the most important open problems in contemporary mathematics. He is co-inventor with Taylor of the fair-division procedure, Adjusted Winner, which was patented by New York University in 1999 (# 5,983,205). Adjusted Winner has been licensed to a Boston law firm, which formed a company, Fair Outcomes, Inc., that markets several fair-division algorithms.
Brams earned his B.S.
at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Politics, Economics, and Science in 1962. In 1966, he earned his Ph.D.
in Political Science
at Northwestern University
.
He worked briefly in U.S. federal government positions before taking an Assistant Professor position at Syracuse University
in 1967. He moved to New York University
in 1969, where he is a Professor in the Department of Politics. In 1990-1991 he was president of the Peace ScienceSociety (International); from 2004-2006, he was president of the Public Choice Society.
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
and political scientist at the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Department of Politics. Brams is best known for using the techniques of game theory
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
and public choice to research voting systems and fair division
Fair division
Fair division, also known as the cake-cutting problem, is the problem of dividing a resource in such a way that all recipients believe that they have received a fair amount...
. He is one of the independent discoverers of approval voting
Approval voting
Approval voting is a single-winner voting system used for elections. Each voter may vote for as many of the candidates as the voter wishes. The winner is the candidate receiving the most votes. Each voter may vote for any combination of candidates and may give each candidate at most one vote.The...
. Also, he was a co-discoverer, with Alan Taylor
Alan D. Taylor
Alan Dana Taylor is a mathematician who, with Steven Brams, solved the problem of envy-free fair division for an arbitrary number of people with the Brams–Taylor procedure.Taylor received his Ph.D...
of the first envy-free
Envy-free
In mathematical sociology and especially game theory, envy-free is a property of certain fair division algorithms for a divisible heterogeneous good over which different players may have different preferences....
solution to the n-person cake cutting problem. Previous to the Brams-Taylor procedure, the cake cutting problem had been one of the most important open problems in contemporary mathematics. He is co-inventor with Taylor of the fair-division procedure, Adjusted Winner, which was patented by New York University in 1999 (# 5,983,205). Adjusted Winner has been licensed to a Boston law firm, which formed a company, Fair Outcomes, Inc., that markets several fair-division algorithms.
Brams earned his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Politics, Economics, and Science in 1962. In 1966, he earned his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
He worked briefly in U.S. federal government positions before taking an Assistant Professor position at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1967. He moved to New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1969, where he is a Professor in the Department of Politics. In 1990-1991 he was president of the Peace ScienceSociety (International); from 2004-2006, he was president of the Public Choice Society.