Matching students to schools is one of the most successful applications of game theory. Algorithms like Gale-Shapley have changed lives. However, we are reaching a point where the math is no longer the bottleneck.
Beyond Stability
The next big challenge is building trust. If a parent doesn't understand why their child was "rejected" by a computer algorithm, they will fight the system regardless of how "optimal" it is. We need better visualization tools and simpler explanations of the underlying trade-offs.
My recent work explores how to present complex probability outcomes to parents in a way that feels empowering rather than confusing.