Computational Social Choice and Computational Complexity: BFFs?

TL;DR

This paper explores the bidirectional relationship between computational social choice and computational complexity, emphasizing the mutual benefits and the potential of advanced complexity tools in social choice research.

Contribution

It highlights lesser-known aspects of the connection, including the reciprocal influence and the utility of subtle complexity tools in social choice.

Findings

Complexity classification benefits social choice research.

Advanced complexity tools can be effectively applied in social choice.

The relationship is a two-way street with mutual influence.

Abstract

We discuss the connection between computational social choice (comsoc) and computational complexity. We stress the work so far on, and urge continued focus on, two less-recognized aspects of this connection. Firstly, this is very much a two-way street: Everyone knows complexity classification is used in comsoc, but we also highlight benefits to complexity that have arisen from its use in comsoc. Secondly, more subtle, less-known complexity tools often can be very productively used in comsoc.