Reasoning about Norms Revision

TL;DR

This paper explores how revising norms through relaxation and strengthening can improve multi-agent system performance and better achieve system objectives.

Contribution

It provides a preliminary analysis of norm revision types and demonstrates their usefulness through illustrative scenarios.

Findings

Norm revision can enhance system goal satisfaction.

Relaxation and strengthening are effective revision strategies.

Illustrative scenarios show improved system outcomes.

Abstract

Norms with sanctions have been widely employed as a mechanism for controlling and coordinating the behavior of agents without limiting their autonomy. The norms enforced in a multi-agent system can be revised in order to increase the likelihood that desirable system properties are fulfilled or that system performance is sufficiently high. In this paper, we provide a preliminary analysis of some types of norm revision: relaxation and strengthening. Furthermore, with the help of some illustrative scenarios, we show the usefulness of norm revision for better satisfying the overall system objectives.