Project SherlockEst. Knowledge

Paper

1962

College Admissions and the Stability of Marriage

David Gale & Lloyd S. Shapley

Proves a stable matching always exists for any set of two-sided preferences and gives a constructive procedure, deferred acceptance, that finds one -- the founding result of matching-market theory.

Before you start

FreeIntermediatelink checked 17 Sept 2026

If this is the wrong level

Too hard? Start hereGame Theory with Ben PolakBen Polak (YaleCourses), 2008Derives game theory from played examples rather than notation, showing that most strategic mistakes come from failing to put yourself in the other player's position.

Groundwork for

Works in the library that name this one as a prerequisite.

The Theory and Practice of Market DesignAlvin E. Roth, 2012Argues market design is applied economics: repurposing Gale-Shapley matching theory to fix real allocation problems -- kidney exchange, school choice, medical residencies -- where prices cannot clear the market.

Filed under Game Theory & Mechanism Design in Economics.