We study fairness ideals in distribution systems where inventory is allocated to multiple retailers and there is supply–demand mismatch. In particular, we focus on (a) what is considered fair inventory allocation by retailers (e.g., equal profit, same fill rate, equal share of supply–demand mismatch?) and (b) how the supply chain context affects fairness perceptions. We consider an integrated supply chain setting where total inventory is allocated at the retail level and retailers may face either shortage or surplus, and a disintegrated supply chain where retailers may face supply scarcity when total demand exceeds available inventory. Our experimental data suggest that subjects, taking on the role of retailers in the same supply chain, are often motivated by fairness considerations: they claim for themselves inventory that is not exactly equal to their needs in more than one-third of the instances. Across settings, “fair” allocations depend on retail demands rather than on profit comparisons, even when these are facilitated by a decision support tool. However, in cases of surplus, the most prevalent fairness ideal is that of equal split of inventory–demand mismatch, while in cases of shortage, the most prevalent fairness ideal is that of equal fill rates. Follow-up experiments suggest that retailers under both cases of shortage and surplus are more likely to evaluate an allocation as fair when it is based on realized demands, and this is independent of whether it was determined by a rule or a human decision maker.

中文翻译：

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库存分配中的公平理念

我们研究分配系统中的公平理想，其中库存分配给多个零售商并且存在供需不匹配。我们特别关注 (a) 零售商认为什么是公平的库存分配（例如，相等的利润、相同的填充率、相等的供需不匹配份额？）和 (b) 供应链环境如何影响公平感知。我们考虑一个综合供应链环境，其中总库存在零售层面分配，零售商可能面临短缺或过剩，以及一个分散的供应链环境，当总需求超过可用库存时，零售商可能面临供应短缺。我们的实验数据表明，在同一供应链中扮演零售商角色的受试者通常出于公平考虑：在超过三分之一的情况下，他们为自己索取的库存并不完全符合他们的需求。在各种设置中，“公平”分配取决于零售需求而不是利润比较，即使这些是由决策支持工具促进的。然而，在过剩的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是库存与需求不匹配的平均分配，而在短缺的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是平等的填充率。后续实验表明，在短缺和过剩两种情况下，零售商更有可能将基于已实现需求的分配评估为公平，而这与它是由规则还是由人类决策者决定无关。“公平”分配取决于零售需求而不是利润比较，即使这些是由决策支持工具促进的。然而，在过剩的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是库存与需求不匹配的平均分配，而在短缺的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是平等的填充率。后续实验表明，在短缺和过剩两种情况下，零售商更有可能将基于已实现需求的分配评估为公平，而这与它是由规则还是由人类决策者决定无关。“公平”分配取决于零售需求而不是利润比较，即使这些是由决策支持工具促进的。然而，在过剩的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是库存与需求不匹配的平均分配，而在短缺的情况下，最普遍的公平理想是平等的填充率。后续实验表明，在短缺和过剩两种情况下，零售商更有可能将基于已实现需求的分配评估为公平，而这与它是由规则还是由人类决策者决定无关。最普遍的公平理想是平等的填充率。后续实验表明，在短缺和过剩两种情况下，零售商更有可能将基于已实现需求的分配评估为公平，而这与它是由规则还是由人类决策者决定无关。最普遍的公平理想是平等的填充率。后续实验表明，在短缺和过剩两种情况下，零售商更有可能将基于已实现需求的分配评估为公平，而这与它是由规则还是由人类决策者决定无关。