Article
Study on the Sharing Transportation Based on Game Theory
Guanqiao Pan, Hongchao Jiang, Qianhui Jin, Tianyi Zhao, Jiajun Wang and Li Wang *
Citation: Pan, G.; Jiang, H.; Jin, Q.;
Zhao, T.; Wang, J.; Wang, L. Study on
the Sharing Transportation Based on
Game Theory. Sustainability 2021, 13,
9347. https://doi.org/10.3390/su
13169347
Academic Editor: Paolo Renna
Received: 15 June 2021
Accepted: 13 August 2021
Published: 20 August 2021
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4.0/).
School of Modern Post, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China;
pgq@bupt.edu.cn (G.P.); jhc@bupt.edu.cn (H.J.); jqh2000@bupt.edu.cn (Q.J.); 2018213445@bupt.edu.cn (T.Z.);
handsome@bupt.edu.cn (J.W.)
* Correspondence: wang_li@bupt.edu.cn
Abstract:
In order to solve the problems of mismatch between transportation resources and order
volume in logistics transportation, we propose a cooperative pattern called sharing transportation
to solve this problems. In this pattern, several logistics enterprises or alliances cooperate with
each other and share transportation resources to achieve the goal of reducing costs and increasing
income. In this paper, we set the application scene of sharing transportation to the section from the
distribution center to the service outlets in the city. We first put forward the judgment function in
the analysis model of cooperative pattern, and the possible cooperative pattern is divided into three
kinds by constructing and solving the replication dynamic equation. Then we proposed the income
allocation model by considering the functions of order quantity and overall income. Moreover, the
proposed models are extended to the multi-agent game situation to realize the sharing transportation
of multiple enterprises. Finally, we use the example simulation and sensitivity analysis to verify the
rationality of the model. This paper provides a new idea for how to integrate the surplus resources to
increase the profit in the process of logistics transportation.
Keywords:
sharing logistics; sharing transportation; dynamic game; evolutionary game; income
allocation
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
The sharing economy (SE) is a popular economic model at present, it involves sec-
tors such as transportation, accommodation, entertainment and technology [
1
]. Sharing
logistics(SL) is a new branch of the sharing economy. Compared with the homestay form
of lodging, car sharing, bike sharing and charge bank sharing have been put into the
market, but sharing logistics still exist on a small scale or even in the stage of theoretical
research. Take China as an example. In March 2020, the Sharing Economy Research Center
of the State Information Center released The Report on the Development of China’s Sharing
Economy [
2
], which pointed out a lot of shocking data related to the SE in 2019. The market
turnover of China’s SE was CNY 3282.8 billion, an increase of 11.6% over the previous
year. Employment in the SE has maintained rapid growth, with 6.23 million employees on
the platform, an increase of 4.2% over the previous year. SE has played a more significant
role in improving the structure of the service sector and promoting the transformation of
consumption patterns. In addition, enterprises with sharing economy models in transporta-
tion, catering and accommodation accounted for 37.1%, 12.4% and 7.3% of the industry,
respectively, which are 20.5, 7.8 and 3.8 percentage points higher than 2016. Meanwhile,
the popularizing rate of online car-hailing, take-out meals, shared accommodation and
shared medical care up 15.1%, 21.58%, 4.7% and 7% over 2016. We can see that SE has a
very large market in China, but the shared logistics does not have much application in
the market. However, based on the prosperity and development of SE today, the broad
prospects of SL can be anticipated.
In addition, with the further expansion and development of e-commerce in recent
years, the logistics industry has received extensive attention. In 2018, Gross Merchandise
Sustainability 2021, 13, 9347. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169347 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability