>I have a problem where I
>want to allocate a bonus
>to one of four parties To one of four perties? Just one? If so, you do not have a problem, right?
So, I assume you want to reward each or several parties.
>in ratio to their existing
>balance (which can be positive
>or negative). If I
>used their balance over the
>total I would get wild
>results. How can I
>pro-rate this bonus based on
>existing balances ?
You have to devise a policy. There's no single optimal solution. What is the meaning of having a negative balance? Is a party with a negative balance a good customer. Do you benefit more from a customer with a negative balance or that with a positive balance? What kind of behavior would you like to encourage?
For every policy one can design some bonus distribution strategy, but a policy should come first.
Best,
Alexander Bogomolny