Integer solutions to bankruptcy problems with non-integer claims

In this paper, we consider a bankruptcy problem with the additional constraint that the estate has to be assigned in integer unities; differently from the approaches by other authors, we allow for non-integer claims. This situation poses new questions on the existence and the uniqueness of the solution. We propose a new solution method that leads to the “box solution”, for which uniqueness may be guaranteed introducing a ranking on the claimants. Some examples complete the paper. Copyright Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa 2014