How to navigate the hidden economics of waiting in line

"On a busy day, over 25,000 people visit the Vatican Museum in Vatican City, the world's smallest country at 0.17 square miles, tucked in the middle of Rome. While the museum boasts one of the greatest collections of art in the world, the main attraction for many people (including me on my first-ever trip abroad) is the Sistine Chapel, with its massive ceiling frescoes painted by Michelangelo at the start of the 16th century."

"These allocation mechanisms come in two key varieties: lists and lines. The difference between the two is your physical presence. Joining a waiting list requires you to simply put your name down to secure your place in the list. Standing in a line requires you to physically be there. If you leave the line, it usually means you lose your spot, and since keeping your place requires a constant devotion of your time, lines are more cost"

On busy days over 25,000 people visit the Vatican Museum, with the Sistine Chapel as the primary attraction. The entrance price of twenty euros creates excess demand because the chapel measures only 5,800 square feet (540 square meters). Visitors without pre-purchased premium tickets must join a physical line, which can take three or four hours during peak season and is followed by security queues. Last-Sunday free admission further lengthens waits. Many markets resolve excess demand by using first-come, first-served waiting mechanisms. These mechanisms take the form of lists and lines; lists record names, while lines require physical presence and ongoing time devotion, making them costlier for participants.

Read at Big Think