Maximal elements of non-binary choice functions on compact sets

We give sufficient conditions for the existence of maximal elements on compact sets for ‘contraction consistent’ (but possibly non-binary) choice functions. Our result generalizes the Bergstrom-Walker theorem on the existence of maximal elements with acyclic preference relations.     

Characterization of the existence of maximal elements of acyclic relations

Summary. We obtain a sufficient condition for the existence of maximal elements of irreflexive binary relations that generalizes the theorem of Bergstrom and Walker by relaxing the compactness condition to a weaker one that is naturally related to the relation. We then prove that the sufficient conditions used both in the Bergstrom-Walker Theorem and in our generalization provide a characterization of the existence of maximal elements of acyclic binary relations. Other sufficient conditions for the existence of maximal elements obtained by Mehta, by Peris and Subiza and by Campbell and Walker are shown to be necessary too. Received: May 28, 1997; revised version: October 5, 2000     

Maximal Domain of Preferences in the Division Problem

The division problem consists of allocating an amount of a perfectly divisible good among a group of n agents. Sprumont (1991) showed that if agents have single-peaked preferences over their shares, then the uniform allocation rule is the unique strategy-proof, efficient, and anonymous rule. We identify the maximal set of preferences, containing the set of single-peaked preferences, under which there exists at least one rule satisfying the properties of strategy-proofness, efficiency, and strong symmetry. In addition, we show that our characterization implies a slightly weaker version of Ching and Serizawa's (1998) result. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D71, D78, D63.     

On indirect taxation and weakly basic commodities

I am most grateful to Christian Bidard, Wilfried Parys, Jean Cartelier, Gianni Vaggi and the anonymous referees of this Journal for their comments on previous drafts of the paper. All remaining errors are mine.     

对生产力与生产关系的辩证关系的再认识

生产力之所以能够决定生产关系,是因为人们征服、改造和利用自然界的一定生产劳动能力和力量,作为一种集体合力,从根本上决定了人们发挥这种能力和力量的社会形式.生产关系作为一定生产组织中生产力诸要素的结合形式,必会反过来影响人们生产劳动积极性、主动性、创造性的发挥,以及物的作用的发挥,由此从整体上影响生产力的发展.     

Anchored preference relations

This note explores the implications of a simple and intuitive restriction on reference-dependent preferences assuming the status quo serves as the reference point. The condition imposed potentially rules out situations in which a decision maker has a choice between two prospects, selects one which subsequently becomes the new reference point, and then regrets her initial choice. It is shown that a surprising number of models in a riskless and risky setting violate this behavioral assumption, including Cumulative Prospect Theory as well as any theory exhibiting local non-satiation in which all reference-dependent indifference surfaces are smooth. It is also shown that the condition does admit a class of non-trivial reference-dependent preferences.     

Separability and aggregation of equivalence relations

We provide axiomatic characterizations of two natural families of rules for aggregating equivalence relations: the family of join aggregators and the family of meet aggregators. The central conditions in these characterizations are two separability axioms. Disjunctive separability, neutrality, and unanimity characterize the family of join aggregators. On the other hand, conjunctive separability and unanimity characterize the family of meet aggregators. We show another characterization of the family of meet aggregators using conjunctive separability and two Pareto axioms, Pareto⁺ and Pareto^?. If we drop Pareto^?, then conjunctive separability and Pareto⁺ characterize the family of meet aggregators along with a trivial aggregator.     

Continuous linear representability of binary relations

Summary A very general result on continuous linear representability of binary relations on topological vector spaces is presented. Applications of this result include individual decision making under uncertainty, i.e. expected utility theory and collective decision making, in particular, utilitaristic social welfare functions.Thanks are due for helpful comments to Manfred Nermuth, David Schmeidler, Antonio Villar, and anonymous referees. Financial support from the DFG under Tr 120/4-2 is gratefully acknowledged.     

A representation of consistent binary relations

We give sufficient conditions for the existence of a numerical representation which is equivalent to consistency as defined by Suzumura (Economica 43:381–390).      

Sociotechnical relations and development assistance

Process research is increasingly used to assess and monitor the implementation of development projects. In natural resource management and agriculture, the results have contributed to consensus building amongst village groups, agricultural extension and other governmental agencies, NGOs, and donors. This paper draws on Latour's science studies programme to compare these results with process research in industrial development projects. Process research should reflect sociotechnical relations. Latour's definitions of sociotechnical relations thus allow us to describe the context of development projects and add to the theoretical framework of process research. Ethnographic methods reveal the insider perspective and implementation logic of development interventions also in industry. An interpretation of the ethnographic results according to the layer of sociotechnical relations is proposed.     

Quality distortions in vertical relations

This paper examines how delivery tariffs and private quality standards are determined in vertical relations that are subject to asymmetric information. We consider an infinitely repeated game where an upstream firm sells a product to a downstream firm. In each period, the firms negotiate a delivery contract comprising the quality of the good as well as a non-linear tariff. Assuming asymmetric information about the actual quality of the product and focusing on incentive compatible contracts, we show that from the firms’ perspective delivery contracts lead to more efficient contracts and thus higher overall profits the lower the firms’ outside options, i.e. the higher their mutual dependency. Buyer power driven by a reduced outside option of the upstream firm enhances the efficiency of vertical relations, while buyer power due to an improved outside option of the downstream firm implies less efficient outcomes.     

Supporting weakly Pareto optimal allocations in infinite dimensional nonconvex economies

In this paper, we prove a new version of the Second Welfare Theorem for economies with a finite number of agents and an infinite number of commodities, when the preference correspondences are not convex-valued and/or when the total production set is not convex. For this kind of nonconvex economies, a recent result, obtained by one of the authors, introduces conditions which, when applied to the convex case, give for Banach commodity spaces the well-known result of decentralization by continuous prices of Pareto-optimal allocations under an interiority condition. In this paper, in order to prove a different version of the Second Welfare Theorem, we reinforce the conditions on the commodity space, assumed here to be a Banach lattice, and introduce a nonconvex version of the properness assumptions on preferences and the total production set. Applied to the convex case, our result becomes the usual Second Welfare Theorem when properness assumptions replace the interiority condition. The proof uses a Hahn-Banach Theorem generalization by Borwein and Jofré (in Joper Res Appl Math 48:169–180, 1997) which allows to separate nonconvex sets in general Banach spacesThis work was partially supported by Nucleo Complex Engineering System. The successive versions of the paper were partly prepared during visits of Alejandro Jofré to CERMSEM and of Monique Florenzano and Pascal Gourdel to the Centro de Modelamiento Matematico. The hospitality of both institutions and the support of the french Coopération régionale Cone Sud are gratefully aknowledged. The authors thank Ali Khan for stimulating exchange of ideas and literature, Roko Aliprantis, Jean-Marc Bonnisseau, Alain Chateauneuf, Roger Guesnerie, Filipe Martins Da Rocha, Moncef Meddeb, B. Mordukovich, Lionel Thibault and Rabee Tourky for valuable discussions     

Ownership relations in the presence of cross-shareholding

The direct ownership structure in a sector can be readily obtained from data on shareholding. Due to cross-shareholding, however, the true ownership structure may be hidden by a complex network of indirect relations. In studying the property structure, two important aspects are the size of the relations between primary owners (e.g. individuals) and secondary owners (e.g. companies), and the distance between them. The distance is obtained from the average number of secondary owners via whom the relation runs. As an empirical application, we study the banking sector in the Czech Republic, where also the relation between distance and separation of dividend and control rights is discussed.      

管理费用预算影响因素关系研究

管理费用预算是年度费用预算中的重要一环,与日常运营息息相关,也是预算环节中的一部分,直接关系到预算管理的效果和企业的兴旺发达.本文以企业总资产为解释变量,建立了房地产行业上市公司管理费用计量模型,理论论述和实际案例相结合,对于管理费用预算进行了基础性研究.     

Utility representation of continuous preferences

Summary.  By generalising the Arrow-Hahn approach, we give new conditions under which a preference relation on a metric space can be represented by a continuous utility function. Received: December 11, 1995; revised version July 29, 1996     

不能离开生产关系探讨分配问题--关于分配问题的一些看法

分配是人与人之间的经济关系。在社会主义初级阶段,总起来看,按劳分配为主、按劳分配与按要素分配相结合的分配方式是惟一公平的。我们应该正确认识和处理分配过程中出现的剥削和两极分化现象并最终要以消灭它为目标,当然这要随着条件的成熟逐步实现,而且还是一个十分漫长的历史过程。但是,这不等于理论教育中可以回避剥削和两极分化问题。     

Monotone continuous multiple priors

Summary. In a multiple priors model á la Gilboa and Schmeidler (1989), we provide necessary and sufficient behavioral conditions ensuring the countable additivity and non-atomicity of all priors.Received: 25 November 2002, Revised: 24 June 2004, JEL Classification Numbers: D81.We thank Roko Aliprantis, Maristella Botticini, Erio Castagnoli, Larry Epstein, Paolo Ghirardato, Itzhak Gilboa, Luigi Montrucchio, David Schmeidler, Marciano Siniscalchi, an Associate Editor, and an anonymous referee for helpful discussions. Fabio Maccheroni and Massimo Marinacci gratefully acknowledge the financial support of MIUR and NOMOS Sistema (Milano).