Utility representation of an incomplete and nontransitive preference relation

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Theory
Year: 2016
Volume: 166
Issue: C
Pages: 164-185

Authors (2)

Nishimura, Hiroki (not in RePEc) Ok, Efe A. (New York University (NYU))

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to provide continuous utility representation theorems analogous to Debreu's classic utility representation theorem, albeit for preference relations that may fail to be complete and/or transitive. Specifically, we show that every (continuous and) reflexive binary relation on a (compact) metric space can be represented by means of the maxmin, or dually, minmax, of a (compact) set of (compact) sets of continuous utility functions. This notion of “maxmin multi-utility representation,” generalizes the recently proposed notions of “multi-utility representation” for preorders and “justifiable preferences” for complete and quasitransitive relations. As such, our main representation theorems lead to some new characterizations of these special cases as well.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jetheo:v:166:y:2016:i:c:p:164-185
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26