Determinateness of the Utility Function: Revisiting a Controversy of the Thirties

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 1982
Volume: 49
Issue: 2
Pages: 307-311

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

It has been alleged that, contrary to the assumptions in Pareto's Manual, the ability to compare first-differences of utility implies cardinality. It is shown here that the validity of this theorem hinges critically on the framework of analysis. In the framework of the thirties it is valid because of the implicit use of an ‘unrestricted domain’ assumption. In the modern choice-theoretic context it is not in general true but it becomes valid if utility functions are continuous and are defined on a connected topological space.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:49:y:1982:i:2:p:307-311.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-24