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A powerful tool for analyzing concave/convex utility and weighting functions

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  • Wakker, Peter P.
  • Yang, Jingni

Abstract

This paper shows that convexity of preference has stronger implications for weighted utility models than had been known hitherto, both for utility and for weighting functions. Our main theorem derives concave utility from convexity of preference on the two-dimensional comonotonic cone, without presupposing continuity. We then show that this, seemingly marginal, result provides the strongest tool presently available for obtaining concave/convex utility or weighting functions. We revisit many classical results in the literature and show that we can generalize and improve them.

Suggested Citation

  • Wakker, Peter P. & Yang, Jingni, 2019. "A powerful tool for analyzing concave/convex utility and weighting functions," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 143-159.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:181:y:2019:i:c:p:143-159
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2019.02.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Giulio Principi & Peter P. Wakker & Ruodu Wang, 2023. "Antimonotonicity for Preference Axioms: The Natural Counterpart to Comonotonicity," Papers 2307.08542, arXiv.org.
    2. Aniruddha Ghosh & M. Ali Khan & Metin Uyanık, 2023. "Continuity postulates and solvability axioms in economic theory and in mathematical psychology: a consolidation of the theory of individual choice," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 94(2), pages 189-210, February.
    3. Wakker, Peter P. & Yang, Jingni, 2021. "Concave/convex weighting and utility functions for risk: A new light on classical theorems," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 429-435.
    4. Ruodu Wang & Qinyu Wu, 2022. "Quasi-convexity in mixtures for generalized rank-dependent functions," Papers 2209.03425, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Convex preferences; Quasi-concave utility; Risk aversion; Ambiguity aversion; Rank-dependent utility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • C60 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - General

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