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Mas-Colell A., Whinston M., Green J. Microeconomic Theory - OF PDF
Mas-Colell A., Whinston M., Green J. Microeconomic Theory - OF PDF
©. The interpretation is that marginal cost (in monetary term) due to a unit increase of output level must be smaller than ar equal to the output price, and the former must be enual to the latter if the output level Is positive. If both #(-) and $4(-) are convex (so that the corresponding production Set is convex), then, according to Theorem M.K.3, these first-order necescary conditions are also sufficient. (€) Let q > 0. By renumbering i = 1,2 if necessary, we can assume that 16(@) = w29,(q). In order to prove the statement, it is sufficient to show that, for any q, > 0 and a, > 0 with 4, + 4) = a, we have ¥,9,(4) + *29,(4,) ? W,0,(q). In fact, since the #.(+) are strictly concave (and #0) = 0) and aa + wea 1, W19(4) + WyF9la9) > wy(a,/a)04(a) + wela,/al¥,(@) = (ay/aw 9) + (a,/aw,6,0) = w,4,(q). The statement is thus proved. The strict concavity af the OC) te interpreted as the increasing returns to scale, which makes the statement quite plausible: Under the increasing returns to scale, it is better to concentrate on one technique. ‘The isoquants of the input use is drawn in the following figure. Note ‘that the additive separability imposes the same restriction on the isoquants as that alluded to in Exercise 3.G.4(b). 5-8input 2 ; input 1 Figure 5.B.6(d) S.C.1 If there ic a production plan y ¢ Y with p-y > 0, then, by using ay ¢ Y with a large a > 1, it is possible to attain any sufficiently large profit level. Hence n(p) = . If, on the contrary, p-y s 0 for all y ¢ Y. then a(p) 0. Thus we have either n(p) = + or nip) = 0. 5.6.2 Let p >> 0, p’ >> 0, a [0,1], and y € ylap + (1 - ap"), then pry nlp) and p'-y < r(p’). Thus, (ap + (I~ @)p)+y = ap-y + (1 ~ ap'+y < amlp) + (1 ~ adn(p’?. Since (ap + (1 - a)p')-y = wlap + (1 - ap"), map + (1 = ap’) = ax(p) + (1 - adn(p’). Hence m(-) is convex. 5.C.3. The homogeneity of c(-) in q is implied by that of 2(+), We shall thus prove this latter homogeneity only. Let w >> 0, q=0, anda>0. Letze z(w.q). Since f(+) 1s homogeneous of degree one, faz) = aftz) = ag. For every 2 € RL it giz’) = aq, then flalz’) = a ly(2") = q. Thus, by 2 €2long)s welale") = wz, Heuce wz" 2 we(az). Thus a2 € 2(w,eq). So az(w,q) © z(w.aq). By applying this inclusion to @”! in place yf @ and aq in place of we obtain a'z(w,aq) ¢ ztw.a”Maqll, or 2(w,aq) ¢ az(vr,q) ond thus conclude that z(w.aq) = az(wq). We next prove property (vill). Let we x\7', q 20, q' 0, andae (0,1. Let 2 € 2tw.q) and 2’ € z(w.q'). Then f(z) = q, fl2') = @', clw.q) = wz, and elwsq!) = wee’. Hence ac(w.g) + (1 = adelw,q") = a(w-2) + (1 - adlw-2? = woz + (1 = az"), Since f(-) is concave, Flaz + (I~ ale") = aflz) + (1 ~ adfle’) = aq + (1 - ada’. Thus w-(az + (1 - az") = cw, aq + (1 - alg’ That is, ee(w, @) + (I~ alow, 9") 2 c(w, aq + (1 = ald’), 5.0.4 irst printing errata: When there are multiple outputs, the function f(z) need not be well defined because it is conceivably possible to produce different combinations of outputs from a single combination of inputs. Assuming that the first L - M commodities are inputs and the last M commodities are outputs, we should thus underctand the set (z 2 0: f(z) © q) as tz © RY: (- 2, q) € YI.) For each q = 0, define Y= @eER™M Gz ge vee ™, F229). Then c¢(-,q) is the support function of Y(q) for every q. Hence property (ii) follows from the discussion of Section 3.F. Moreover, according tu Exercise 3.F.1, if ¥(q) is closed and convex, then L-M, Yiq) = @ « wt wee ® olwyq) for all w >> 0}. Since Y = {(- z, a): q = 0 and z © Yiq)), this implies property ( To prove property (iv), let w >> 0, q = 0, a> 0, z € zlw.q), and 2 « Yq). Then w-z = w-z’, Hence (aw)-2 < (ew)+z'. Thus z € zlew,q). Therefore 5-10z(w,q) ¢ z(aw,q). By applying this inclusion to aw in place of w and a in place of a, we obtain zlaw.g) © zlu faw)y) - z(mq). Property (iv) thus follows. Property (iv) implies the homogeneity of degree one of c(-) in w, which is the first part of property (i). As for its second part, let w >> 0, q = 0, q’ 2 0, and q’ = q. Then Y(q’) ¢ Y(q). Since c(-,q) and c(-,q’) are the support functions, this inclusion implies that c(w,q’) = c(w,q). Hence e+) i nondecreasing in q. = YQ) ae RE: As for property (v), note that 2(w,q) wez = clw.q)} for every w >> 0 and q 20. Since both of the two sets on the right-hand side is convex, so is the intersection, and hence so is z(w.q). As for the single-valuedness, let q = 0, w > 0, z € zlw,q) , 2° € 2(w,q), and 7 # 7. Also suppose that Y(q) is strictly convex. By the convexity of z(w.a), (22 + (72)2" € 2lwrg)- By the strict convexity of Yiq), there exists a 2" € Y(q) such that (u/2)z + (172)2" >> 2". Hence w:((1/2)z + (1/2)2") > w-2", which contradicts (1/2)z + (I/2Iz" € zlw,q). Thus z(w,q) must be single-valued. Property (vi) follows from the fact that c(-,q) is the support function of Y(q) and the duality theorem (Proposition 3.F.1) Property (vi) implies that if 2(+.q) is differentiable at W, then p,2W.q) = D,(V,clW.4)) = DZclW.q). As a Hessian matrix, thic ic eymmetric. By property (ii), it is negative semidefinite. By property (iv), D,2(,q)W = 0. Property (vil) 1s thus established. 5.C.5 If the production function f(+) is quasiconcave, then the set Y(q) = (z L+1, e RL: f(z) = a} is convex for any q, and thus property (iii) holds. (Notethat we uscd the convexity of Yiq), not of Y.) If there is a single input and the production function is given by f(z) = 2°, then it is quasiconcave but the corresponding production set exhibits increasing returns to scale. Quasiconcavity is thus compatible with increasing returns. 5.C.6 Throughout the following answers, the input prices are denoted by w >> 0 and the output price is denoted by p > 0. For convenience, we denote by 2lp,w) the input demands at prices (pw). As a preliminary result, by using the implicit function theorem (Theorem M.E.1), we shall prove that 2(-) is a continuously differentiable function and give Its derivatives in terms of F(-). (To be rigorous, we need to assume that f(-) ia twice continuously differentiable and the input demands are always strictly positive, so that the nonnegativity constraints never bind.) Since D(z) is negative definite for all z, the first-order necessary and sufficient condition (Theorems M.K.2 and M.K.3) for profit maximization is then that z Is an input demand vector at prices (p,w) if an only it pvr(a) - w= 0 If we regard the left-hand side as defining the function defined over (p.w,z), then the function is continuously differentiable and its derivative with respect to z is equal to pD*f{(2). It is negative definite, and hence has the inverse matrix (at every z). Thus, by the implicit function theorem (Theorem M.E.1), for each (pw), there is a unique z for which pUf(z) - w = 0 and the mapping from (p,w) to z is continuously differentiable. This is equivalent to saying that z(+) is a continuously differentiable function. The implicit function theorem also tells us that YpIb*s(2(p,w VFzip,w)), a2(p,w)/apvy2tP.w) = (/pID*ste(p,w))™ Note here that, since ne y(ztpw)) is negalive definite, so is its inverse De ytz(pw)t by Theorem M.D.1Gii). (a) By the chain rule (Section M.A), So Us tetp win = UFlelp.0) FE (oo) L/plUftatp,wi)-b?s(2¢p,w)VFCalp.w)) Since D2f(z\p,w))"" is negative definite, uls(z(p,w))I/dp > ©. () Since af(z)/az, = 0 for all £ and diflz(p,w))I/dp > 0, as the output price increases, the demand for some input must increase. (6) Since V,2(p.w) = (/pID*statp.w)Y', dztp,wi/ép, is equal to the &h diagonal entry of (1/pID2stetp.w)1. Since D?f(2(p,w))"" is negative definite, the diagonal entry is negative. Hence so is d2(p,w)/épy. 5.0.7 (First printing errata: The condition o”/(2)/6z,3z, < 0 should be 2 (z\/ézq02, > 0. That Is, al inputs are complementary to one another.) As we saw in the answer to Exercise §.C.6, az - 2 rtatp.wiit 22 p.m = Crd rlatpswNl and (7p it0? slalp.w VF 20.) oz Hem az, Hence, in order to prove that 6z,(p.w)/aw, < 0 for all k # land e (pew) > op © for all t, it is sufficient to show that all entries of (D@p(a(p,wl” are negative. This is an immediate consequence of the celebrated Hawkins-Simon condition, which can be found, for example, in "Convex Structures and Economic Theory" by Hukukane Nikaido. Here, instead of simplemindediy quoting the Hawkine-Simon condition, we shall provide a direct proof that relies on the symmetry of D“F(z(p,w)) (which is not assumed in the Hawkins-Simon condition).Write H = D?f(z(p,w)). To show that all entries of H” are negative, it is suffirient ta prove that, tor every ve RM", if Hy = O and Hy = 0, then v La << 0. In fact, then, for each &, we can choose v € RU! so that Hv is the vector whose &th coordinate is equal to one and the other coordinates are equal to zero. Then H (Hv) is equal to the éth column of Hof course, it is also equal to v, which is claimed to be strictly negative. Thus every column of H™ is strictly negative. Hence all entries of H”! are negative. For this property, in turn, it is sufficient to prove that for every v © nil if Hv = 0, then vs 0. (That is, weak inequalities suffice.) In fact, it there excte av 6 RL! uch that HY 20, Hy # 0, + #0, andy = 0 for some £, Then v # O and hence Ye glv.w)/Ow, yy. = Deel BzylPiw)/dw, vy <0, wich contradits Hy & 0. We shall uow prove by contradiction that for every v € at if Hv 2 0, then v 5 0. Than there exits vc RE ouch thet Hv = 0, and vy > 0 for some & By re-ordering the inputs if necessary, we can assume that the firet M entries of v are positive and the last L - 1 - M entries are nonpositive hx, Write write v = [ tM 1 M >» < =< iso, 2) TH, H, write H = [ , Hy H, M) matrix 1} where H, is an Mx M matrix, Hp is Mx (L - ‘whose entries are all positive, H, is an (L - 1 - M) x M matrix whose entries are all positive, and H, is an (L - 1 ~ M) x (L - 1 - M) matrix, Let Hv = L-1-M y, finesse pe ty. J, : BE) te d-C 9 = 0 because y, = 0, x, $0, and all entries of H, are Hence Hyx, = y, ~ H, S14positive. Thus, by x, >> 0, we obtain x,-H,x, s 0, which is a contradiction to the negative definiteness of H, aid hence that of Hy. 5.C.8 The cost that AI incurred in month 95 is 2-55 + 2-40 = 190, but it could attain the same output level with a lower cost by using the input combination of month 3: 2-40 + 2-50 = 180. Thus the problem we will encounter is that, perhaps due to mis-observation and/or some restrictions that Al faced outside the market, the profit-maximizing production plans are not observed tu have been used and it is Impossible to use those observations in order to recover its technology based on Proposition 5.C.2(iii) or 5.C.1( iii). 5.C.9. To find n(+) and y(+) for (a), the first-order condition (5.C.2) is nol very useful, because one of the nonnegativity constraint binds. Also, to find n(+) and y(-) for (b), it is not even applicable because s(+) is not differentiable. In Uuth cases, however, because of the nature of the is similar to production functions, it is quite easy to solve their CMP (wi those in Exercise 5.C.10.), and the cost functions c{-) turn out to be differentiable with respect to output levels q. We can thus apply the first- order condition (5.C.6) (which requires only Une differentiability of the cost function with respect to output levels) to find profit maximizing production levels, and hence the profit functions and supply correspondences. Throughout the answer, the output price is fixed to be equal to one. Vaw, if w, 5 W, 1 = 2 (a) aw) i L/w, if w, > Wy 2 , (- Vvawy, 0, 1/2W, 1) if w, < w, = = ) w, ylw) = 4 - > 2p, Vaw,): 2, = 0, 22% 0, 2, + 22 = WV4wy) it wy = woi 2 ' (0, - 1/4w5, L/2w)) if w, > We.(©) Ow) = Law, + wp) 2 yo) = © 1780 ow), 4lur, + w, 1 W72(w, + wo). 2! 2) (c) Note first that this production function exhibits constant returns to scale. Moreover, if p <1, then the nonnegativity constraint does not bind. If p = 1, then this production funetion gives rise te the same isoquants as that of (a), and hence one of the nonnegativity constraints binds. It is thus casy to apply (5.C.6). If p <1, then ig WOON 4 yO) ¢ , nw) = . 0 it WP 4 p/P sy, 2 if wi ppl), ypAle-L) ¢ 1 2 gto =f ale WPD, - ylMOD, PPL), yPMEV)1/0, g = o) if wi 4 (o it WOE) 4 WhO) yy PPL) y yp p-1) 1 Wo If p = 1, then { © if Min(w,,w} = 1 RO) =) if Mintw,.w,) <1 10) If Min(wy.wy? ® is 2 if Min(w yw} <5 {a{- 1, 0, 1): w= 0} ifl=w, < wo: FO =) (a(v, = 1, 1): a= O} ifw,> wy = 1. {al- 2), = 25» I: a= 0, 2,2 0, 2,20, 2, +2, » 1 5.c.10 aw, if ws Wi @ewaey 1 1 2 aw, if w, > wy(4.0 zlwia) = 4 (24.29) © RE (0,q) (©) cOw.a) = (wr, + wp) ZhHa) = (qa). (0) ctwig) = awh OD 5 wPMern ve? 1 twa) = atwhP"D were) Ve ye ye-D) : . aa 5.C.11 Ascume that ¢(+) is twice continuously differentiable. By Proposition 5.C.z(vi), 2(+) is continuously differentiable and aaylwr.gl/aq ~ (B/8q)(8elw.q)/ow,) = (4/8u,)dclw.0)/80). Hence a2, e marginal cost is increasing in Wy. (w,q)/aq > 0 if and only if (8/8W,)(8C(w,q)/aq).> 0, that is, 5.C.12 Suppose first that y © Y maximizes profit at p, then (p.m(p))-(y. - 1) Also, for every a = 0 and y’ € Y, (pym(p))-(aly’, ~ 1) = alp-y" - x(p)) = 0. Thus (y', - 1) maximizes profit Y' at prices (p.n(p)). Conversely, if y € Y and (y, ~ 1) maximizes profit in Y' at (P,P, ,) then (P.Ppqy)"(s ~ 1) = PY ~ PLyy * © by the constant returns to srale. Also, for every y’ € Y, (P,P, 4))°(¥'s ~ 17 = Pry’ ~ Ppyy 50 Hence y maximizes profit in Y at prices p and m(p) = p-¥ ~ Pryy 5.C.13 Denote the production function of the firm by f(-), then its optimization problem is Maris zpdeo Uae) St MR * Mah * c ‘This is analogous to the utility maximization problem in Section 3.D and the function R(-) corresponds to the indirect utility function. Hence,analogously to Roy's identity (Proposition 3.G.4), the input demands are obtained as WyR(P.W.C) = (aC/w,, (= aCe, w 1 2 S.D.1 We chall use the differentiability of O(-) only at §. The everywhere differentiability is not necessary. Ry the definition, wor) = 2 SD). SG zi q q ‘Thus, if the average cost is minimized at q ~ G then AC'(@) = 0 and hence og) og) = Cl@Za = Acta). S.D.2 Figure 5.D.2 S.D.3 Let q(w,p) be the profit-maximizing output level when the input prices are w and the output price is p. Lat # he the initial input prices, p be the initial output price, Z be the initial long-run input demand at (w,p), and q be the initial long-run output level at (W.p). By (5.C.6), acW.a(W.p))/éq P for every p (assuming that q(w,p) > 0). Thus, by differentiating both sideswith respect to p and then evaluating at p we obtain (07 eGwalwpn/0uNoql%)/0P) = ty that is, dq(WnB)/ap = (80754189). (On the other hand, define the short-run cost function function ¢.(w,q1z,) and the short-run output function ¢.(w,qlz,) as suggested in the hint. Just as we did above, we can show that aq (W,512,)/ap = (8c2(W.912,)/8"@)* (WP 2, Maly (assuming that q,(W,p1z,) > 0). Now, by the definition, c(w,q) = e(mal?,) for all q and of c,(%,a12,). Hence the function g(q) = e(w.q) - e,(v,q12,) is maximized at q = ] and, by the second-order necessary condition (see Section M.K), g"(q) = 0, that is, ac(W,4)/8%q = 8c2(¥i.41z,)/0%q. Thus aqlwsp)/ap = 24, (W,512,)/6p. 5.0.4 (a) Suppose that a = Ta) = 0) (ay 0 summing over j, we obtain Clq) < Ey_,cla,) (a faiota) = O1G,). By g over a) * Fay) By the decreasing average costs (and 6(0) Hence there ig no way to break up the production of q among multiple firms and lower the cost of production. Hence C(-) is subadditive. (b) Let M = 2 and define Clq) = Vmintg,,q,), then C(+) exhibits decreasing ray average cost, Rit let q, = (1B), a, = (81, and a ~ a) + Gy = (9,9). Then G(4,) = Ol4y) = 1 and G{q) = 9. Hence Clq) > Cla,) + Clay). Hence (+) is not subadditive (©) We shall first prove that if q = ja, and a, > 0 for every j, then Clq) Zeta). In fact, then, for every J, there exists ¥; > 0 suen that 79, 7 4 By the increasingness, Gla ,q,) 7 Gly). Thus, by the continuity and Clq) > here exists @, € (l4y,) such that Cla,q,) = Clq). Define Va. ela) th +; € (ha) such that Cla ja OF ine 8 = Ty i J then Tyl/Aa, ~ 1 and E,(v/Baiea,) = (/A)a. Thus, by the quasiconvexity, C((1/B)q) = Clq). By the increasingness, @ = 1. Hence, by the decreasing rayaverage cost, 2 Poy (q) = AGI) & Gt Tyelap = Lyla peiaa) = Lye eta) = acta) ota) For the general ease in which some q, = 0 need not be strictly positive, apply the shove resnlt to the qy +e, where © > 0 and © = (11,..1) 4 RM, and then take the limit as ¢ 3 0. The continuity of C(-) then implies that Tosa, = cla). 5.D.5 (a) The production function f(+) exhibits increasing returns if and only if f(Az) = Af(z) for all z and all A= 1. Hence, if 2’ = 2 > 0, then U2 Ft2) = 1/2) fll2! ada) & (1/22! /2\fl2) = (1/2) (2) Thus the average product is nondecreasing. The marginal product may however be decreasing on come region of output levels, as the following example shows: fz) : > 0 Figure 5.D.5(a) 2 (b) Mathematically, the consumer's maximization problem is max, uS(2) ~ z, The first-order necessary condition is u’(f(z))f"(z) = 1, which can be rewritten as u'(f(2)) = s7(2)"' Since the cost function is given by 2 = £(q), the marginal cost is equal to "(2)"! and the equality of marginal 5-20cost and marginal utility is thus a necessary condition for a maximum, Economically, the consumer will choose the output level at which the marginal utility of an extra unit of the output is exactly equal to the di tility incurred by giving up the necessary amounts of input to produce it. But the latter is nothing but the marginal cost. Hence the marginal utility is equal to the marginal cost. (©) This assertion is wrong, As the following figure shows, even if marginal cost and marginal utility are equal at an input level, there may be another input level at which the consumer attains higher utility fe a Indiffereass Curves 0 , z Figure $.D.5(6) ‘The reason for suboptimality is that the first-order necessary conditions are not sufficient when the production function exhibits increasing returns (which gives rise to nonconvexity of the feasible set). S.E.1 By applying Hatelling's lemma (Proposition 5.Gil(vi)) twice, we ret yp) = ORM) = WL (PN = Live lp) = Loy iP). 5.E.2 This is just @ matter of going through the proof of Proposition 5.E.1 5-21and checking that convexity was never used. Its interpretation was given before the statement of the proposition (p. 148), It is a consequence af The very definition of the aggregate production set, that is, it is the sum of the J firms’ production sets. It is thus independent of conve: 'y or any other properties of the firms’ production sets. 5.E.3 [First printing errata: We should assume that there is a p* >> O and y* © FY) such that pty? = pty for every y © EY, Otherwise, denoting the Profit function of J.¥; by m(-), the set (y € RY: pry < x*(p) for all p >> 0} may be empty, and all we can obtain is the equality between SY, and (y ¢ RY: Pry = n*(p) for all p= 0). This assumption is also necessary for the validity of Proposition 5.¢.1(I11). In fact, its proof should go as follows: It ig sufficient to prove that, for every ze RIVY, there exist a p >> 0 such that p-z > m(p). Since Y is closed and convex, the separating hyperplane theorem implies the existence of such a nonzero vector p. The free disposal Property implies that p must actually be nonnegative. If it is not strictly positive, then take the convex combination (1 - elp + ep* with a sufficiently small ¢ > 0, Then it is strictly positive, and satisfies ((1 - elp + ept)-2 > n((1 ~ elp + ep*) by the upper semicontinuity of m(-), which is implied by its convexity.] Since each Y, is convex and satisfies the free disposal property, L)¥; is also convex and satisfies the free disposal property. Since it is also assumed to be' closed, Proposition §.C.1(iii) implies that Uy=06 a: psy = np) for all p >> 0} fon S.E.1, w¥(p) = Pi (p) and hence L, = ye RY py < Din (p) for all p >> 0) Wee Pry = Dimitp) Pp >> 0}, S.E.4 (a) Denote by y(w) ¢ R° the set of the supplies of the technology with