Skip to main content
Log in

On the Monopolist Problem and Its Dual

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Mathematical Notes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we study the functional \(\Phi\) that arises in numerous economic applications, in particular, in the monopolist problem. A special feature of these problems is that the domains of such functionals are nonclassical (in our case, increasing convex functions). We use an appropriate minimax theorem to prove the duality relation for \(\Phi\). In particular, an important corollary is obtained stating that the dual functional (defined on a space of measures and known as the “Beckmann functional) attains its minimum. The present approach also provides simpler proofs of some previously known results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J.-P. Rochet and P. Choné, “Ironing, sweeping, and multidimensional screening,” Econometrica 66 (4), 783–826 (1998).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. S. Hart and P. J. Reny, “Implementation of reduced form mechanisms: a simple approach and a new characterization,” Econ. Theory Bull. 3 (1), 1–8 (2015).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. C. Daskalakis, A. Deckelbaum, and C. Tzamos, “Strong duality for a multiple-good monopolist,” Econometrica 85 (3), 735–767 (2017).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Kolesnikov, F. Sandomirskiy, A. Tsyvinski, and A. Zimin, Beckmann’s Approach to Multi-Item Multi-Bidder Auctions, arXiv: abs/2203.06837.

  5. R. B. Myerson, “Optimal auction design,” Math. Oper. Res. 6 (1), 58–73 (1981).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. V. I. Bogachev and A. V. Kolesnikov, “The Monge–Kantorovich problem: achievements, connections, and perspective,” Russian Math. Surveys 67 (5), 785–890 (2012).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. C. Villani, Topics in Optimal Transportation, in Graduate Stud. in Math. (Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2003), Vol. 58.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. V. I. Bogachev, “Kantorovich problem of optimal transportation of measures: new directions of research,” Russian Math. Surveys 77 (5), 769–817 (2022).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. V. I. Bogachev and A. V. Rezbaev, “Existence of solutions to the nonlinear Kantorovich transportation problem,” Math. Notes 112 (3), 369-377 (2022).

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. V. I. Bogachev, A. N. Doledenok, and I. I. Malofeev, “The Kantorovich problem with a parameter and density constraints,” Math. Notes 110 (6), 952–955 (2021).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Beckmann, “A continuous model of transportation,” Econometrica 20, 643–660 (1952).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. F. Santambrogio, Optimal Transport for Applied Mathematicians. Calculus of Variations, PDEs, and Modeling (Birkäuser, Cham, 2015).

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. R. McCann and K. S. Zhang, A Duality and Free Boundary Approach to Adverse Selection, arXiv: abs/2301.07660.

    Google Scholar 

  14. C. Evans and R. F. Gariepy, Measure Theory and Fine Properties of Functions, in Studies in Adv. Math. (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1992).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. D. Azagra, “Global and fine approximation of convex functions,” Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 107 (4), 799–824 (2013).

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. L. Brasco and M. Petrache, “A continuous model of transportation revisited,” J. Math. Sci. (N. Y.) 196 (2), 119–137 (2014).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The work was implemented in the framework of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. This work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project 22-21-00566, https://rscf.ru/en/project/22-21-00566/.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. V. Bogachev.

Additional information

Translated from Matematicheskie Zametki, 2023, Vol. 114, pp. 181–194 https://doi.org/10.4213/mzm13933.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bogachev, T.V., Kolesnikov, A.V. On the Monopolist Problem and Its Dual. Math Notes 114, 147–158 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001434623070167

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001434623070167

Keywords

Navigation