2.3 Appendix
2.3.2 Proof of Theorem 2.1
In this subsection we prove our baseline representation result. The proof of the Theorem proceeds through several lemmas. First consider the following remark.
Remark 2.3. Our axioms (weak order, bi-continuity and comparable independence)
imply that β½π§ satisο¬es the three axioms of the expected utility theorem; namely
β Weak Order: β½π§ is complete and transitive.
β : vNM Continuity: For any ππ΄, πβ²π΄, πβ²β²π΄ β Ξπ΄, if ππ΄ β»π§ πβ²π΄ β»π§ πβ²β²π΄, then there
πππ΄ + (1βπ)πβ²β²π΄ β»π§ πβ²π΄ β»π§ πβ²ππ΄ + (1βπβ²)πβ²β²π΄
β vNM Independence: For anyππ΄, πβ²π΄ β Ξπ΄, ifππ΄ β»π§ πβ²π΄, then for anyπ
β²β² π΄ β Ξπ΄, π β (0,1] πππ΄ + (1βπ)ππ΄β²β² β»π§ ππβ²π΄ + (1βπ β²)πβ²β² π΄
Hence β½π§ can be represented by a von Neumann-Morgenstern utility function. That
is, β½π§ admits a representation π£π§ : Ξπ΄ β βthat satisο¬es: βππ΄, ππ΄ βΞπ΄, π β[0,1],
π£π§(πππ΄ + (1βπ)ππ΄) = ππ£π§(ππ΄) + (1βπ)π£π§(ππ΄)
In the remainder of this proof, we will therefore refer to any β½π§ as a von Neumann-
Morgenstern preference (vNM preference, for short).
We next deο¬ne a family of mixture set structures on Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ and [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2.
Mixture Sets: Consider any β½π§. For any [ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§ β Ξπ΄/βΌπ§, and π β [0,1], we
deο¬ne a unique element π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[ππ΄]π§ β Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ as follows:4
π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[ππ΄]π§ = [πππ΄ + (1βπ)ππ΄]π§
Note that βΛπ§ is well deο¬ned since β½π§ is a vNM preference, and so if we take any πβ²π΄
β [ππ΄]π§ and πβ²π΄ β [ππ΄]π§, then ππβ²π΄ + (1βπ)π
β²
π΄ β [πππ΄ + (1βπ)ππ΄]π§.
Further, for any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2, and π β [0,1], we deο¬ne
a unique element π([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π β² π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 as follows:5 π([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π β² π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) = (π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π β² π΄]π§,π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[ππ΄β² ]π§) 4Formally, Λ βπ§ : Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ ΓΞπ΄/βΌπ§ Γ[0,1]βΞπ΄/βΌπ§. 5Formally, Λ
βπ§ : [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 Γ [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 Γ [0,1] β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2. Observe that we are abusing
notation here by using the same notationβΛπ§to denote βmixture operationsβ on the sets Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ and
[Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2. We do so because this should not cause any confusion, and it allows us to economize on
That is,
π([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) = ([πππ΄ + (1βπ)πβ²π΄]π§, [πππ΄ + (1βπ)ππ΄β² ]π§)
Any subset of [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 that is itself a mixture set shall be referred to as a mixture
subset of [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2. Note that becauseβ½π§ satisο¬es the vN-M independence condition,
any cube πΆ β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 is a mixture subset of [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2. In addition note the
following result about mixture subsets of [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2. (The proof is standard, and
hence omitted).
Lemma 2.1. Every mixture subset of [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2, in particular [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 itself, is
connected.
We shall now collect some useful notation to aid the exposition of the subsequent results. We shall denote the restriction of β½π§Λ to any set Ξ© in [ΞΛ π΄/βΌπ§]2 by (β½π§Λ )Ξ©Λ.
Further, let
πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§) = {[ππ΄]π§ β Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ : [ππ΄]π§ β= [ππ΄ββ]π§, [ππ΄β]π§}
π·β = {([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 : [ππ΄]π§ β Ξπ΄/βΌπ§}
π· ={([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2 : [ππ΄]π§ β πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§)}
Ξ© = Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ Γ πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§), and Ξ©β = Ξ© βͺ π·β.
Note that if β½π§Λ does not have any extremal elements then, Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ = πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§)
and π·β = π·. In that case π·β βπππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§)Γ πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§) = Ξ© and so Ξ©β = Ξ©.
Lemma 2.2. Letβ»π§ β=β . For any([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)β Ξ©there exists a cubeπΆ containing
([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) such that β½π§Λ restricted to πΆ (denoted (β½π§Λ )πΆ), satisο¬es the following.
2. vNM Continuity: Let([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§), ([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§)βπΆ be such that
([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π
β²β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§). Then there exists π, πβ² β (0,1)
such that π([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π β²β² π΄]π§,[πβ²β²π΄]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π β² π΄]π§,[ππ΄β² ]π§) β»Λπ§ π β²([π π΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1β πβ²)([πβ²β²π΄]π§,[ππ΄β²β²]π§).
3. vNM Independence: Let ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) β πΆ be such that ([ππ΄]π§,
[ππ΄]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§). Then for any([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [πβ²β²π΄]π§) β πΆ, π β (0,1],
π([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([πβ²β²π΄]π§,[ππ΄β²β²]π§) β»Λπ§ π([π
β²
π΄]π§,[ππ΄β² ]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([πβ²β²π΄]π§,[ππ΄β²β²]π§).
4. Monotonicity: for any ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§), ([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§) β πΆ,
[πβ²π΄]π§ β½π§Λ [πβ²β²π΄]π§ and [πβ²π΄]π§ β½π§Λ [ππ΄β²β²]π§ β ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β½π§Λ ([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§).
5. Non Degeneracy: β»Λπ§ β= β .
Proof. We ο¬rst consider the case of ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)βΞ© for which [ππ΄]π§ β= [ππ΄ββ]π§ or [πβπ΄]π§.
β (β½π§Λ )πΆ is complete and transitive, for an appropriately deο¬ned cube πΆ.
Pick any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β Ξ©. There may be two possibilities. First, ππ΄ βπ§ ππ΄, and
second ππ΄ βΌπ§ ππ΄. For the ο¬rst case assume without loss of generality thatππ΄ β»π§ ππ΄.
We can then ο¬nd π,πβ² βπ΄ such thatπβΌπ§ ππ΄β»π§ ππ΄ β»π§ πβ². The fact that we may ο¬nd
π as speciο¬ed follows from the fact that any lottery in Ξπ΄ has a certainty equivalent
with respect toβ½π§. On the other handπβ² exists as speciο¬ed because ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)βΞ©
and so ππ΄ β/ [πβπ΄]π§. Further, since β½π§ is a vNM preference, it follows that there exists
πβ β (0,1) such that,
Now consider the case where, ππ΄ βΌπ§ ππ΄. In this case pick π, πβ² β [ππ΄]π§ (It is possible
that π = πβ²). Then for any π β [0,1], sinceβ½π§ is a vNM preference, we have that
[π, π;πβ²,1βπ]βΌπ§ ππ΄
In this case take any πβ β (0,1). In either case therefore we can ο¬nd π, πβ² β π΄, and some πβ β (0,1) such that the above preference indiο¬erence condition holds. Henceforth, without loss of generality, we shall consider ππ΄ = [π, πβ;πβ²,1βπβ].
We know by the assumption ofcontingent values that there existsβ½π§β² β=β½π§, with β»π§β² β=β , such that for an appropriate choice of π, πβ², there exists π, π and πβ², πβ² that
satisfy,
π βΌπ§β² π βΌπ§β² π and π β»π§ π β»π§ π,
πβ² βΌπ§β² πβ² βΌπ§β² πβ² and πβ² β»π§ πβ² β»π§ πβ²
In particular, bi-continuity allows us to choose π, π and πβ²,πβ² in such a way that: ππ΄ β‘[π, πβ; πβ²,1βπβ] β»π§ ππ΄ β»π§ [π, πβ;πβ²,1βπβ]β‘ ππ΄.
We can now deο¬ne the cube πΆ β Ξ© that the statement of the lemma requires us to do. Deο¬ne, πΆ = ][π]π§,[π]π§[ Γ ][ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§[ Further, let, πΌπ ={Λπ β [π]π§β² : π β½π§ Λπ β½π§ π}, & πΌπβ² = {Λπ β² β [πβ²] π§β² : πβ² β½π§ Λ πβ² β½π§ πβ²}.
Deο¬ne a subset π of Ξ as follows:
π ={[(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²),1βπβ] β Ξ :Λπ β πΌπ,Λπ
β² β πΌ
Consider any πβ² = [(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²),1βπβ] β π. Since, Λπ β πΌπ β [π]π§β²,
Λπ
β² β πΌ
πβ² β
[πβ²]π§β² and β½π§β² is a vNM preference, it follows that
πβ²π΄ = [Λπ, πβ;Λπβ²,1βπβ] βΌπ§β² [π, πβ;πβ²,1βπβ] = ππ΄.
Therefore, for anyπβ², πβ²β² β π,
[π(π§β², πβ²)]π§β² = [π(π§β², πβ²β²)]π§β² = [πβ²]π§β² and [πβ²
π΄]π§β² = [πβ²β²
π΄]π§β² = [ππ΄]π§β².
That is, any πβ², πβ²β² β π are comparable at π§, and accordingly if πβ² β» πβ²β², then the procedure-contingent outcome (π§, π(π§, πβ²), πβ²π΄) is revealed strictly better than the procedure-contingent outcome (π§, π(π§, πβ²β²), πβ²β²π΄), and if πβ² βΌ πβ²β², then (π§, π(π§, πβ²), πβ²π΄) is
revealed indiο¬erent to (π§, π(π§, πβ²β²), πβ²β²π΄). Hence,
πβ² β» πβ²β² β ([π(π§, πβ²)]π§,[πβ²π΄]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π(π§, π β²β²)] π§,[πβ²β²π΄]π§) πβ² βΌ πβ²β² β ([π(π§, πβ²)]π§,[πβ²π΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([π(π§, π β²β²)] π§,[πβ²β²π΄]π§)
Consider any ([πΛπ΄]π§,[πΛπ΄]π§) β πΆ. Since,π β»π§ πΛπ΄ β»π§ π, it follows that there exists Λπ β
πΌπ such thatΛπ βΌπ§ πΛπ΄.
6 Further, since
β½π§ is a vNM preference, it follows that
[Λπ, πβ;πβ²,1βπβ] β»π§ ππ΄ β»π§ Λππ΄ β»π§ ππ΄ β»π§ [Λπ, π
β;πβ²,1βπβ].
It follows from bi-continuity that there exists Λπβ² β πΌπβ² such that
Λ
ππ΄ βΌπ§ [Λπ, π
β;
Λ
πβ²,1βπβ]. That is for any ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) β πΆ, there exists
πβ² = [(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²),1βπβ] β π such that πΛπ΄ βΌπ§ π(π§, πβ²) = Λπ and Λππ΄ βΌπ§ π
β² π΄ = [Λπ, π β; Λ πβ²,1βπβ]. Accordingly, β½π§Λ is a weak order on πΆ.
6This follows since [π]
π§β² is a connected subset ofπ΄. Note that π1 ={Λπβ[π]π§β² :
Λ
πβ½π§πΛπ΄}, &π2 ={Λπβ[π]π§β² :
Λ
ππ΄ β½π§Λπ}
β (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es vNM Continuity.
First we establish that for any πΛ, Λπβ π, any π β [0,1], ππΛβ(1βπ)πΛβπ. Let
Λ
π = [(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,πΛβ²), 1βπβ] & πΛ= [(π§,πΛ),πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²), 1βπβ] Further let ππ β πΌπ be such that,
ππ βΌπ§ [Λπ, π; Λπ,1βπ].
Let,
Λ
ππ΄ = π[Λπ, πβ; Λπβ², 1βπβ] + (1βπ)[Λπ, πβ; Λπβ², 1βπβ]
Since β½π§ is a vNM preference, it follows that
[ππ, πβ; πβ², 1βπβ] β½π§ ππ΄ β½π§ Λππ΄ β½π§ ππ΄ β½π§ [ππ, π
β; πβ², 1βπβ],
with strict preference holding at least somewhere. Bi-ontinuity in conjunction with the fact the [πβ²]π§β² is a connected subset of π΄ implies that there exists, πβ²
π β πΌπβ², such that [ππ, πβ; πβ²π, 1βπ β] βΌπ§ πΛπ΄. Hence, [(π§, ππ), πβ; (π§β², πβ²π), 1βπ β] = π Λ π β (1βπ)πΛ.
We now establish that (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es the vN-M Continuity axiom. Note that this is
equivalent to proving the following: For any π, πβ², πβ²β² β π such that π β» πβ² β» πβ²β², there exists π,πβ² β(0,1), such that:
ππ β (1βπ)πβ²β² β»πβ² β» πβ²π β (1βπβ²)πβ²β²
Suppose otherwise β say thatπβ² β½ππ β(1βπ)πβ²β² for allπ β(0,1). We proved above that for all π β [0,1] there exists ππ β πΌπ, πβ²π β πΌπβ² such that,
[(π§, ππ), πβ; (π§β², πβ²π); 1βπ
β] = ππ β (1βπ)πβ²β².
Denote,
π = [(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²), 1βπβ] We may then construct a sequence (πππ, π
β²
ππ)πββ€+ β πΌπ Γ πΌπβ² converging to (Λπ, Λπ
β²) β πΌπ Γ πΌπβ², such that for all π β β€+,
πβ² β½ πππβ (1βππ)πβ²β² = [(π§, πππ),π β; (π§β², πβ² ππ); 1βπ β] Let Ξ = {(πππ, π β² ππ) β πΌπ Γ πΌπβ² :π β² β½ [(π§, πππ),π β; (π§β², πβ² ππ); 1βπ β]}
ByBi-continuity the set Ξ is closed inπΌπ ΓπΌπβ². It then follows that (Λπ, Λπβ²)β Ξ, that
is πβ² β½π = [(π§,Λπ), πβ; (π§β²,Λπβ²), 1βπβ], which is absurd.
β (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es vNM Independence.
Now, let ([π1
π΄]π§, [ππ΄1]π§), ([π2π΄]π§, [π2π΄]π§), ([π3π΄]π§, [ππ΄3]π§) β πΆ be such that ([ππ΄1]π§, [π1π΄]π§) β»Λπ§
([π2
π΄]π§, [ππ΄2]π§). We need to establish that for anyπ β (0,1],
π([π1
π΄]π§,[ππ΄1]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π3π΄]π§,[ππ΄3]π§) β»Λπ§ π([π
2
π΄]π§,[π2π΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π3π΄]π§,[ππ΄3]π§).
We know from the analysis above that there existsπ,πβ², πβ²β² βπ such that ([π(π§, π)]π§,
[ππ΄]π§) = ([π1π΄]π§, [π1π΄]π§), ([π(π§, πβ²)]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) = ([π2π΄]π§, [π2π΄]π§), ([π(π§, πβ²β²)]π§ ,[πβ²β²π΄]π§) = ([π3π΄]π§,
[π3π΄]π§), and πβ» πβ². By comparable independence, it follows that for any π β (0,1]
ππβ(1βπ)πβ²β² β»ππβ²β(1βπ)πβ²β²
Accordingly, it follows that
([π(π§, ππ β(1βπ)πβ²β²)]π§,[(ππ β (1βπ)πβ²β²)π΄]π§) β»Λπ§
Or, ([ππ(π§, π) + (1βπ)π(π§, πβ²β²)]π§,[πππ΄ + (1βπ)πβ²β²π΄]π§)β»Λπ§ ([ππ(π§, πβ²) + (1βπ)π(π§, πβ²β²)]π§, [ππβ²π΄ + (1βπ)π β²β² π΄]π§). That is, (π[π(π§, π)]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π(π§, πβ²β²)]π§,π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[πβ²β²π΄]π§) β»Λπ§ (π[π(π§, πβ²)]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π(π§, πβ²β²)]π§, π[πβ²π΄]π§ βΛπ§ [πβ²β²π΄]π§). Or, (π[π1 π΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π3π΄]π§, π[π1π΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[ππ΄3]π§) β»Λπ§ (π[π2π΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π3π΄]π§, π[ππ΄2]π§ βΛπ§ (1βπ)[π3π΄]π§). Or, π([π1π΄]π§,[ππ΄1]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π3π΄]π§,[ππ΄3]π§) β»Λπ§ π([π 2 π΄]π§,[π2π΄]π§) βΛπ§ (1βπ)([π3π΄]π§,[ππ΄3]π§).
Hence, (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es the vN-M Independence axiom.
β (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es Monotonicity.
This follows immediately from conditional monotonicity
β (β½π§Λ )πΆ is Non Degenerate.
This follows immediately from the assumption made in the lemma thatβ»π§ β= β .
The proof for the case when [ππ΄]π§ is equal to either [πββπ΄]π§, [ππ΄β]π§ is exactly along
similar lines. When [ππ΄]π§ = [πββπ΄]π§, takeπ=π in the above proof, and deο¬ne the cube
πΆ as follows:
The rest of the details are exactly identical. Similarly, when [ππ΄]π§ = [ππ΄β]π§, take π =
π in the above proof, and deο¬ne
πΆ = [[π]π§, [π]π§[ Γ ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[ .
Lemma 2.3. (β½π§Λ )Ξ©β is a weak order. Further, there exists
(i) a function π£π§ : Ξπ΄ β β that represents β½π§ and satisο¬es: for all π β [0,1], ππ΄, ππ΄
β Ξπ΄,
π£π§(πππ΄ + (1β π)ππ΄) = ππ£π§(ππ΄) + (1β π)π£π§(ππ΄), and
(ii) a constant ππ§ β [0, 1],
such that the function ππ§ : Ξ©β β β given by
ππ§([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) = (1βππ§)π£π§(ππ΄) + ππ§π£π§(ππ΄)
represents(β½π§Λ )Ξ©β. Further, another pair(
Λ
π£π§,πΛπ§)represents(β½π§Λ )Ξ©β in the above sense
iο¬ Λπ£π§ is a positive aο¬ne transformation of π£π§ and πΛπ§ = ππ§, for all π§ β π such that
β»π§ β= β .
Proof. First consider thoseπ§ β π for whichβ»π§ β=β . From Lemma 2.2 it follows that
for any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β π·, there exists a cube containing ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), which we can
take to be
πΆ[ππ΄]π§ = ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[ Γ ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[ β [Ξπ΄/βΌπ§]2
such that β½π§Λ restricted to πΆ[ππ΄]π§ satisο¬es the ο¬ve axioms of the Anscombe Aumann
Theorem (for ο¬nite states) βweak order,vN-M continuity,vN-M independence,mono- tonicity andnon-degeneracy. It follows that there exists a functionπ£ππ΄
π§ : ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[
β β that is unique up to positive aο¬ne transformation, and a constant πππ΄
π§ β [0, 1]
that is unique, such that the function πππ΄
πππ΄ π§ ([π β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) = (1βππ§ππ΄)π£π§ππ΄(π β² π΄) + ππ§ππ΄π£π§ππ΄(π β² π΄)
represents (β½π§Λ )πΆ[ππ΄]π§. Thats is for all ([π
β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§), ([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§)β πΆ[ππ΄]π§, ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)β½π§Λ ([πβ²β²π΄]π§, [πβ²β²π΄]π§) if and only ifππ§ππ΄([π β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β₯ ππ§ππ΄([π β²β² π΄]π§, [πβ²β²π΄]π§)
Further note that the functionπ£π§ satisο¬es: for allπβ[0,1], [ππ΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§ β][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[,
π£π§(π[ππ΄]π§ βΛπ§ (1β π)[πβ²π΄]π§) = ππ£π§([ππ΄]π§) + (1 βπ)π£π§([πβ²π΄]π§).
In addition, for any ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β πΆ[ππ΄]π§, there exists [πΛπ΄]π§ β ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[ such that
([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [Λππ΄]π§).
Note that β½π§Λ restricted to π·β is complete. This follows since, any two degenerate
lotteries like [(π§, π),1] and [(π§, πβ²),1] are comparable at π§, and accordingly ([π]π§, [π]π§) β»Λπ§ ([π β²] π§, [πβ²]π§) if (π§, π) β»π§ (π§, πβ²), or, ([π]π§, [π]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([π β²] π§, [πβ²]π§) if (π§, π) βΌπ§ (π§, πβ²). 7 Now deο¬neπ = (βͺ[ππ΄]π§βπ· πΆ[ππ΄]π§)βͺ π· β
. We will next show that β½π§Λ restricted to π is
a weak order. Pick any ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β πΆ[ππ΄]π§, ([π
β²β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§) β πΆ[ππ΄]π§. We know that
there exists [πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§ β Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ such that
([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [Λππ΄]π§) and ([π
β²β²
π΄]π§, [πβ²β²π΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§).
Accordingly, it follows that ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)β»Λπ§ ([π β²β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§) if ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) β»Λπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§), or, ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([π β²β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§) if ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§). 7Note that{[π] π§ βΞπ΄/βΌπ§ :πβπ΄} = Ξπ΄/βΌπ§.
Hence, (β½π§Λ )π is a weak order.
Now consider any two cubes πΆ[ππ΄]π§ and πΆ[ππ΄]π§ that intersect. Pick ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§),
([ππ΄β²β²]π§, [ππ΄β²β²]π§)βπΆ[ππ΄]π§ β©πΆ[ππ΄]π§, [π
β²
π΄]π§β= [πβ²β²π΄]π§, and recalibrate the functionπ£π§ππ΄ by setting
π£ππ΄
π§ ([ππ΄β² ]π§) = π£π§ππ΄([ππ΄β² ]π§) and π£π§ππ΄([πβ²β²π΄]π§) = π£π§ππ΄([ππ΄β²β²]π§)
Note that by the uniqueness result of the Anscombe Aumann Theorem, the pair (π£ππ΄
π§ , ππ§ππ΄) continues to represent (β½π§Λ )πΆ[ππ΄]. Further, π£
ππ΄
π§ = π£ππ§π΄ on ][ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[ β©
][π
π΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§[. Hence it follows that π ππ΄
π§ = ππ§ππ΄. Next consider [ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§ such that
cubes πΆ[ππ΄]π§ and πΆ[ππ΄]π§ do not intersect. Since the set π· is connected, ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)
and ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) can be linked by ο¬nitely many cubes; that is there are ο¬nitely
many cubes πΆ[π1 π΄]π§, . . . , πΆ[π π π΄]π§, such that πΆ[π1π΄]π§ = πΆ[ππ΄]π§, πΆ[π π π΄]π§ = πΆ[ππ΄]π§, and
each subsequent pairs of πΆ[ππ
π΄]π§βs intersect. Further, we can take πΆ[π π
π΄]π§ β© πΆ[π πβπ π΄ ]π§ =
β for every π β₯ 2. We can then repeat the above re-calibration exercise over pairs of intersecting cubes in the link. This exercise allows us to deο¬ne a function π£π§ on
πππ‘(Ξπ΄/ βΌπ§), as well as establish ππ§ππ΄ = ππ§ππ΄ = ππ§, for all ππ΄ β= ππ΄, [ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§ β
πππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§). Finally, for [ππ΄]π§ = [ππ΄ββ]π§, or [ππ΄β]π§ deο¬ne
π£π§([ππ΄]π§) = lim
πβ1π£π§(π[ππ΄]π§βΛπ§(1βπ)[ππ΄]π§), where [ππ΄]π§ is any element ofπππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§).
We next establish the following claim: for any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β Ξ©β there exists
([πβ²π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) in π·β such that ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§). To that end, deο¬ne the
function ππ§ : Ξ©β β β by
where π£π§ and ππ§ are as deο¬ned above. For any [Λππ΄]π§ βπππ‘(Ξπ΄/βΌπ§), let
π½ Λ
ππ΄ ={([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§)βΞ© :ππ§([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§) = ππ§([Λππ΄]π§,[Λππ΄]π§)}
We claim that for all ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βπ½Λππ΄, ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([π β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§).
To see this note that, Lemma 2.2 guarantees that for any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β π½πΛπ΄, there
exists a cubeπΆ containing ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) such that (β½π§Λ )πΆ satisο¬es the three vN-M ax-
ioms of Weak Order, vNM Continuity and Independence on the mixture set (πΆ,βΛπ§).
Accordingly (β½π§Λ )πΆ can be represented by a von Neumann-Morgenstern utility func-
tion. Consider two such cubes πΆ1 and πΆ2 that intersect. Because of the axiom of
revealed consistency, it follows that for any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β πΆ1 β© πΆ2,
([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) (β½π§Λ )πΆ1 ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) iο¬ ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) (β½π§Λ )πΆ2 ([π
β²
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§).
Further note that ifππΆ1 and ππΆ2 are two vN-M utility functions that represent (β½π§Λ )πΆ1
and (β½π§Λ )πΆ2 respectively, these functions can be re-calibrated (in a manner similar to
that used in Step 2) and set equal onπΆ1 β© πΆ2.
Now, consider the cube πΆ[πΛπ΄]π§ around ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§). We have already established
above that (β½π§Λ )πΆ[Λππ΄]π§
is represented by the function ππ§. Further, π½πΛπ΄ is connected.
Accordingly, ([Λππ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) can be linked to any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β π½πΛπ΄ using a ο¬nite
number of cubes. On each pair of intersecting cubes β½π§Λ must coincide as suggested
in the last paragraph. Furthermore the vN-M representations of β½π§Λ on these cubes
can be re-calibrated and brought in line with ππ§. Hence, we may conclude that for
all ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([πβ²π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§) βπ½πΛπ΄, ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([π β²
π΄]π§, [πβ²π΄]π§).
Note that ifππ§ β= 1, or if [ππ΄ββ]π§ and [ππ΄β]π§ do not exist, then we are done establishing
our claim. However, if ππ§ = 1, and either [ππ΄ββ]π§ or [πβπ΄]π§ exists then members of the
π΅ ={([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΞ© : [ππ΄]π§ = [πββπ΄]π§ or [πβπ΄]π§}
are not indiο¬erent to any element of π·. In this case it is straightforward to verify that for any ([ππ΄ββ]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β π΅, ([ππ΄ββ]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([π
ββ
π΄]π§, [ππ΄ββ]π§). Similarly, for any
([ππ΄β]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β π΅, ([ππ΄β]π§, [ππ΄]π§) βΌΛπ§ ([π
β
π΄]π§, [ππ΄β]π§).
Now consider any ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§), ([ππ΄β² ]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βΞ©β. From the argument just made,
we know that there exists ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§), ([Λππ΄]π§, [Λππ΄]π§) β π·
β, such that ([π π΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) Λ βΌπ§ ([Λππ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) and ([π β² π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§)βΌΛπ§ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§). Hence, ([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β½π§Λ ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) iο¬ ([Λππ΄]π§, [πΛπ΄]π§) β½π§Λ ([πΛπ΄]π§, [Λππ΄]π§).
Clearly it also follows that,
([ππ΄]π§, [ππ΄]π§) β½π§Λ ([πβ²π΄]π§, [ππ΄β² ]π§) β ππ§(([ππ΄]π§,[ππ΄]π§))β₯ ππ§(([πβ²π΄]π§,[πβ²π΄]π§)).
Note that we may (with an abuse of notation) deο¬ne the functionπ£π§ on Ξπ΄by simply
giving all elements of an equivalence class, say [ππ΄]π§, the value π£π§([ππ΄]π§). It then
follows that for all π β [0,1], ππ΄, ππ΄ β Ξπ΄,
π£π§(πππ΄ + (1β π)ππ΄) = ππ£π§(ππ΄) + (1 β π)π£π§(ππ΄).
The uniqueness statement is simply a re-statement of the essential uniqueness result in the ο¬rst half of the proof. This then completes the proof for thoseπ§ β π for which
β»π§ β=β .
The proof for those π§ β π for which β»π§ = β is trivial. Note that for this case
[Ξπ΄/βΌπ§ Γ Ξπ΄/βΌπ§] is a singleton. We can take π£π§ to be any constant function, and
ππ§ to be any number in [0, 1].
Remark 2.4. Note that the function π£π§ : Ξπ΄ β β in a von-Neumann Morgenstern
utility representation of the preference relation β½π§. We know that if there is some
and π£Λπ§ must be positive aο¬ne transformations of one another. This is a fact that we
shall draw on below.
We next establish that any procedure-contingent outcome (π§, π, ππ΄) is revealed
indiο¬erent to a procedure contingent outcome (π§,Λπ,Λπ) in which the outcome and pro- cedure are the same. The result follows immediately when we combine the conclusion of the last lemma with the following one.
Lemma 2.4. Supposeβ½π§ satisο¬es stochastic dominance and vN-M continuity. If β»π§
β
= β , then there does not exist π β Ξsuch that (a) ππ΄ β»π§ ππ΄,π§ and ππ΄ is the maximal
element of β½π§, or (b) ππ΄,π§ β»π§ ππ΄ and ππ΄ is the minimal element of β½π§.
Proof. Consider anyππ΄ β Ξπ΄. Note the following mutually exclusive possibilities:
[A] π βΌπ§ πβ² for all π, πβ² in the support ofππ΄: In this case it must be thatππ΄ βΌπ§ π for
any π in the support ofππ΄. To see this assume otherwise β say ππ΄ β»π§ π. Given that
β»π§ β=β , it follows that there existsπβ²β² satisfying πβ²β² β»π§ π orπ β»π§ πβ²β². Assume it is the
former.8 Note that πβ²β² ο¬rst order stochastically dominates π
π΄; hence we have: πβ²β² β»
ππ΄ β»π§ π. But then by vN-M Continuity, there exists π β (0,1), such that ππ΄ β»π§ ππβ²β²
+ (1βπ)πβ². But the lotteryππβ²β² + (1βπ)πβ² ο¬rst order stochastically dominates ππ΄!
[B] π β»π§ πβ² for some π, πβ² in the support of ππ΄: In this case there exists π, π in
the support of ππ΄ such that π β»π§ ππ΄ β»π§ π. This claim is again easily established by
appealing to the fact that β½π§ satisο¬es stochastic dominance; so we omit the details here.
Now we proceed to prove the Lemma. Suppose there exists π β Ξ such that ππ΄ β»π§
ππ΄,π§ and ππ΄ is the maximal element of β½π§. Then we know from above that there
exists π in the support of ππ΄,π§ such that ππ΄,π§ β½π§ π. Hence, ππ΄ β»π§ π. Clearly, π is