Duality and continuity

This paper fills the one remaining lacuna in (multiple-output) duality theory by provingjoint continuity (in input and output vectors) of cost, benefit, and (input and output) distance functions. Continuity is an important property where measurement error exists, for it provides assurance that small errors of measurement (of quantities or prices) result only in small errors in concepts like minimal cost. We consider continuity not only in prices and quantities, but also in technologies. Continuity in technologies might be more important than continjity in prices or quantities, because production technologies are almost certainly measured (or estimated) with error.

[1]  R. Shephard Cost and production functions , 1953 .

[2]  Richard Cornes,et al.  Duality and modern economics , 1993 .

[3]  M. Farrell The Measurement of Production Efficiency , 1957 .

[4]  G. Bol Topologien auf Systemen von Teilmengen des Rn und Konsequenzen für Produktionskorrespondenzen , 1974 .

[5]  W. Hildenbrand Core and Equilibria of a Large Economy. , 1974 .

[6]  S. Malmquist Index numbers and indifference surfaces , 1953 .

[7]  L. McKenzie,et al.  Demand Theory Without a Utility Index , 1957 .

[8]  Harold Hotelling Edgeworth's Taxation Paradox and the Nature of Demand and Supply Functions , 1932, Journal of Political Economy.

[9]  A. Deaton,et al.  The Distance Function in Consumer Behaviour with Applications to Index Numbers and Optimal Taxation , 1979 .

[10]  H. Houthakker The Present State of Consumption Theory , 1961 .

[11]  D. McFadden Cost, Revenue, and Profit Functions , 1978 .

[12]  R. Färe,et al.  A distance function approach to price efficiency , 1990 .

[13]  M. Farrell The Measurement of Productive Efficiency , 1957 .

[14]  D. Primont,et al.  A Distance Function Approach to Multioutput Technologies , 1990 .

[15]  L. R. Christensen,et al.  THE ECONOMIC THEORY OF INDEX NUMBERS AND THE MEASUREMENT OF INPUT, OUTPUT, AND PRODUCTIVITY , 1982 .

[16]  D. McFadden,et al.  Production Economics: A Dual Approach to Theory and Applications (I): The Theory of Production , 1978 .

[17]  D. Primont,et al.  Multi-Output Production and Duality: Theory and Applications , 1994 .

[18]  C. Blackorby,et al.  Indices and Subindices of the Cost of Living and the Standard of Living , 1978 .

[19]  D. Primont,et al.  Duality, Separability, and Functional Structure: Theory and Economic Applications , 1978 .

[20]  R. Robert Russell,et al.  Continuity of measures of technical efficiency , 1990 .

[21]  R. Färe,et al.  The measurement of efficiency of production , 1985 .

[22]  A. Woodland A Dual Approach to Equilibrium in the Production Sector in International Trade Theory , 1977 .

[23]  G. Debreu The Coefficient of Resource Utilization , 1951 .

[24]  Paul A. Samuelson,et al.  Prices of Factors and Goods in General Equilibrium , 1953 .

[25]  R. Shepherd Theory of cost and production functions , 1970 .

[26]  G. Hanoch,et al.  Symmetric Duality and Polar Production Functions , 1978 .