Convex preferences

Definition

Use x, y, and z to denote three consumption bundles (combinations of various quantities of various goods). Formally, a preference relation ${\displaystyle ⪰}$ on the consumption set X is called convex if whenever

${\displaystyle x,y,z\in X}$ where ${\displaystyle y⪰x}$ and ${\displaystyle z⪰x}$,

then for every ${\displaystyle \theta \in [0,1]}$:

${\displaystyle \theta y+(1-\theta )z⪰x}$.

i.e., for any two bundles that are each viewed as being at least as good as a third bundle, a weighted average of the two bundles is viewed as being at least as good as the third bundle.

A preference relation ${\displaystyle ⪰}$ is called strictly convex if whenever

${\displaystyle x,y,z\in X}$ where ${\displaystyle y⪰x}$, ${\displaystyle z⪰x}$, and ${\displaystyle y\ne z}$,

then for every ${\displaystyle \theta \in (0,1)}$:

${\displaystyle \theta y+(1-\theta )z\succ x}$

i.e., for any two distinct bundles that are each viewed as being at least as good as a third bundle, a weighted average of the two bundles (including a positive amount of each bundle) is viewed as being strictly better than the third bundle.

Alternative definition

Use x and y to denote two consumption bundles. A preference relation ${\displaystyle ⪰}$ is called convex if for any

${\displaystyle x,y\in X}$ where ${\displaystyle y⪰x}$

then for every ${\displaystyle \theta \in [0,1]}$:

${\displaystyle \theta y+(1-\theta )x⪰x}$.

That is, if a bundle y is preferred over a bundle x, then any mix of y with x is still preferred over x.

A preference relation is called strictly convex if whenever

${\displaystyle x,y\in X}$ where ${\displaystyle y\sim x}$, and ${\displaystyle x\ne y}$,

then for every ${\displaystyle \theta \in (0,1)}$:

${\displaystyle \theta y+(1-\theta )x\succ x}$.

${\displaystyle \theta y+(1-\theta )x\succ y}$.

That is, for any two bundles that are viewed as being equivalent, a weighted average of the two bundles is better than each of these bundles.

Examples

1. If there is only a single commodity type, then any weakly-monotonically increasing preference relation is convex. This is because, if ${\displaystyle y\ge x}$, then every weighted average of y and ס is also ${\displaystyle \ge x}$.

2. Consider an economy with two commodity types, 1 and 2. Consider a preference relation represented by the following Leontief utility function:

${\displaystyle u(x_1,x_2)=min(x_1,x_2)}$

This preference relation is convex. Proof: suppose x and y are two equivalent bundles, i.e. ${\displaystyle min(x_1,x_2)=min(y_1,y_2)}$. If the minimum-quantity commodity in both bundles is the same (e.g. commodity 1), then this implies ${\displaystyle x_1=y_1\le x_2,y_2}$. Then, any weighted average also has the same amount of commodity 1, so any weighted average is equivalent to ${\displaystyle x}$ and ${\displaystyle y}$. If the minimum commodity in each bundle is different (e.g. ${\displaystyle x_1\le x_2}$ but ${\displaystyle y_1\ge y_2}$), then this implies ${\displaystyle x_1=y_2\le x_2,y_1}$. Then ${\displaystyle \theta x_1+(1-\theta )y_1\ge x_1}$ and ${\displaystyle \theta x_2+(1-\theta )y_2\ge y_2}$, so ${\displaystyle \theta x+(1-\theta )y⪰x,y}$. This preference relation is convex, but not strictly-convex.

3. A preference relation represented by linear utility functions is convex, but not strictly convex. Whenever ${\displaystyle x\sim y}$, every convex combination of ${\displaystyle x,y}$ is equivalent to any of them.

4. Consider a preference relation represented by:

${\displaystyle u(x_1,x_2)=max(x_1,x_2)}$

This preference relation is not convex. Proof: let ${\displaystyle x=(3,5)}$ and ${\displaystyle y=(5,3)}$. Then ${\displaystyle x\sim y}$ since both have utility 5. However, the convex combination ${\displaystyle 0.5x+0.5y=(4,4)}$ is worse than both of them since its utility is 4.

Relation to indifference curves and utility functions

A set of convex-shaped indifference curves displays convex preferences: Given a convex indifference curve containing the set of all bundles (of two or more goods) that are all viewed as equally desired, the set of all goods bundles that are viewed as being at least as desired as those on the indifference curve is a convex set.

Convex preferences with their associated convex indifference mapping arise from quasi-concave utility functions, although these are not necessary for the analysis of preferences. For example, Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) utility functions describe convex, homothetic preferences. CES preferences are self-dual and both primal and dual CES preferences yield systems of indifference curves that may exhibit any degree of convexity.