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Preseparable Extensions of Multidimensional Preferences

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Abstract

Throughout much of the literature in economics and political science, the notion of separability provides a mechanism for characterizing interdependence within individual preferences over multiple dimensions. In this paper, we show how preseparable extensions can be used to construct certain classes of separable and non-separable preferences. We prove several associated combinatorial results, and we note a correspondence between separable preference orders, Boolean term orders, and comparative probability relations. We also mention several open questions pertaining to preseparable extensions and separable preferences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA

    Jonathan K. Hodge

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1419, USA

    Mark Krines

  3. General Mills, Inc., 201 General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, MN, 55426, USA

    Jennifer Lahr

Authors
  1. Jonathan K. Hodge
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  2. Mark Krines
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  3. Jennifer Lahr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan K. Hodge.

Additional information

This work was partially supported by National Science Foundation grant DMS-0451254, which funds a Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Grand Valley State University. Portions of this paper are adapted from Hodge’s doctoral dissertation [4]. The authors wish to thank the referees and editor for their helpful comments and suggestions.

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Hodge, J.K., Krines, M. & Lahr, J. Preseparable Extensions of Multidimensional Preferences. Order 26, 125–147 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11083-009-9112-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11083-009-9112-1

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