Abstract
Existence theorems for envy-free and efficient allocations are derived for economies with public goods. For economies with an arbitrary but finite number of private and public goods, an adaptation of the existence proof of Svensson for private good economies is used. For economies with one private and one public good, a case often studied in theory and applications, two more direct proofs are given, using different conditions and taking advantage of the particularly simple structure of the set of envy-free allocations in this case. These proofs are also shown to apply to the case of excludable public goods with congestion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Border K (1985) Fixed point theorems with applications to economics and game theory. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Borsuk K (1967) Theory of retracts. Polish Scientific Publishers, Warsaw
Diamantaras D (1990) Equitable allocations in economies with local public goods. Manuscript, Temple University
Eilenberg S, Montgomery D (1946) Fixed point theorems for multi-valued transformations. Am J Math 68: 214–222
Foley D (1967) Resource allocation and the public sector. Yale Econ Ess 7: 45–98
Greenberg J (1977) Existence of an equilibrium with arbitrary tax schemes for financing local public goods. J Econ Theory 16: 137–150
Kolm SC (1972) Justice et équité, Editions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris
Milleron J-C (1972) Theory of value with public goods: a survey article. J Econ Theory 5: 419–477
Pazner E, Schmeidler D (1974) A difficulty with the concept of fairness. Rev Econ Stud 41: 441–443
Samuelson P (1954) The pure theory of public expenditure. Rev Econ Stat 36: 387–389
Sato T (1984) Equity, fairness, and Lindahl equilibria. Tohoku University Discussion paper no. 57
Sato T(1985) Equity and fairness in an economy with public goods. Econ. Rev 30: 364–373
Suzumura K, Sato K (1983) Equity and efficiency in the public goods economy: some counterexamples. Discussion Paper Series No. 92, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
Svensson LG (1983) On the existence of fair allocations. Nationalökon 43: 301–308
Thomson W (1987) Notions of equal opportunities. University of Rochester, Discussion Paper no. 76
Varian H (1974) Equity, envy, and efficiency. J Econ Theory 9: 63–91
Vohra R (1990) Equity and efficiency in non-convex economies. Brown University Department of Economics, Working Paper No. 90-27
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I am grateful to William Thomson, Marcus Berliant, Robert Gilles, Hervé Moulin, Thomas Palfrey, Tomoichi Shinotsuka, Simon Wilkie, and two anonymous referees for their comments. This paper is a revised version of Chap. 1 of my doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Rochester in July 1988. The financial support of the University of Rochester in the form of the Raymond N. Ball Dissertation Year Fellowship is gratefully acknowledged. All shortcomings of this paper are solely of my own creation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diamantaras, D. On equity with public goods. Soc Choice Welfare 9, 141–157 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187239
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187239