# Utility function that generates a demand curve which will have an U shaped MR curve

This is based off an answer given by @Ubiquitous in here: Can marginal revenue be increasing?

The solution he proposed involved a MR curve that sloped down, then up and then down. His equation for the demand curve (for example) to generate such a MR is $$P(q)=1−q+3q^2−3q^3$$ (see comments below his answer).

My question is:

Is there an Utility function that can generate a demand curve which gives, say an U-shape looking MR?

Note: I am not looking for an utility function that replicates Ubiquitous's MR.

Let $$v(x) = \int 1 − x + 3x^2 − 3x^3 \text{d}x$$. The quasi linear utility function $$U(x,y) = v(x) + y$$ generates the inverse demand curve given by Ubiquitous if income $$I$$ is large enough and $$p_y = 1$$, as \begin{align*} |MRS(x,y)| & = p_x \\ \\ v'(x) & = p_x \\ \\ 1 − x + 3x^2 − 3x^3 & = p_x. \end{align*} Hence it will also result in the same $$MR$$ for $$x$$.
P.s.: I have not checked if $$U(x,y)$$ is convex, so second order conditions may need to be examined here. Note that $$U(x,y)$$ need not be convex everywhere, only above the $$MR$$'s U shape. Everywhere else it can be altered as we see fit.
• @ Denesp: Thank you for your answer. Based on my calculations for the interval (0,8), if $Q = \frac{32}{16-p}$ then $P = 16 - \frac{32}{Q}$. This means that revenue is $PQ = 16Q-32$, implying MR = 16, a constant. So MR is not U shaped here, yes? – erik Oct 6 '18 at 8:05
This is the utility function @denesp gave in his answer above. It does not have any convexity issues in the range $$0, which is the range where the MR will have an U shape.