# Relationship between the Lagrangian and consumption euler equation?

I think that the best way for me to ask my question would be to start with an example.

Suppose that consumers have a two-period horizon and their instantaneous utility is: $\:$

$U(C_{t})=ln \: C_{t}$

$\:$

Where $C_{t}>0$$\: denotes consumption. Assume that agents supply a fixed amount of labour L and have no initial bonds B or capital K. Agents discount utility of the second period with the discount factor 1>\beta>0. \: The budget constraint is: \: C_{1}+\frac{C_{2}}{1+r_{1}} =\: (w/P)_{1}$$L$ $\:$ + $\frac{(w/P)_{2}L}{1+r_{1}}$ $\:$

The Lagrangian is: $\:$

$\mathcal L = \ln C_1 + \beta \ln C_2 - \mu \left[ C_1 + \frac{C_2}{1+r_1} -(w / P)_{1} L - \frac{(w/P)_{2}L}{1+r_{1}} \right]$

I now have two questions:

1. Assuming that I compute the correct FOCs, how do I go about deriving the consumption euler equation? $\:$

2. Could you guys please help me with the formatting of my lagrangian? I want to make the square parentheses large enough to encapsulate everything. $\:$

Thanks.

• Welcome to economics.SE! Please consider taking the time to read the faq to familiarise yourself with some of our common practices. In addition, this page should give you a start at learning how to typeset mathematics here so that your posts say what you want them to, and also look good. Also, just FYI, I've fixed some of the formatting in your question. There is still more to be fixed. Hope this helps! Jan 24 '15 at 17:43
• I am going to make it my goal in life to try and find some subject that relies heavily on mathematics that Euler didn't touch. I'll probably fail.
– 123
Jan 24 '15 at 18:52
• Thanks for the help guys. I'll ensure that that my future formatting is of a better standard.
– user2789
Jan 24 '15 at 21:24
• Also, I don't think you need to be using $\:$. You've used it a lot, but it's not necessary. Jan 24 '15 at 23:49

In this simple problem, using a Lagrangean is an overkill, direct substitution of the constraint is perhaps better.

Anyway, treating the two consumption levels as two distinct decision variables under the budget constraint, the Euler equation emerges from the combination of the two first-order conditions:

$FOC$'s

$$\frac {\partial \mathcal L}{\partial C_1} = 0 \Rightarrow \frac 1{C_1} = \mu$$

$$\frac {\partial \mathcal L}{\partial C_2} = 0 \Rightarrow \frac {\beta}{C_2} = \mu\frac {1}{1+r_1}$$

Substitute the first into the second

$$\frac {\beta}{C_2} = \frac 1{C_1}\frac {1}{1+r_1}$$

re-arrange and you 're done.

I would suggest to also do that with a general utility function, where in the Euler equation the first derivatives of the utility will appear.

$\mathcal L = \ln C_1 + \beta \ln C_2 - \mu \left[ C_1 + \frac{C_2}{1+r_1} -(w / P)_{1} L - \frac{(w/P)_{2}L}{1+r_{1}} \right]$

$\frac {\partial \mathcal L}{\partial C_1}=\frac 1{C_1} - \mu = 0$

$\frac {\partial \mathcal L}{\partial C_2}= \frac{\beta}{C_2} - \mu\frac {1}{1+r_1}=0$

$\frac {\partial \mathcal L}{\partial \mu}= C_{1}+\frac{C_{2}}{1+r_{1}}-(w/P)_{1}L-\frac{(w/P)_{2}L}{1+r_{1}}=0$

These conditions characterise a maximum since the second-order condition $\frac {\partial \mathcal (ln \ C_{1} + \beta \ ln \ C_{2})}{\partial^{2} C_{1}}$ is negative.

Substitute the first FOC into the second and you get:

$C_{2} = \beta(1+r_{1})C_{1}$