# Shape of contract curve in an Edgeworth-Box economy

I've noticed that contract curves for preference functions $$u_{1,2}=(x_1x_2)^{1/2}$$ and $$u_{1,2}=x_1(x_2)^{1/2}$$ is the diagonal of the Edgeworth Box. A general question arose, and I can't figure it out.

Is the contract curve the diagonal of the Edgewroth Box if and only if the consumer's preferences are identical, but need not be indifferent between the two goods?

• Hi! What do you mean by "need not be indifferent between the two goods"? Nov 26 '21 at 1:19
• @Giskard i mean that, both player 1 and 2 can prefer, say, good 1 (have assymetrical or weirdly shaped utility functions), but prefer it in the same way (have the same utility functions) Nov 26 '21 at 6:05

## 2 Answers

The answer is no both to the if and to the only if parts.

If counterexample:
For $$u_{1,2} = \ln x + y$$ and aggregate quantities (4,4) it is easy to check that the allocation (1,1),(3,3) is not Pareto-optimal.

Only if counterexample:
For $$u_{1} = 2x + y$$ and $$u_{2} = \min(x,y)$$ and aggregate quantities (4,4) the contract curve is the diagonal.

• is there any particular reason why the functions that i had both have diagonal pareto set? or perhaps i made a mistake? Nov 26 '21 at 6:07
• No mistake. If the consumers share a utility function which is convex and homothetic, then the contract curve will indeed include the diagonal. Nov 26 '21 at 6:57

This answer assumes you understand the defining property of homothetic functions, namely, slope of their level curves being equal for a given input ratio. First let's understand what is the diagonal; it is a line representing endowment ratio $$X_1:X_2$$ in the economy. Contract curve being linear is equivalent to it lying on the diagonal, since contract curves must begin and end at the origins.

Why do you say that the given pair of utility functions have linear contract curve? You did not mention any specific endowment ratio, so I am assuming you are asking for when a pair of utility functions have linear contract curve for any endowment ratio. The equation of contract curve with endowment ratio $$X_1:X_2$$, and differentiable utility functions $$A,B$$ is: $$\mathrm{MRS}_A = \mathrm{MRS}_B \tag1$$ For your example, $$\frac{0.5 x_1^{-0.5} x_2{}^{0.5}}{0.5 x_1{}^{0.5} x_2^{-0.5}} = \frac{(X_2-x_2)^{0.5}}{0.5 (X_1 - x_1) (X_2 - x_2)^{-0.5}} \tag 2$$ Plot the above in a graphing calculator like Desmos, and you can see that the contract curve is not linear for any endowment ratio. For rigour, you can solve for $$x_1$$ in terms of $$x_2$$ to see if the function is linear, but I suppose this would not be possible to do if the contract curve was quintic or higher (lack of closed formed solution of quintic).

The contract curve of any homothetic utility function will lie on one side of the diagonal or entirely on the diagonal; it will lie entirely on the diagonal if there exists at least one optimum point on the diagonal. See In a box diagram, why does efficiency locus lie on one side of the diagonal, if both sectors haves constant returns to scale function?. LHS of (1) is a constant for a given $$X_1 : X_2$$, so is the RHS, if both functions are homothetic. (1) will hold if these constants are equal. These constants are equal when for a given price, both consumers consume the same commodity ratio. If $$A$$ consumes $$2x_1$$ of $$x_2$$, so will $$B$$ i.e., relative preference of one commodity is same for both consumers. Constants being equal, and consequently, (1) holding for $$X_1:X_2$$ necessarily means that contract curve lies on the diagonal. This is the sufficient condition for linear contract curve, and any function satisfying this condition, will have linear contract curve for any endowment ratio, because we did not assume any specific ratio (see below, where we do assume).

Though this is not a necessary condition. Giskard's answer shows a non-differentiable function, namely $$\min(x,y)$$ (this is a Leontief utility function) where contract curve is linear. But this specific function will have linear contract curve only if the endowment ratio is 1:1; (4:4) in Giskard's case. This is because the kink (which is the optimum point for Leontief utility functions) is at $$x_1=x_2$$. If they used a function such as $$\min(2x_1,x_2)$$, the endowment ratio would need to be $$1:2$$.

(EDIT) In (2) I had misunderstood utility function of $$A$$ being $$\sqrt{x_1x_2}$$ and that of $$B$$ as $$x_1\sqrt{x_2}$$. It seems you were providing 2 examples of both consumers having the same utility function, while I understood it as 1 example of 2 consumers having different utility functions. If you substitute the same utility function, then yes, the contract curves are linear in your example. I am still leaving this answer up, because it gives the sufficient condition of consumers having different utility, which is just a more general answer.

• It seems I had misunderstood, your question. I thought you were asking why the given pair of different functions has linear contract curve, but I suppose you are asking why pairs of the same function have linear contract curve. I am still leaving this answer, since it still provides a sufficient albeit more general sufficient condition. Nov 26 '21 at 6:13
• There is a miscalculation here: $$\frac{0.5 x_1^{-0.5} x_2{}^{0.5}}{0.5 x_1{}^{0.5} x_2^{-0.5}} = \frac{(X_2-x_2)^{0.5}}{0.5 (X_1 - x_1) (X_2 - x_2)^{-0.5}},$$ the nominator should also include $0.5 (X_1 - x_1)$. Once this correction is made, the contract curve is the diagonal even in case $X_1 \neq X_2$. Also the indexing of the LHS of the equation could be made more legible, currently the goods of consumers $1$ and $2$ are not distingushed. Nov 26 '21 at 6:55
• The numerator of the RHS is the differential of the second function with respect to $x_1$ which is of degree 1, so there is no reason for $0.5(X1−x1)$ to be there. As I already commented, there was misunderstanding; I assumed different utility functions, OP (I think) assumes same utility functions. Goods of consumers $A$ and $B$ are distinguished by virtue of goods of consumer $B$ being subtracted. I suppose I could have used different notations entirely instead of subtracting, but it would be redundant, because to solve the locus you have to express good in terms of one consumer only. Nov 26 '21 at 7:24
• Yes, my mistake. I missed that your RHS merged the powers of $(X_1 - x_1)$, but did not do so for $(X_2 - x_2)$. Nov 26 '21 at 8:06