EXISTENCE AND UNIQUENESS OF EQUILIBRIUM FOR A SPATIAL MODEL OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS*. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blanchet, Adrien; Mossay, Pascal; Santambrogio, Filippo
• Is Part Of: International economic review. Volume 57:Number 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; 330.05
• DOI: 10.1111/iere.12147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-6598

Abstract

Abstract : We extend Beckmann's spatial model of social interactions to the case of a two‐dimensional spatial economy with a large class of utility functions, accessing costs, and space‐dependent amenities. We show that spatial equilibria derive from a potential functional. By proving the existence of a minimizer of the functional, we obtain that of spatial equilibrium. Under mild conditions on the primitives of the economy, the functional is shown to satisfy displacement convexity. Moreover, the strict displacement convexity of the functional ensures the uniqueness of equilibrium. Also, the spatial symmetry of equilibrium is derived from that of the primitives of the economy.