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Walrasian Equilibrium in an Exchange Economy with Indivisibilities

Author

Listed:
  • Jinpeng Ma

    (Economics, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102)

  • Fusheng Nie

    (Philadelphia Stock Exchange)

Abstract

This paper studies an exchange economy with indivisibilities. Our main goal is to see if a price system can function well in an economy (e.g., an economy with complementary preferences) that does not have a Walrasian equilibrium. We study the price adjustment processes governed by the Euler iterative scheme. We show that in an economy that has a Walrasian equilibrium, our price adjustment processes have a common uniform limit that is unique and converges to a Walrasian equilibrium price vector in finite time. Surprisingly, in an economy that does not have a Walrasian equilibrium, our price adjustment processes also have a common uniform limit that is unique and converges to a market equilibrium price vector in finite time. Moreover, market equilibrium prices coincide with Walrasian equilibrium ones in an economy that has a Walrasian equilibrium. Further, there are no prices other than the Walrasian or market equilibrium ones that have such a property of global stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinpeng Ma & Fusheng Nie, 2002. "Walrasian Equilibrium in an Exchange Economy with Indivisibilities," Departmental Working Papers 200207, Rutgers University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:rut:rutres:200207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jinpeng Ma & Qiongling Li, 2016. "Convergence of price processes under two dynamic double auctions," The Journal of Mechanism and Institution Design, Society for the Promotion of Mechanism and Institution Design, University of York, vol. 1(1), pages 1-44, December.
    2. Xiaojing Xu & Jinpeng Ma & Xiaoping Xie, 2019. "Price Convergence under a Probabilistic Double Auction," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 54(3), pages 1113-1155, October.
    3. W D A Bryant, 2009. "General Equilibrium:Theory and Evidence," World Scientific Books, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., number 6875, August.
    4. Paul Oslington, 2012. "General Equilibrium: Theory and Evidence," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 88(282), pages 446-448, September.
    5. Xiaojing Xu & Jinpeng Ma & Xiaoping Xie, 2017. "Convergence of Markovian price processes in a financial market transaction model," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 239-273, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Walrasian;

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations

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