Optima and Equilibra

Progress in the theory of economic equilibria and in game theory has proceeded hand in hand with that of the mathematical tools used in the field, namely nonlinear analysis and, in particular, convex analysis. Jean-Pierre Aubin, one of the leading specialists in nonlinear analysis and its application to economics, has written a rigorous and concise - yet still elementary and self-contained - textbook providing the mathematical tools needed to study optima and equilibria, as solutions to problems, arising in economics, management sciences, operations research, cooperative and non-cooperative games, fuzzy games etc. It begins with the foundations of optimization theory, and mathematical programming, and in particular convex and nonsmooth analysis. Nonlinear analysis is then presented, first game-theoretically, then in the framework of set valued analysis. These results are then applied to the main classes of economic equilibria. The book contains numerous exercises and problems: the latter allow the reader to venture into areas of nonlinear analysis that lie beyond the scope of the book and of most graduate courses.

Résumé

From the reviews:

MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS

"...provides a concise and self-contained exposition of the fundamental results both in the theory and its applications...Overall, the book presents a fundamental introduction to nonlinear analysis and its economic and game-theoretic applications. It can serve as a basic textbook for students and researchers interested in these areas."

Contenu
1 Minimisation Problems: General Theorems.- 2 Convex Functions and Proximation, Projection and Separation Theorems.- 3 Conjugate Functions and Convex Minimisation Problems.- 4 Subdifferentials of Convex Functions.- 5 Marginal Properties of Solutions of Convex Minimisation Problems.- 6 Generalised Gradients of Locally Lipschitz Functions.- 7 Two-person Games. Fundamental Concepts and Examples.- 8 Two-person Zero-sum Games: Theorems of Von Neumann and Ky Fan.- 9 Solution of Nonlinear Equations and Inclusions.- 10 Introduction to the Theory of Economic Equilibrium.- 11 The Von Neumann Growth Model.- 12 n-person Games.- 13 Cooperative Games and Fuzzy Games.- 14 Exercises.- 15 Statements of Problems.- 16 Solutions to Problems.- 17 Compendium of Results.- References.