Existence of maximals via right traces

This paper examines the conditions for the existence of a maximal element of a relation on every nonempty compact subset of its ground set. A preliminary analysis establishes some connections between the maximals of a relation and those of its right trace. Via this analysis, various results of the literature are unified by identifying a common property of their assumptions that concerns the right trace of the transitive closure of the objective relation. Next, a generalization is provided so as to accommodate some relations of interest to economics. Finally, a necessary and sufficient condition is presented for the existence of a maximal on every nonempty compact subset of the ground set of a relation.