This paper introduces the concept of ordient for binary relations (preferences), a relative of the concept of gradient for functions (utilities). Ordients have a natural economic interpretation as marginal rates of substitution. Some examples of ordientable binary relations include the...

This paper introduces the concept of ordient for binary relations (preferences), a relative of the concept of gradients for functions (utilities). The lexicographic order, albeit not representable, has an ordient. Not only binary relations representable by differentiable functions have an...

This note gives a simple proof of the existence and monotonicity of optimal debt contracts in simple models of borrowing and lending with ex-post asymmetric information, risk-averse agents and heterogeneous beliefs. Our argument is based on the concept of nondecreasing rearrangement and on a...

This note gives a simple proof of the existence and monotonicity of optimal debt contracts in simple models of borrowing and lending with ex-post asymmetric information, risk-averse agents and heterogeneous beliefs. Our argument is based on the concept of nondecreasing rearrangement and on a...

This short paper proposes a didactic example on how to solve a multidimensional screening problem in the linear case. In the proposed example, shareholders of a cash-constrained firm propose to the firm management a recapitalization in counterpart of the distribution of future dividends. The...

This paper introduces the concept of ordient for binary relations (prefer-ences), a relative of the concept of gradient for functions (utilities). The mainmotivation for this study is to replace the binary relation at the center stageof economic analysis, rather than its representation (whenever...

This paper analyzes the endogenous formation of a partnership as the trade-off between efficiency gains and a 'cost' associated with the partial loss of control over the decisions the partnership takes. For instance, by forming a monetary union, countries benefit from a more coordinated monetary...

This paper studies the impact of the governance of a group, whether be it unanimity, simple majority or qualified majority, on its size, composition, and inclination to change the status quo. Somewhat surprisingly, we show that not only unanimity might favor the formation of larger groups than...

This paper studies the impact of the governance of a group, whether be it unanimity, simple majority or qualified majority, on its (endogenously derived) size, composition, and inclination to change the status quo. Somewhat surprisingly, we show that not only unanimity might favor the formation...

This paper analyzes the endogenous formation of a partnership as the trade-off between efficiency gains and a 'cost' associated with the partial loss of control over the decisions the partnership takes. For instance, by forming a monetary union, countries benefit from a more coordinated monetary...