1 Local and Global Maximum

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Definition

  • Global Maximum: Function \(f\) defined on domain \(X\) has a global maximum at \(x^* \in X\) if for all \(x\in X\), \(f(x)\le f(x^* )\)

  • Local Maximum: Function \(f\) defined on domain \(X\) has a local maximum at \(x^* \in X\) if there exists an open interval \(\left(a,b\right)\), such that \(x^* \in \left(a,b\right)\), and for all \(x\in \left(a,b\right)\), \(f(x)\le f(x^* )\)

It should be noted that Many functions do not have maximum. We have utility function, production function, and budget constraints (and other functions) in economic models. When households make utility maximizing choices, they pick the bundle of goods that gives them the highest level of utility. Many of the production and utility functions that we use do not have local or global maximum. For example, a Cobb-Douglas production function will produce ever higher output with more labor and capital input. And a log utility function will give higher utility with higher levels of consumption. When we combine preference and budget together, we could think about the optimal bundle of choices that achieves the highest level of utility given fixed budget in a household maximization problem.

Quadratic Utility

Some functions, such as a quadratic utility function, can have an unique maximum.

\[U(x)=x-\alpha \cdot x^2\]

We can write down the equation using matlab’s symbolic package

% Parameter
a = 0.20;
% Create symbolic equation in matlab
syms x
f(x) = x - a*x^2

f(x) =

\(\displaystyle x-\frac{x^2 }{5}\)

Matlab Analytical Global Maximum for Quadratic Utility

Matlab can find the \(x\) value that maximizes the function by using the following functions from its symbolic toolbox:

  • diff function: taking the derivative of f with respect to \(x\)

  • solve function: finding where the derivative crosses \(0\)

% Solve
maxofx = solve(diff(f, x), x)

maxofx =

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{2}\)

% Convert symbolic to double precision
maxofx = double(maxofx)

maxofx = 2.5000

We have found the global maximum for the function.

A household will try to consume exactly this optimal amount of good if their budget allows.

With quadratic utility over one good, even if the household can afford to buy more goods than the maximum amount, they will not.

This could be used to approximate consumption of say how much rice a consumer wants for example.

Matlab Graphical Solution

% Graph equation
close all;
figure();
% Create minimum x and maximum x point where to draw the graph
x_lower_bd = min(-10, maxofx-abs(maxofx)/2);
x_upper_bd = max(10, maxofx+abs(maxofx)/2);
% Draw the function
fplot(f, [x_lower_bd, x_upper_bd]);
% Label
xlabel(['X-axis, Quadratic Utility, max U reached at x=', num2str(maxofx)])
ylabel(['Utility'])
grid on