We show that the proportional response algorithm for computing an economic equilibrium in a Fisher market model can be interpreted as iteratively approximating the economy by one with Cobb-Douglas utilities, for which a closed-form equilibrium can be obtained. We also extend the method to allow elasticities of substitution at most one.

The set of Cobb-Douglas production functions is usually fitted by first linearizing the models through logarithmic transformation and then applying method of least squares. However, this procedure is valid only when the underlying assumption of multiplicative error-terms is justified. Unfortunately, this assumption is rarely satisfied in practice and accordingly, the results obtained are of dou...

This paper surveys the empirical and theoretical literature on macroeconomic production functions and assesses whether the constant elasticity of substitution (CES) or the CobbDouglas specification is more appropriate for use in the CBO’s macroeconomic forecasts. The Cobb-Douglas’s major strengths are its ease of use and its seemingly good empirical fit across many data sets. Unfortunately, the...

Using the traditional model of voluntary public good provision, it is shown that an expansion of group size exacerbates free riding tendencies as long as private consumption and the public good are strictly normal and weak gross substitutes. This result generalizes a previous Cobb–Douglas example with respect to preferences and asymmetric equilibria.  2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese...

The current paper examines the cross-efficiency concept in data envelopment analysis (DEA). While cross-efficiency has appeal as a peer evaluation approach, it is often the subject of criticism, due mainly to the use of DEA weights that are often non-unique. As a result, cross-efficiency scores are routinely viewed as arbitrary in that they depend on a particular set of optimal DEA weights gene...

The multi-site capacity planning problem with a long term time horizon, with transportation constraints is expanded to consider pricing of the product, the effect of advertisement and competition. We use a modification of the Cobb-Douglas model for consumer utility and include the effect of advertising.