It is argued that the task of describing the optimal vector of commodity taxes is trivialized by the traditional assumption of a price-taking representative agent; that, in particular, the assumption of a representative agent ensures that the null vector is optimal. Copyright © 2007 The...

The Frankel, Romer and Lucas theories of endogenous growth rest on the assumptions of knowledge-based externalities and price-taking representative agents. It is argued that, in a context of long-run growth, these assumptions are mutually incompatible, that representative agents will cooperate...

The classical gains-from-trade conjecture was finally given a thorough Arrow-Debreu proof in 1972. Since then, the proposition has been repeatedly challenged. Some of the challenges rest on grounds which in no respect violate Arrow-Debreu assumptions. Those challenges are therefore without...

We show that the Kemp-Wan proposition concerning the formation of customs union holds under conditions of imperfect competition and increasing returns.

The theory of involuntary international transfers (war indemnities) has been constructed on the assumption that the donor and recipient are completely indifferent to each other's well-being. The assumption is hard to justify since usually the transfers closely follow periods during which the...

In the present note we construct an overlapping-generations (OLG) example in which free trade is Pareto-improving and the world equilibrium chaotic. The example is simple, but it is not incompatible with the general model of Kemp and Wolik.