<p>The most famous one is probably Afriat's 1967 paper titled <a href="http://crem.univ-rennes1.fr/Documents/Docs_Divers/2014-2015/GL_14-09-19_S.%20Afriat.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"The construction of a utility function from demand data"</a>. </p>

<p>You can also find the basic idea in Hal Varian's Intermediate Microeconomics: Revealed Preferences Chapter or you can read the generalized version of the theorem in the paper.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T07:49:30.233Z
I believe Kreps also covers this result in his text on Microeconomic Foundations.
Theoretical Economist
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2017-01-03T07:52:17.873Z
@TheoreticalEconomist I haven't read it but that seems probable. It is an important result showing the possible uses (and limitations) of utility functions and I have high regard for Kreps :)
Giskard
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2017-01-03T07:53:34.740Z
Kreps is great. Check out the book -- it's not too expensive for a textbook, and his treatment of the material he does cover is second to none.
Theoretical Economist
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2017-01-03T07:45:21.417Z
2017-01-03T20:47:21.927Z
2017-01-03T20:47:21.927Z
Giskard
<p>I've been having difficulty finding some research on indifference curves/utility functions and methods in constructing them in an applied manner. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any papers or pdf books to recommend?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T21:30:04.693Z
what do you mean by "applied manner"?
Yorgos
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2017-01-03T21:35:05.533Z
@Yorgos  are able to infer them in real life. How do economists go about making indifference curves that represent an individuals preference in an accurate or approximate manner.
EconJohn
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2017-01-03T21:43:51.620Z
I believe that this is very general question. You must be more specific in the sense, you are interested in consumer utility function, producer utility function. Also you want utility functions to capture risk aversion or behavioral biases?
Yorgos
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2017-01-03T21:52:12.993Z
My point is that it would be easier to provide a reference if you could be more specific on the type of the individual for whom you want to construct a utility function, or the area of research you are interested in
Yorgos
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2017-01-03T21:55:34.663Z
@Yorgos producers don't have utility functions.... also the consumer theory tag tells who I'm talking about.
EconJohn
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2017-01-03T21:56:21.550Z
producers have utility functions, since they are individuals. For instance, farmers
Yorgos
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2017-01-03T21:59:35.700Z
@Yorgos I would have added a risk aversion tag if i was talking about risk aversion. Its in a standard sense.
EconJohn
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2017-01-03T22:14:19.963Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/51143/discussion-between-econjohn-and-yorgos).
EconJohn
<reference-request><utility><consumer-theory>
Research on the existence of utility functions?
EconJohn
# Research on the existence of utility functions?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-03)

I've been having difficulty finding some research on indifference curves/utility functions and methods in constructing them in an applied manner.

Does anyone have any papers or pdf books to recommend?

**Tags:** reference-request, utility, consumer-theory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: what do you mean by "applied manner"?  
> **username_0**: @username_1  are able to infer them in real life. How do economists go about making indifference curves that represent an individuals preference in an accurate or approximate manner.  
> **username_1**: I believe that this is very general question. You must be more specific in the sense, you are interested in consumer utility function, producer utility function. Also you want utility functions to capture risk aversion or behavioral biases?  
> **username_1**: My point is that it would be easier to provide a reference if you could be more specific on the type of the individual for whom you want to construct a utility function, or the area of research you are interested in  
> **username_0**: @username_1 producers don't have utility functions.... also the consumer theory tag tells who I'm talking about.  
> **username_1**: producers have utility functions, since they are individuals. For instance, farmers  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I would have added a risk aversion tag if i was talking about risk aversion. Its in a standard sense.  
> **username_0**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/51143/discussion-between-username_0-and-username_1).  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-01-03. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The most famous one is probably Afriat's 1967 paper titled ["The construction of a utility function from demand data"](http://crem.univ-rennes1.fr/Documents/Docs_Divers/2014-2015/GL_14-09-19_S.%20Afriat.pdf).

You can also find the basic idea in Hal Varian's Intermediate Microeconomics: Revealed Preferences Chapter or you can read the generalized version of the theorem in the paper.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I believe Kreps also covers this result in his text on Microeconomic Foundations.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 I haven't read it but that seems probable. It is an important result showing the possible uses (and limitations) of utility functions and I have high regard for Kreps :)  
> **username_3**: Kreps is great. Check out the book -- it's not too expensive for a textbook, and his treatment of the material he does cover is second to none.  

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