On a functional equation related to income inequality measures (Q1059233)

The author solves the functional equation \((1)\quad g(u,x)+g(v,y)=g(u,y)+g(v,x)\) for all \(u,v,x,y>0\) with \(u+v=x+y,\) via extension theorems. He extends first to u,v,x,y\(\geq 0\), then to all real u,v,x,y, always with \(u+v=x+y.\) The more general functional equation \((2)\quad g_ 1(u,x)+g_ 2(v,y)=g_ 3(u,y)+g_ 4(v,x)\) for u,v,x,y\(\in {\mathbb{R}}\) with \(u+v=x+y\) is solved by reduction to \(F_ 1(x,u)+F_ 2(x+u,y)=F_ 3(x,u+y)+F_ 4(u,y),\quad x,u,y\in {\mathbb{R}},\) which has been solved independently by the author [Inf. Control 41, 214- 231 (1979; Zbl 0423.94006) and ibid. 25, 45-56 (1974; Zbl 0279.94018)] and the reviewer [Can. Math. Bull. 22, 433-448 (1979; Zbl 0434.94002)]. He then obtains the solution of (1) as a special case of (2). For (1) he shows that \(g(u,x)=f(u)+p(x)+t(u-x),\) where t is an odd function, and f,p,t are otherwise arbitrary.