Global stability in job systems (Q1101039)

A simple job system with n grades is introduced here and it is described by a system \(\dot x_ i=x_ i\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{ij}x_ j\), \(i=1,2,...,n\). The per capita growth rate coefficients \(a_{ij}\) are such that \(a_{ii}<0\) and \(a_{ij}>0\), \(i\neq j\). Under these conditions a complete picture of the phase portrait of the system is presented as follows: Let \(A=(a_{ij})\). Then \(A=B-sI\), where B is a positive \(n\times n\) matrix with spectral radius \(\rho(B)\). Now it is shown that if \(x_ i(t)\) is any solution with \(x_ i(0)>0\), \(i=1,2,...,n\), then i) if \(\rho(B)<s\) then \(x_ i(t)\to 0\), as \(t\to +\infty\); ii) if \(\rho (B)=s\), then as \(t\to +\infty\), \(x_ i(t)\) tends to an equilibrium specified by the initial values \(x_ i(0)\); and iii) if \(\rho(B)>s\), then \(x_ i(t)\to +\infty\) as t tends to a finite time uniformly for each \(i=1,2,...,n\).