Mittag-Leffler modules, reduced products, and direct products (Q1177656)

A left module \(M\) over some ring \(R\) is called Mittag-Leffler module (ML- module), if for any right \(R\)-module \(N\) and any set \(I\) the canonical map \(N^ I\otimes_ RM\to (N\otimes_ RM)^ I\) is a monomorphism [\textit{M. Raynaud, L. Gruson}: Invent. Math. 13, 1-89 (1971; Zbl 0227.14010)]. Starting from the observations that pure projective modules are ML-modules and that each ML-module can be purely embedded into a certain factor of a direct product of pure projective modules, the author focusses his attention on the problem as to when the class of ML-modules is closed under direct products. Some general facts are proven, and some special rings (such as \(\mathbb{Z}\), valuation domains, von Neumann regular rings) are studied, over which the ML-modules have, resp. have not, the property under consideration.