Random utility representations of finite \(m\)-ary relations (Q2564062)

\textit{H. D. Block} and \textit{J. Marschak} [in: Contrib. Probab. Statist., 97-132 (1960; Zbl 0096.12104)] discussed the relationship between a probability distribution over the strict linear rankings on a finite set \(\mathcal C\) and a family of jointly distributed random variables indexed by \(\mathcal C\). The present paper generalizes the concept of random variable (random utility) representations to \(m\)-ary relations. It specifies conditions on a finite family of random variables that are sufficient to construct a probability distribution on a given collection of \(m\)-ary relations over the family's index set. Conversely, conditions are presented for a probability distribution on a collection of \(m\)-ary relations over a finite set \(\mathcal C\) to induce (on a given sample space) a family of jointly distributed random variables indexed by \(\mathcal C\).