Homomorphisms from functional equations: the Goldie equation (Q284708)

This paper deals with an `algebraic conversion' of two functional equations, so that each solution function describes a homomorphism by noting to the group structures introduced by \textit{C. G. Popa} [Ann. Pol. Math. 17, 193--198 (1965; Zbl 0141.32804)] and \textit{P. Javor} [Aequationes Math. 1, 235--238 (1968; Zbl 0165.17102)]. These functional equations are known in connection with problems arising in utility theory. One of these functional equations, named the generalized `Goldie-Beurling equation', has the form \(K(x+y\eta (x))-K(y)=\psi (y)K(x)\) \((x,y\in \mathbb{R})\), where \(\eta (x)\equiv 1+\rho x\) for some \(\rho \in \mathbb{R}\), see [\textit{N. H. Bingham} and \textit{C. M. Goldie}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 44, 473--496 (1982; Zbl 0486.26001)]. The second functional equation of Pexiderized type is \(K(x+y\eta (x))-K(y)=\psi (y)\kappa (x)\) for \(x,y\in \mathbb{R_+}\); cf. [\textit{J. Chudziak} and \textit{J. Tabor}, J. Math. Psychol. 52, No. 6, 389--392 (2008; Zbl 1152.39321)]. Among other things, the author gives necessary and sufficient conditions for the later equation to be algebraicized.