<p>I believe it can be found as &quot;nested CES&quot;</p>
<p>See for example:</p>
<p><a href="https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/23938/nested-ces-production-function?rq=1">Nested CES</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-16T01:49:45.650Z
I think you are right. Do you have any references for it?
Jesper Hybel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-16T01:58:22.323Z
I unfortunately don't have much experience with the function. The following link looks familiar, so it is possible I referenced this in the past: https://www.gamsworld.org/mpsge/debreu/ces.pdf
qwerty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-16T02:01:42.570Z
That looks interesting (and tedious). I will accept the answer and maybe edit it later to add a reference if I find one.
Jesper Hybel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-16T01:45:14.063Z
2020-12-18T13:28:27.187Z
2020-12-18T13:28:27.187Z
qwerty
<p>I do not know whether the following utility functions are used a lot but I was wondering whether there was a common name for this type CES like utility function</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$u(z) = \left[  \left( \sum_{j \in J_1} z_{j}^{\alpha_1}\right)^{\rho/\alpha_1} + \left(\sum_{j \in J_2} z_{j}^{\alpha_2}\right)^{\rho/\alpha_2} \right]^{1/\rho},$$</span></p>
<p>perhaps it is simply an instance of the CES?</p>
<p>The utility function is defined over two non-overlapping groups <span class="math-container">$J_1$</span> and <span class="math-container">$J_2$</span> of goods <span class="math-container">$z_j$</span>. The goods from the two groups are weighted diffrently in the inner CES part by <span class="math-container">$\alpha_1$</span> and <span class="math-container">$\alpha_2$</span> respectively.</p>

<utility><ces-function>
Is there a name for this type of CES look-alike utility function?
Jesper Hybel
# Is there a name for this type of CES look-alike utility function?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-15)

I do not know whether the following utility functions are used a lot but I was wondering whether there was a common name for this type CES like utility function

$$u(z) = \left[ \left( \sum\_{j \in J\_1} z\_{j}^{\alpha\_1}\right)^{\rho/\alpha\_1} + \left(\sum\_{j \in J\_2} z\_{j}^{\alpha\_2}\right)^{\rho/\alpha\_2} \right]^{1/\rho},$$

perhaps it is simply an instance of the CES?

The utility function is defined over two non-overlapping groups $J\_1$ and $J\_2$ of goods $z\_j$. The goods from the two groups are weighted diffrently in the inner CES part by $\alpha\_1$ and $\alpha\_2$ respectively.

**Tags:** utility, ces-function

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

I believe it can be found as "nested CES"

See for example:

[Nested CES](https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/23938/nested-ces-production-function?rq=1)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think you are right. Do you have any references for it?  
> **username_1**: I unfortunately don't have much experience with the function. The following link looks familiar, so it is possible I referenced this in the past: https://www.gamsworld.org/mpsge/debreu/ces.pdf  
> **username_0**: That looks interesting (and tedious). I will accept the answer and maybe edit it later to add a reference if I find one.  

---

