<p>The word monotonic means &quot;always moving in the same direction&quot;, in our case, always going up.</p>
<p>Monotonic preferences mean that the customer <strong>always</strong> prefers more of a good.</p>
<p>This comes in two flavors:</p>
<ol>
<li>Strictly monotonic: More of one good is always preferred to less of that good.</li>
<li>Weakly monotonic: More of one good is always equivalent or better than less of that good.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T17:13:30.110Z
Thank you so much for answering. Just one more doubt: 
so we will represent Strict monotonicity as c1 ≻ c2 (where c1 has more of both the goods)Weakly monotonicity as c1 ≿ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one of two good but no less of the other good)
Anishka Mishra
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T17:14:56.857Z
Minor edit: The content in parens should be the same for both: Strict monotonicity as c1 ≻ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one good but no less of  any other good) Weakly monotonicity as c1 ≿ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one good but no less of any other good)
RegressForward
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T17:22:49.933Z
Sir, where can I find a graphical representation of strictly and weakly monotonic preferences? If you have any idea or suggestion for the references please let me know. Thank you.
Anishka Mishra
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T20:19:23.217Z
The Cobb-Douglas function $U(L,K) = L^\alpha * K^{1-\alpha}$ is strictly monotonic in preferences. Plot it with U on the vertical and it will be a nice smooth arch increasing in L and K.
RegressForward
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T16:36:40.890Z
2020-11-02T16:36:40.890Z
RegressForward
<p>I am really confused between monotonic preferences and strictly monotonic preferences, I saw some video and <strong>read certain answer where it is mentioned that the</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>When preferences are monotone / weak monotonic preference, the<br />
consumer prefers more of both goods.</li>
<li>When preferences are strictly    monotone or having strong monotonic
preference, the consumer prefers    more of one good but no less of
the other.</li>
</ul>
<p>(source: <a href="https://www.learnpick.in/questions/details/11169/what-is-a-monotonic-preference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.learnpick.in/questions/details/11169/what-is-a-monotonic-preference</a>)</p>
<p><strong>whereas when I read this other paper it says</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Monotonicity means that if c1 contains more of some or all
commodities, but no less of any, than c2 (c1 ≥ c2) then c1 ≿ c2.</li>
<li>Strict monotonicity means that if c1 contains more of each commodity
than c2 (c1 &gt; c2) then c1 strictly prefered c2</li>
</ul>
<p>(source: <a href="http://www.math.uchicago.edu/%7Emay/VIGRE/VIGRE2008/REUPapers/Shon.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.math.uchicago.edu/~may/VIGRE/VIGRE2008/REUPapers/Shon.pdf</a>)</p>
<p>I am confused as both the answers are quite contradicting as the (first as per sequence I mentioned) says that in strict preferences the consumer more of at least one good but no less of the other.</p>
<p>whereas (second as per sequence I mentioned) says in strict monotonicity we prefer more of both the goods. Also, I am able to understand the graphical representation of the monotonicity.
Please tell me where I am getting it wrong I am really stuck on this.
Thank you.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T16:39:01.503Z
See the first para of [wiki](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotone_preferences) page on monotonic preferences. Does this answer your question?
Dayne
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-15T00:29:33.053Z
There is no uniform terminology. The second source is really unreliable and looks like the notes of some confused undergraduate student.
Michael Greinecker
<microeconomics><mathematical-economics><consumer-theory><preferences><demand>
what is monotonicity and strict monotonicity in preferences?
Anishka Mishra
# what is monotonicity and strict monotonicity in preferences?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-02)

I am really confused between monotonic preferences and strictly monotonic preferences, I saw some video and **read certain answer where it is mentioned that the**

* When preferences are monotone / weak monotonic preference, the  
  consumer prefers more of both goods.
* When preferences are strictly monotone or having strong monotonic
  preference, the consumer prefers more of one good but no less of
  the other.

(source: <https://www.learnpick.in/questions/details/11169/what-is-a-monotonic-preference>)

**whereas when I read this other paper it says**

* Monotonicity means that if c1 contains more of some or all
  commodities, but no less of any, than c2 (c1 ≥ c2) then c1 ≿ c2.
* Strict monotonicity means that if c1 contains more of each commodity
  than c2 (c1 > c2) then c1 strictly prefered c2

(source: [http://www.math.uchicago.edu/~may/VIGRE/VIGRE2008/REUPapers/Shon.pdf](http://www.math.uchicago.edu/%7Emay/VIGRE/VIGRE2008/REUPapers/Shon.pdf))

I am confused as both the answers are quite contradicting as the (first as per sequence I mentioned) says that in strict preferences the consumer more of at least one good but no less of the other.

whereas (second as per sequence I mentioned) says in strict monotonicity we prefer more of both the goods. Also, I am able to understand the graphical representation of the monotonicity.
Please tell me where I am getting it wrong I am really stuck on this.
Thank you.

**Tags:** microeconomics, mathematical-economics, consumer-theory, preferences, demand

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See the first para of [wiki](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotone_preferences) page on monotonic preferences. Does this answer your question?  
> **username_2**: There is no uniform terminology. The second source is really unreliable and looks like the notes of some confused undergraduate student.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-11-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The word monotonic means "always moving in the same direction", in our case, always going up.

Monotonic preferences mean that the customer **always** prefers more of a good.

This comes in two flavors:

1. Strictly monotonic: More of one good is always preferred to less of that good.
2. Weakly monotonic: More of one good is always equivalent or better than less of that good.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you so much for answering. Just one more doubt:  so we will represent Strict monotonicity as c1 ≻ c2 (where c1 has more of both the goods)Weakly monotonicity as c1 ≿ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one of two good but no less of the other good)  
> **username_3**: Minor edit: The content in parens should be the same for both: Strict monotonicity as c1 ≻ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one good but no less of  any other good) Weakly monotonicity as c1 ≿ c2 (where c1 has more of at least one good but no less of any other good)  
> **username_0**: Sir, where can I find a graphical representation of strictly and weakly monotonic preferences? If you have any idea or suggestion for the references please let me know. Thank you.  
> **username_3**: The Cobb-Douglas function $U(L,K) = L^\alpha * K^{1-\alpha}$ is strictly monotonic in preferences. Plot it with U on the vertical and it will be a nice smooth arch increasing in L and K.  

---

