[Math] Cobb-Douglas utility function

economics

A simple Cobb-Douglas utility function:

$$ U(X,Y)=\frac{X^{(1-\alpha)}Y^{\alpha}}{(1-\alpha)^{(1-\alpha)}\alpha^{\alpha}} $$

Here, I don't understand why we need the denominator: $ (1-\alpha)^{(1-\alpha)}\alpha^{\alpha} $. What is the meaning of this denominator term?

Best Answer

It is a normalisation factor intended to make $U(1-\alpha,\alpha)=1$ and is not necessary for the definiton of Cobb-Douglas form. In fact, the most general way to define Cobb-Douglas production function is as follows:

$$U(x_1,x_2,\ldots, x_n)=\Pi_{i} {x_i}^{\lambda_i} \text{ where }\sum_i \lambda_i=1$$