Hahn's problem

The Hahn's problem (or Hahn's question) refers to the theoretical challenge of building general equilibrium models where money does not enter preferences, yet has a positive equilibrium value. Money, since it is intrinsically worthless and is not demanded for its own sake, may not be made to enter the utility function and be present like any other good. The problem is named after the British economist Frank Hahn, who outlined it in his critique ("On Some Problems of Proving the Existence of an Equilibrium in a Monetary Economy"^[1]) of Don Patinkin's placing money inside the utility function.

References

1. "On Some Problems of Proving the Existence of an Equilibrium in a Monetary Economy," 1965, in Hahn and Brechling, editors, Theory of Interest Rates.