Kantorovich duality by positive extension

ID: kantorovich-duality-by-positive-extension

For compact metric spaces and a continuous cost, define the marginal functional . Its majorant envelope is finite and sublinear. The dual value is . Assign that value to the cost direction and use the dominated Hahn-Banach theorem to obtain a positive linear functional on all continuous functions of two variables. The Riesz-Markov-Kakutani representation theorem turns it into an optimal transport plan with the prescribed marginals.

New to topics? Read the docs here!