Abstract
We study the existence of solutions g to the functional inequality f≤g T−g+β, where f is a prescribed continuous function, T is a weakly expanding transformation of the circle having an indifferent fixed point, and β is the maximum ergodic average of f. Using a method due to T. Bousch, we show that continuous solutions g always exist when the Hölder exponent of f is close to 1. In the converse direction, we construct explicit examples of continuous functions f with low Hölder exponent for which no continuous solution g exists. We give sharp estimates on the best possible Hölder regularity of a solution g given the Hölder regularity of f.