Quasi-invariant measures for some amenable groups acting on the line

Abstract: In this note we show that if $G$ is a solvable group acting on the line, and if there is $T\in G$ having no fixed points, then there is a Radon measure $\mu$ on the line quasi-invariant under $G$. In fact, our method allows for the same conclusion for $G$ inside a class of groups that is closed under extensions and contains all solvable groups and all groups of subexponential growth.