The Stacks project

Proof. The implication (1) $\Rightarrow $ (2) follows from Lemma 10.105.4 in both cases. The implication (2) $\Rightarrow $ (3) is immediate in both cases. Assume $R_\mathfrak m$ is catenary for all maximal ideals $\mathfrak m$ of $R$. If $\mathfrak p \subset \mathfrak q$ are primes in $R$, then choose a maximal ideal $\mathfrak q \subset \mathfrak m$. Chains of primes ideals between $\mathfrak p$ and $\mathfrak q$ are in 1-to-1 correspondence with chains of prime ideals between $\mathfrak pR_\mathfrak m$ and $\mathfrak qR_\mathfrak m$ hence we see $R$ is catenary. Assume $R$ is Noetherian and $R_\mathfrak m$ is universally catenary for all maximal ideals $\mathfrak m$ of $R$. Let $R \to S$ be a finite type ring map. Let $\mathfrak q$ be a prime ideal of $S$ lying over the prime $\mathfrak p \subset R$. Choose a maximal ideal $\mathfrak p \subset \mathfrak m$ in $R$. Then $R_\mathfrak p$ is a localization of $R_\mathfrak m$ hence universally catenary by Lemma 10.105.4. Then $S_\mathfrak p$ is catenary as a finite type ring over $R_\mathfrak p$. Hence $S_\mathfrak q$ is catenary as a localization. Thus $S$ is catenary by the first case treated above. $\square$