Question

In: Economics

Chepa’s utility function is given by U (x, y) = ln x + 4 ln y....

Chepa’s utility function is given by U (x, y) = ln x + 4 ln y. Assume that Chepa has endowments (10, 10) and that Py = 10 throughout the problem. (h) This part of the question is to investigate Chepa’s welfare under different prices. We will do it step by step.

(i) By substituting out the M with the expression of Chepa’s endowment income (see part (g)), obtain Chepa’s gross demands as functions of Px.

(ii) Plug your answer to (i) into Chepa’s utility function (that is, replacing the general x and y in her utility function by the optimal x and y given Px) to obtain an expression of the maximal utility achieved by Chepa as a function of Px.

(iii) Find the value of Px that gives Chepa the lowest utility. (Hint: Take the answer to (ii), differentiate it with respect to Px, set the derivative to zero and solve for Px in that equation. It is a good practice to check the second order condition to make sure you are getting a minimum — but if you feel uninterested or that this is too hard, you can trust that I am giving you a “nicely behaved” minimisation problem and skip checking the SOC.)

(iv) Explain the economic meaning of your result in (iii).

Solutions

Expert Solution


Related Solutions

Write the demand functions for the following utility function: U = ln(x) + ln(y)
Write the demand functions for the following utility function: U = ln(x) + ln(y)
A consumer purchases two goods, x and y and has utility function U(x; y) = ln(x)...
A consumer purchases two goods, x and y and has utility function U(x; y) = ln(x) + 3y. For this utility function MUx =1/x and MUy = 3. The price of x is px = 4 and the price of y is py = 2. The consumer has M units of income to spend on the two goods and wishes to maximize utility, given the budget. Draw the budget line for this consumer when M=50 and the budget line when...
Suppose a consumer's utility function is given by U ( X , Y ) = X...
Suppose a consumer's utility function is given by U ( X , Y ) = X 1 2 Y 1 2. The price of X is PX=8 and the price of Y is PY=5. The consumer has M=80 to spend. You may find that it helps to draw a graph to organize the information in this question. You may draw in the blank area on the front page of the assignment, but this graph will not be graded. a) (2...
Given the utility function U ( X , Y ) = X 1 3 Y 2...
Given the utility function U ( X , Y ) = X 1 3 Y 2 3, find the absolute value of the MRS when X=10 and Y=24. Round your answer to 4 decimal places.
Jim’s utility function is U(x, y) = xy. Jerry’s utility function is U(x, y) = 1,000xy...
Jim’s utility function is U(x, y) = xy. Jerry’s utility function is U(x, y) = 1,000xy + 2,000. Tammy’s utility function is U(x, y) = xy(1 - xy). Oral’s utility function is -1/(10 + xy. Billy’s utility function is U(x, y) = x/y. Pat’s utility function is U(x, y) = -xy. a. No two of these people have the same preferences. b. They all have the same preferences except for Billy. c. Jim, Jerry, and Pat all have the same...
Consider the utility function, U(x,y) = ln(x) + y. Please answer the following questions, showing all...
Consider the utility function, U(x,y) = ln(x) + y. Please answer the following questions, showing all work. (1) Derive an expression showing the overall effect of an increase in py on the quantity of y consumed, holding constant px and income (I). (2) Now, show how that overall effect in (1) can be decomposed into a separate substitution effect and income effect. Show these effects explicitly. (3) Now, do the same for x: derive an expression showing the overall effect...
A consumes two goods, x and y. A ’s utility function is given by u(x, y)...
A consumes two goods, x and y. A ’s utility function is given by u(x, y) = x 1/2y 1/2 The price of x is p and the price of y is 1. A has an income of M. (a) Derive A ’s demand functions for x and y. (b) Suppose M = 72 and p falls from 9 to 4. Calculate the income and substitution effects of the price change. (c) Calculate the compensating variation of the price change....
Suppose a consumer has a utility function given by u(x, y) = x + y, so...
Suppose a consumer has a utility function given by u(x, y) = x + y, so that the two goods are perfect substitutes. Use the Lagrangian method to fully characterize the solution to max(x,y) u(x, y) s.t. x + py ≤ m, x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0, where m > 0 and p < 1. Evaluate and interpret each of the multipliers in this case. What happens to your solution when p > 1? What about when p =...
Suppose Anne’s utility function for food (X) and clothing (Y) is given by U (X,Y) =...
Suppose Anne’s utility function for food (X) and clothing (Y) is given by U (X,Y) = 4X1/2 + Y and Anne had budget constraint I = PxX + PyY. a. Find Anne’s optimal bundle if Px = 4 and Py = 4 and Anne has I = 60. b. Discuss how the demand for X depends on her income. c. Suppose now that the price of X increases to 8. Find the SE and IE of the price change.
Esther consumes goods X and Y, and her utility function is      U(X,Y)=XY+Y For this utility function,...
Esther consumes goods X and Y, and her utility function is      U(X,Y)=XY+Y For this utility function,      MUX=Y      MUY=X+1 a. What is Esther's MRSXY? Y/(X + 1) X/Y (X + 1)/Y X/(Y + 1) b. Suppose her daily income is $20, the price of X is $4 per unit, and the price of Y is $1 per unit. What is her best choice?      Instructions: Enter your answers as whole numbers.      X =      Y =      What is Esther's utility when her...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT