In: Economics
A sales employee generates sales revenue of either $1250 or $750, each with equal probability. A manager is paying the sales employee 25% of sales revenue, and the sales person has a utility function u(x) = x0.5. What is the lowest fixed salary (ie., independent of sales outcome) the manager can pay the employee instead, so that the sales person is not worse off? (a.)$887 (b.)$667.7 (c.)$453.5 (d.)$246.1
The correct answer is (d.) $246.1.
The manager will pay the employee that fixed salary (so that Sales employee is not worse off) where Expected utility sales employee will get if A manager is paying the sales employee 25% of sales revenue is equal to utility he get if manager gives him a fixed salary F.
Utility If manager gives him fixed salary F is u(F) = F0.5
Expected utility= P1u(x1) + P2u(x2)
where P1 = Probability that he will generate 1250 = 0.5, x1 = he will get if he generate 1250 = 25% of 1250 = 312.5, P2 = Probability that he will generate 750 = 0.5, x2 = he will get if he generate 750 = 25% of 750 = 187.5
Hence, Expected utility= P1u(x1) + P2u(x2) = 0.5u(312.5) + 0.5u(187.5)
=> Expected utility(EU)= 0.5*312.50.5 + 0.5*187.50.5 = 15.685
We want this EU to be equal to Utility If manager gives him fixed salary F = u(F)
=> EU = u(F) => F0.5 = 15.685 => F = 246.1
So, the manager can pay the employee instead, so that the sales person is not worse off is $246.1
Hence, the correct answer is (d.) $246.1.