In: Finance
Dorothea Brooke has given her nephew the following choice. He can choose between two different bundles. Bundle F consists of $100 tomorrow and $10 today. Bundle P consists of $30 tomorrow and $60 today. Her nephew can borrow and lend money at an interest rate of 15%. Consumption goods have a price today of $1 per unit and there is no inflation.
a. What is the present value of each of the two bundles? What is the future value of each of the two bundles?
b. Which bundle do you think the nephew should choose? Why? [ Hint: A diagram which illustrates combinations of C1and C2which are affordable for each bundle might be helpful.]
c. Bankers recognize that perfect capital markets make it difficult to make money by lending money. Thus, they will now pay the nephew 15% for any amount he lends them and they will charge him 50% interest on any amount he borrows. Which bundle will the nephew choose? Why? Again, a diagram which illustrates combinations of C1and C2 which are affordable for each bundle will be helpful.
Interest Rate (r) = 15%
Concept Used:
Future Value (FV) = Present Value (PV) * [(1+r)^t]
Or, PV = FV/[(1+r)^t]
Where t = time in years
a. Bundle F = $100 tomorrow and $10 today
Total Present Value of bundle F = 10 + 100/ [(1+.15)^(1/365)]
= 10 + 99.96
= 109.96
Total Future Value of bundle F = PV * [(1+r)^t]
= 109.96 * (1.15^(1/365))
= 110.002
Bundle P = $30 tomorrow and $60 today
Total Present Value of bundle P = 60 + 30 / [(1+.15)^(1/365)]
=89.98
Total Future Value of bundle P = PV * [(1+r)^t]
= 89.98 * (1.15^(1/365))
= 90.144
b. Clearly, the nephew should choose bundle F because the present value of bundle F (109.96) is greater than PV of bundle P (89.98).
c. For any lending and borrowing rate, it applies to both the bundles, and the present value of bundle F is higher. So whatever the rate may be, the Future value will be higher for Bundle F always. So the nephew should choose bundle F.