In: Economics
Consumers choose between coffee and tea. Tea is known to be healthier than coffee but coffee has more caffeine. Consumers have decreasing marginal utility for both caffeine and health. However, recent scientific results find that coffee is much healthier for you than previously believed. Answer the following questions:
1. Show graphically and explain in 2-3 sentences how this discovery impacts the equilibrium Price and Quantity in the perfectly competitive coffee market.
2. Show graphically and explain in 2-3 sentences how this discovery impacts producer and consumer surplus in the perfectly competitive coffee market.
3. Refer to your answers to parts a) and b) and explain in 2-3 sentences what is gained (if anything) by using the multiattribute model rather than standard microeconomic utility theory to model consumer choice.