In: Economics
Suppose there are only two people, Mr. Mullinax
and Ms. Fleming, who must split a fixed income of $50,000.
For Mr. Mullinax, the marginal utility of income falls and
for Ms. Fleming, marginal utility of income also falls. The utility
functions are identical. I(m) and I(f) are the initial
amounts of income to Mr. Mullinax and Ms. Fleming,
respectively.
a) What is the optimal distribution of income if the
social welfare function is additive? Why?
b) What is the optimal distribution if society values
only the utility of Ms. Fleming? What if the reverse is true?
Comment on your answer.
c) Finally, comment on how your answers change if the
marginal utility of income for both Mr. Mullinax and Ms. Fleming is
a constant level.