In: Economics
Jack, our representative consumer, consumes varying amounts of beef and rice. Assume that B = quantity of beef consumed, and that R = quantity of rice consumed. Jack’s utility function is given as: ?(?,?) = √(?.?)
a. Assume further that the price of beef is $4, the price of rice is $2, and that Jack’s income is $200. How much of each product should he purchase?
b. How are the quantities calculated in (a) above affected when the price of rice increases from $2 to $4? Calculate the substitution and income effects for rice?
c. Is rice a normal good or an inferior good? Explain.