In: Economics
a) TRUE: Convex
preferences means that averages (rather than extremes) are
preferred, If preferences are convex then indifference curves are
convex to the origin.
Suppose consumption bundles x and y lie on an indifference
curve.
By convexity of preferences, [tx+ (1−t)y] (an average of the two
bundles x and y) lies on a higher indifference curve for t ∈
[0,1].
By monotonicity, this higher indifference curve lies to the
northeast of the original indifference curve. Hence the
indifference curve is convex, as shown below:
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b) FALSE: Not a
monotonic transformation; easy grounds for falsification is that
MRS should be constant under a monotonic transformation.
MRS of U=x1+x2 -----> (-1) (they are perfect substitutes in
1:1 ratio)
whereas MRS of U=(5x1+10x2)2 -----> - MUx2 / MUx1 = - 5 / (5/2)
= -2 (perfect substitutes but not in ratio 1:1)
i.e. MRS IS NOT THE SAME AFTER TRANSFORMATION, so
not a monotonic transformation
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