Answered step by step
Verified Expert Solution
Link Copied!

Question

1 Approved Answer

3. Dune (water rights) Arrakis is a planet without much water. There are two uses for water: consumption by local inhabitants, which creates local utility

3. Dune (water rights) Arrakis is a planet without much water. There are two uses for water: consumption by local inhabitants, which creates local utility u(w) = 8w 1 2 w 2 for w units of water, and spice mining, which creates profits (w) = 4w 1 2 w 2 . (a) Suppose that we care equally about utility and profits and that there is a total of w = 4 units of water on Arrakis. What is the first-best allocation of water? (b) What is the first-best allocation of water if w = 10? (c) Suppose that the spice miners have enforced "property rights" that let them take as much water as they like before local inhabitants are allowed to take water. Spice miners maximize their profits and do not care about the local inhabitants' utility. If there are w = 8 units of water, how much water will the inhabitants of Arrakis consume? Is this efficient? (d) Recalculate your answer to (c) for w = 12. Do the property rights lead to the efficient outcome? Use your results to explain how water scarcity determines the welfare costs of the spice miners' control of water rights on

Step by Step Solution

There are 3 Steps involved in it

Step: 1

blur-text-image

Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions

See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success

Step: 2

blur-text-image

Step: 3

blur-text-image

Ace Your Homework with AI

Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance

Get Started

Recommended Textbook for

Essentials Of Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

Authors: Ola Olsson ]

1st Edition

9780415685085

More Books

Students also viewed these Economics questions

Question

What happens during the policy making process?

Answered: 1 week ago