Answered step by step
Verified Expert Solution
Link Copied!

Question

1 Approved Answer

Freddie has preferences over gym equipment represented by the Cobb-Douglas utility function, U(G,E)=G5E4/5 where G is gym equipment and E is everything else. Assume

 

Freddie has preferences over gym equipment represented by the Cobb-Douglas utility function, U(G,E)=G5E4/5 where G is gym equipment and E is everything else. Assume Freddie has an income of $200, the price of gym equipment is $100 and the price of a unit of "everything else" is $50. A. Set up Freddie's Lagrangian function, take the first order conditions, and solve the system of equations to find Freddie's optimal combination of gym equipment and everything else. With gym equipment on the x-axis and everything else on the y-axis, draw Freddie's budget constraint. On the same graph, draw the indifference curve passing through the optimal point you B. 4/5 4/5 found in part A (plot at least 5 points for each curve). Hint: U=GE where G*,E *are the optimal values found in part A. Are your results consistent? C. Now assume that Freddie's gym offers a new promotion whereby gym equipment is buy 1, get 1 free. While Freddie can resell his goods, he cannot take the free gym equipment out of the packaging and try to sell that. If he wants to resell a piece of gym equipment, he must sell it with the free piece with it. Draw this new budget line. Without solving for the new optimal bundle, can you unequivocally state whether Freddie will be better off? Hint: Are the preferences represented by the Cobb-Dougas utility function monotonic?

Step by Step Solution

3.49 Rating (149 Votes )

There are 3 Steps involved in it

Step: 1

Answer a The optimal values are Gymn04 Everything else 32 c The knew budg... 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

Financial and Managerial Accounting the basis for business decisions

Authors: Jan Williams, Susan Haka, Mark Bettner, Joseph Carcello

16th edition

0077664078, 978-0077664077, 78111048, 978-0078111044

More Books

Students also viewed these Mechanical Engineering questions