Answered step by step
Verified Expert Solution
Link Copied!

Question

1 Approved Answer

I: | 24. Let's explore one of the reasons that Cobb-Douglas utility functions are oftentimes used in economic research. Assume we are studying an individual's

image text in transcribed
image text in transcribed
\"I: | 24. Let's explore one of the reasons that Cobb-Douglas utility functions are oftentimes used in economic research. Assume we are studying an individual's preferences over food {f} and clothing {c}. One of the more realistic features of Cobb-Douglas utility functions is that they represent preferences consistent with the following: Let's assume an individual's specific Cobb-Douglas utility function is UH, c} = ' If an individual has small amounts of each good, in order to give up one unit of the good she has less of,r she needs more of the other good. For instance, if an individual has 2 units of food and 5 units of clothing, she would need more than i unit of clothing to be willing to trade l unit of food. ' If an individual has large amounts of each good, she views the goods essentially as perfect substitutes. Using the foodfclothing example, she would be willing to trade food and clothing on an essentially constant basis if she has enough of each. us m f c and analytically explore this result. A. B. C. Determine how much clothing the individual would be willing to trade for one unit of food at any f and c level [in other words, solve for the Marginal Rate of Substitution}. Assume that the individual always has i fewer units of food compared to clothing. In other words, f=c-l . This will ensure we are looking at comparable bundles. Using this assumption, how will the MRS solved for in part {ii change as the level of clothing [and therefore level of food] increases? 1'Iul'lllllhat will the MRS you solved for in part {ii converge to as E -" 1? Note this is equivalent to finding how much clothing the individual would be willing to trade for one unit of food when the individual essentially has no food. 1'Iul'lllllhat will the MRS you solved for in part {ii converge to as L' " 00 3' Note this is equivalent to finding how much clothing the individual would be willing to trade for one unit of food when the individual has an extremely large amount of clothing and food. If you are not comfortable with limits, plug in increasingly larger values of c to see the pattern

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

Marketing

Authors: John McMurry, Robert Fay

13th Edition

125973806X, 9781259738067

More Books

Students also viewed these Economics questions

Question

Which of the two selection algorithms has the better time bound?

Answered: 1 week ago