micro 2004 c
TRANSCRIPT
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Consumer Theory
Consumers choose the best bundles of
goods they can afford.
1. Can affordBudget constraints.
2. Best according to preferences.
Why is it useful?
1. Predict behavior changes.
2. Policy analysis.
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Consumption Choice Sets
A consumption choice set is the collection
of all consumption choices available to the
consumer. What constrains consumption choice?
Budgetary, time and other resource limitations.
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Fruity Example
You are going to the grocery. You buy 2 apples, 3
oranges, and 4 pears. Apples and Oranges cost 1
each and a pear is 2. How much do you spend? If you have 10 to spend, what can you buy?
Prices of apples, oranges, and pears are
represented by pa, po, pp and income is m. What
can one buy?
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Budget Constraints
A consumption bundle containing x1 units of
commodity 1, x2 units of commodity 2 and so on
up to xn units of commodity n is denoted by thevector (x1, x2, , xn).
Commodity prices are p1, p2, , pn.
When is a consumption bundle(x1, , xn) affordable at given prices p1, , pn?
We usually deal with 2 commodities.
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Budget Constraints
The consumers budget set is the set of all
affordable bundles;
x1
0, , xn
0 and p1x1+ + pnxn
m
The budget constraint is the upper boundary
of the budget set.
Draw budget set for general two goods. What is affordable, just affordable, not
affordable?
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Budget Constraints
For n = 2 and x1 on the horizontal axis, theconstraints slope is -p1/p2. What does it
mean?
Increasing x1 by 1 must reduce x2 by p1/p2
This is the opportunity cost.
The budget constraint and budget set
depend upon prices and income. Whathappens as prices or income change?
Does inflation hurt us?
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Ad Valorem Sales Taxes
An ad valorem sales tax levied at a rate of 5%
increases all prices by 5%, from p to (1+0.05)p =
1.05p.
An ad valorem sales tax levied at a rate oft
increases all prices by tp from p to (1+t)p. A uniform sales tax is applied uniformly to all
commodities.
Write the new budget constraint. Can the government replace this with an income
tax? (Sort of like old betting tax)
Subsidies are opposite of a tax (1-s)p.
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The Food Stamp Program
Food stamps are coupons that can be legally
exchanged only for food.
How does a commodity-specific gift such asa food stamp alter a familys budget
constraint?
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The Food Stamp Program
Suppose m = 100, pF = 1 and the price of
other goods is pG = 1.
The budget constraint is thenF + G =100.
What is budget set after 40 food stamps are
issued? What if food stamps can be traded on the
black market for .50?
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Budget with Rationing
What does the budget look like if we ration
good 1?
What happens if we tax all goods purchased
above the ration at rate t?
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Fun Budget Constraints
1. Quantity Discounts: Suppose p2 isconstant at 1 but that p1=2 for 0 x1
20 and p1=1 for x1>20.
2. Try drawing a 3-d budget constraint.(p1=p2=p3=1, m=3)
3. Coke machine doesnt give change. Candy
machine does. Must buy Candy with Coke,but Coke with Candy.
4. Negative Prices: one hour of work gives
3, can of Beer is 1. Have 5 already.