A firm that is located in country H, where price levels are p = (1,1), needs to send one of its two employees to its branch in country F. However, in country F price levels are p′ ≫ p, so the firm will have to pay additional salary to ensure that its employee is equally well-off in country F as she was in country H. Suppose the utility functions of the two employees are u1(x1, x2) = x1 + x2 and u2(x1, x2) = min {x1, x2}. The two employees are otherwise identical, including current salary. If the firm wants to minimize the additional salary it needs to pay, which employee should it send? Explain.

A firm that is located in country H, where price levels are p = (1,1), needs to send one of its two employees to its branch in country F. However, in country F price levels are p′ ≫ p, so the firm will have to pay additional salary to ensure that its employee is equally well-off in country F as she was in country H. Suppose the utility functions of the two employees are u1(x1, x2) = x1 + x2 and u2(x1, x2) = min {x1, x2}. The two employees are otherwise identical, including current salary. If the firm wants to minimize the additional salary it needs to pay, which employee should it send? Explain.

Microeconomic Theory

12th Edition

ISBN:9781337517942

Author:NICHOLSON

Publisher:NICHOLSON

Chapter6: Demand Relationships Among Goods

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 6.14P

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