Georgina consumes only pasta (good x) and wine (good y). Her utility function is given by U (x, y) = 3 ln x + ln y.(a) Consider only bundles with both x > 0 and y > 0. Are Georgina’s preferences monotone? Are they strictly monotone? Does this utility function satisfy diminishing MRS? (b) Find the expenditure-minimising bundle (x,y) as a function of the prices px and py, and the target utility U. (c)(c.1) Find the expenditure necessary to attain the utility U as a function of the prices px > 0and py > 0, and the target utility U itself. If the prices are px = 1, py = 1, obtain the expenditure necessary to attain the utility U = ln 16. (c.2) What is Georgina’s utility-maximising bundle if her income is M = 16 and prices arepx = 3 and py = 1? What utility does she attain?
Georgina consumes only pasta (good x) and wine (good y). Her utility function is given by
U (x, y) = 3 ln x + ln y.(a) Consider only bundles with both x > 0 and y > 0. Are Georgina’s preferences monotone? Are they strictly monotone? Does this utility function satisfy diminishing MRS?
(b) Find the expenditure-minimising bundle (x,y) as a function of the prices px and py, and the target utility U.
(c)(c.1) Find the expenditure necessary to attain the utility U as a function of the prices px > 0and py > 0, and the target utility U itself. If the prices are px = 1, py = 1, obtain the expenditure necessary to attain the utility U = ln 16.
(c.2) What is Georgina’s utility-maximising bundle if her income is M = 16 and prices arepx = 3 and py = 1? What utility does she attain?
(d) The owner of the store where Georgina buys her groceries has a special offer: any customer that buys more than 2 units of pasta is charged only p′x = 1 per unit for any quantity in excess of 2 units (but for the first two units of x customers still have to pay px = 3 per unit). Recall that Georgina’s income is M = 16 and py = 1.
(d.1) What is (are) the equation(s) describing Georgina’s budget line under this special offer?
(d.2) What is Georgina’s optimal consumption with this special offer?
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