Utility maximisation - graphical presentation , Macroeconomics

Assignment Help:

Utility Maximisation:

Graphical Presentation 

Let consider a two-commodity world, x1 and x2 representing good I and good II respectively. p1 and p2 are the prices of good I and good II respectively, where the prices are given to the consumer, i.e., prices are exogenously given and consumer can't change them. Money income of the consumer is M, which is also exogenously given to the consumer. Note that p1x1+p2x2 is the total expenditure of the consumer when she consumes x1units of good I and x2 units of good two. The total expenditure of the consumer can't exceed her money income, therefore  p1x1 + p2x2 ≤ M  ------- (a)  

Equation (a) is known as consumer budget constraint. Let U = U(x1, x2) is the utility function of the consumer. Therefore, consumer must solve the following Maximisation problem(UMP):   

709_Utility Maximisation.png

As consumer objective is to maximise her utility and as larger consumption leads to larger utility, she always wants to consume more of any goods. But she also has to spend some amount of her income to consume larger amount of goods. So ultimately in equilibrium she will spend all her income and M = p1x1+p2x2.  

Consumer Behaviour  Now suppose that the line segment AB represents the budget line. Along AB p1x+ p2x2 = M  holds. Let initial indifference curve of the consumer is IC0. In IC0, there are many points along that indifference curve such that p1x+ p2x2 ≤ M holds. Therefore, utility maximising consumer will spend more as she moves to higher indifference curve (say IC1). In IC1 there are still such points along the indifference curve such that p1x+ p2x2 ≤ M  holds, so again consumer spends more. This process will continue as long as consumer reaches an indifference curve where for no point along the indifference curve p1x+ p2x2 ≤ M holds and at least one point of the indifference curve is on the budget line. At that point, we have consumer equilibrium, C(x1, x2) = (x1*(M,p1,p2), x2*(M,p1,p2))(in Figure point 'e' is the equilibrium point). Not that at equilibrium, slope of the indifference curve is equal to the slope of the budget line. Therefore, at equilibrium we have 

1) Budget constraint holds with equality sign. 

2) Slope of the indifference curve is equal to the slope of the budget line.   


Related Discussions:- Utility maximisation - graphical presentation

What is the monopole and dipole moment, Charge is distributed with constan...

Charge is distributed with constant volume density D throughout the rectangular box with length a, width b and height c.  a) what is the monopole moment of this system. b) What i

Moving along a demand curve, Moving along a demand curve, quantity demanded...

Moving along a demand curve, quantity demanded decreases 8 percent when price increases 10 percent. a. The price elasticity of demand is calculated to be____________ b. Given the

Inflation, what are the causes of inflationary gap

what are the causes of inflationary gap

Country personal consumption expenditures, If in some country personal cons...

If in some country personal consumption expenditures in a specific year are $50 billion, purchases of stocks and bonds are $30 billion, net exports are $-10 billion, government pur

Theory of aggregate deman, unplanned changes in inventory are counted as in...

unplanned changes in inventory are counted as inventory spending by firms.say true or false and justify

Calculate percent removal pollutant and steady state, You are considering t...

You are considering three design alternatives for treating a pollutant in wastewater using a first-order process ( k = 1 min -1 ). The total flow is 10 million gallons per day (mg

#.., what are the purposes of taxation

what are the purposes of taxation

Theory of aggregate demand, unplandned change in inventory are coutned as i...

unplandned change in inventory are coutned as investment spending by firms

Classical labour market, using a classical labour market , illustrate the e...

using a classical labour market , illustrate the effects of a real wage existing in the market that is lower than the equilibrium real wage. what will eventually happen in this lab

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd