--%>

Problem on competitive equilibrium economy

The economy consists of an equal number of smokers (S-types) and asthma sufferers (A-types). Good 1 is cigarettes, good 2 is “other stuff.” S-types have the utility function:

xS1 + xS2

where xS1 is the S-type’s consumption of cigarettes and xS2 is the S-type’s consumption of other stuff. A-types have the utility function

xA2 -  2¯xS1

where ¯ xS1 is the per capita consumption of cigarettes of S-types.

The initial endowments are as follows: S-types have one unit of both goods and A-types have 2 units good 2 and no endowment of good 1.

(i) Is there an efficient consumption plan in which S-types consume cigarettes?
(ii) Find a competitive equilibrium of this economy. Show that it is not efficient.

E

Expert

Verified

i) Consumer 1 has perfect substitute type of utility function .Now they will consume cigarettes only when P1<P2. Now P2 being 1 (numeraire).The consumption plan in which person 1 consumes cigarettes is the one where p1<1

ii) This is the externality case type of utility function for person 2. In which we solve the competitive equilibrium normally without externality and then tell that it is inefficient

Now U1= x1+x2 (1,1)
U2=  x2 (1,0)

Budget constraint for person 1:

P1x1 +p2x2= p1(1) + p2(1)

Put p2=1

P1x1 + x2= p1 + 1

Also for person 2 we have

P1x1 +X2= P1

Now we know person 1 has perfect substitutes requirement and peson 2 demands just good 2

So prices should be such that P1<p2  so that person 1 demands only good 1
So Putting x2*=0

We get:
P1X1= p1+1
X1* =1/p1-1

Now X1 in economy= 2

So, 1/p1-1 =2 P1= 3/2 >1 so it contradicts our assumption and we have to take p1=p2=1

Now put P1=p2=1 in budget constraint we get:

X1+x2=1
X1+ x2=1

From both the budget constraints this means any combination that satisfies this requirement will be competitive equilibrium. These are not efficient because there is an externality case involved plus there is no equality between MRS.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Goal of the War on Poverty Enhancing

    Enhancing the conditions of the poor was a main goal of the War on Poverty which was launched under President: (1) Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (2) Lyndon Johnson. (3) Richard Nixon. (4) Jimmy Carter. (5) Ronald Reagan.

    Q : Labor Union History problem Can someone

    Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the following question. The labor unions have tended to be most successful in the organizing: (1) Blue collar workers. (2) Clerical workers. (3) Professionals. (4) White collar workers.

  • Q : Instance of Implicit Costs Can someone

    Can someone help me in finding out the most right answer from the given options. The instance of an implicit cost would be: (i) Salaries paid to the employees. (ii) Payments for repairs on the company-owned machine. (iii) Rent paid on building company utilizations. (i

  • Q : Monopsony Power definition Can someone

    Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the following question. The monopsony is a: (1) Market with just one seller. (2) Sole buyer of a specific good or resource. (3) Market with just one product. (4) Firm which employs just one resource.

  • Q : Multinational corporations Give the

    Give the answer of following question. Multinational corporations: A) mainly are headquartered in Switzerland. B) are so named because of their heavy export volume. C) are illegal under the U.S. antitrust laws. D) are so named because of their sizable foreign producti

  • Q : Marginal factor Costs problem I have a

    I have a problem in economics on Marginal factor Costs. Please help me in the given question. The synonymous words marginal factor costs or marginal resource costs signify to the: (i) Cost incurred in generating an additional unit of the capital. (ii)

  • Q : Problem of Nash Equilibrium Carlos and

    Carlos and Ivana are room-mates and friends. Carlos and Ivana eat together despite who cooks on a given night. Within this payoff matrix, Nash equilibrium could never be obtained in that: (w) neither Carlos nor Ivana cook, nor do they eat. (x) Carlos

  • Q : Goods in positive price cross

    When two goods contain positive price cross elasticities of demand, then the two goods are: (1) inferior goods. (2) superior substitutes. (3) complementary goods: (4) gross substitute. (5) normal goods. I need a go

  • Q : Problem on demand for sport utility

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options that the demand for sport utility vehicles is most probable to decline in response to main rises in: (1) Consumer’s income. (2) The number of consumers. (3) Relative prices for pickups an

  • Q : Total revenue for profit-maximizing

    TR (total revenue) for this profit-maximizing pure competitor equivalents area: (i) 0PeQ. (ii) bPec. (iii) aPed. (iv) 0bcQ. (v) 0Pec.

    Discover Q & A

    Leading Solution Library
    Avail More Than 1442881 Solved problems, classrooms assignments, textbook's solutions, for quick Downloads
    No hassle, Instant Access
    Start Discovering

    18,76,764

    1932402
    Asked

    3,689

    Active Tutors

    1442881

    Questions
    Answered

    Start Excelling in your courses, Ask an Expert and get answers for your homework and assignments!!

    Submit Assignment

    ©TutorsGlobe All rights reserved 2022-2023.