--%>

Problem on competitive equilibrium of two consumers

The economy consists of two consumers, A and B. Both consumers are endowed with one unit of good 1 and one unit of good 2. Consumer A is entirely indifferent between all consumption plans. Consumer B has the utility function u(xB1 ; xB2 ) = xB1 xB2 .

(i) Find a competitive equilibrium for this economy. (Hint: guess an equilibrium price and then check that it works.)

(ii) Find a second competitive equilibrium (different from the one you found in part (i)).

(iii) Show that the equilibrium is not efficient.

E

Expert

Verified

Budget constraint for person 1:

P1x1 +p2x2 = p1(1) + p2(2)

Similarly  for person 2:

P1x1+ p2x2= p1(1) + p2(2)

Now person 1 will consume according to the MRS= Price Ratio condition and we get:

So we get:
X1* = 1/2 (p1+1)/p1
X2*= 1/2 (p1+1)/p2

Similarily for person 2:
X1*= X1* = 1/2 (p1+1)/p1
X2*= 1/2 (p1+1)/p2

Now total x1* in economy is 2

So p1+1/p1= 2
P1+1= 2P1
So, p1*=1
And p2=1 (numeraire)

So competitive equilibrium:
(1,1) – Person 1
(1,1)- Person 2

b) second competitive equilibrium

(1/3, 2/3) and( 2/3, 1/3)

c) For efficiency MRS1= MRS2

Now x2/x1= x2/x1
For above(Put the values 1/3, 2/3 and 2/3,1/3 in MRS condition 2 not equal to 1

So this is not efficient

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Computing economic profit To compute

    To compute the economic profit, it is essential to know the opportunity cost of: (i) Capital. (ii) Land. (iii) Labor. (iv) All the productive resources. Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the above o

  • Q : Uniting individual sellers of labor Can

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options. Economically, the labor unions can be thought of as: (1) Motivating competition between workers for jobs. (2) Raising the flexibility of the nominal wages. (3) Attempts to cartelize and unite

  • Q : Consideration of positive statement

    Choose the right answer . A positive statement is concerned with: A) some goal that is desirable to society. B) what should be. C) what is. D) the formulation of economic policy.

  • Q : Maximum profit by equilibrium When a

    When a monopolist reaches equilibrium: (1) its profits are at a maximum. (2) price equals marginal cost. (3) average cost is at its minimum. (4) marginal cost is at a minimum. Can someone explain/help me with best solution about pr

  • Q : Elasticity of demand changes with price

    Calculating the price elasticity of demand for DVD games for a price variation from $50 to zero in such demand curve is: (w) 0. (x) infinity. (y) mostly meaningless since elasticity changes continuously over such range. (z) 1.5.

    Q : Define primary deficit Primary deficit

    Primary deficit: Primary deficit is the difference among fiscal deficit and interest payments prepared by the government Primary deficit = Fiscal deficit – Interest payments

  • Q : Strategic Barriers to Entry The

    The successful employment of expensive marketing techniques through established competitors in an oligopoly: (w) encourages entry by other profit maximizing firms. (x) raises the minimum efficient scale of production for new entrants. (y) acts as a re

  • Q : Reinforces the substitution effect For

    For normal goods which experience price changes, then the income effect: (i) Recognizes how higher money income influences demands for goods. (ii) Invalidates the diminishing marginal utility law. (iii) Offsets the substitution effect. (iv) Reinforces the substitution

  • Q : Differentiate project feasibility study

    Differentiate between project feasibility study and project proposal?

  • Q : Holding less liquid assets in investment

    When households become more willing to hold less liquid assets, in that case the: (w) interest rate rises. (x) present value of future income falls. (y) interest rate falls. (z) stock market will crash. I need a go