--%>

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 : Microeconomics-Economic factors 1)

    1) Identify and explain the chief economic factors which determine the price of a good or service. Please include how demand and supply interact and elasticity, etc. Also give examples with graphs.

  • Q : Bond Theorem Applications What are Bond

    What are Bond Theorem Applications and also write down its consequences?

  • Q : Substitution effects resulting from

    The Law of Demand mainly relies heavily on the: (1) Buying power consequences of relative price modifications. (2) Substitution effect resultant from the relative price changes. (3) Increase in opportunity costs as income is worn out. (4) Principle of the non satiety.

  • Q : Short run supply of an industry The

    The cranberry industry’s short-run supply is demonstrated as: (i) curve A. (ii) curve B. (iii) curve E. (iv) curve F. (v) curve G.

    Q : Normal accounting profits in monopoly

    This monopoly makes Q units and experiences as: (1) economic profits equal to 0cbQ. (2) economic losses equal to cpab. (3) more than normal accounting profits. (4) marginal cost in excess of average total cost. (5) total revenue less than total cost.<

  • Q : Pepsi and Coke market Some of the

    Some of the consumers strongly prefer Pepsi and some strongly prefer Coke. Thus there is no single market for colas. This statement is true or false ? Explain.This statement is false. Although some people have strong preferences for a specific

  • Q : Competitive pressures produce by

    Economic losses produce competitive pressures which decrease the industries: (w) output and number of firms. (x) prices and profits. (y) percentage mark-ups over costs. (z) long term labor turnover. I need a good a

  • Q : Theory of imperfect competition An

    An extensive theory of imperfect competition was initially developed by: (1) John Maynard Keynes. (2) Antoine Augustin Cournot. (3) Joan Robinson. (4) Joseph Schumpeter. (5) Thorstein Veblen. How can I solve my

  • Q : Price discriminate by unregulated

    Unregulated monopolistic firms which do not price discriminate do NOT: (i) have power as price makers. (ii) dominate the supply side of the market. (iii) select profit maximizing price/quantity combinations from the market demand curv

  • Q : Econ Give the answer of following

    Give the answer of following question. In the quintile distribution of income, the term "quintile" represents: A) 5 percent of the income receivers. B) 10 percent of the income receivers. C) 20 percent of the income receivers. D) 25 percent of the income receivers.