--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Utility with food coupons

Question:

In Vancouver the Salvation Army encourages people to make food voucher donations to panhandlers instead of simply giving them cash. You can buy a food voucher for $5 and give it to a panhandler who can use it to purchase food. The Salvation Army says it's a way to ensure that a gift actually goes to food, rather than alcohol or drugs. Suppose a panhandler (PH) consumes two goods: food (F) and drugs (D). The PH has a utility function u = F0D1. This can also be written as u= D. Answer and explain the following using a diagram which is completely labeled.

(a) If drugs and food each cost $1 per unit, and the PH has $20 is cash, how much D and F will he consume.

(b) If instead the PH has $10 in cash and $10 in food vouchers, how much D and F will he consume?

(c) Is the PH better off with $20 in cash, or with $10 in cash and $10 in food vouchers.

Solution:

a)

u = D

PH will only consume drugs. This is because food does not give him additional utility. Whether he consumes 0 units or 1000000 units of food, it does not make a difference. Therefore, he will spend all his income on drugs. He will consume 20 units of drugs.

758_additional utility.png

b)

In this case, he will consume 10 units of drugs, and he is indifferent between consuming 0 units or 10 units of food.

968_Utility with food coupons.png

c) Utility with $20 cash = 20

Utility with food coupons = 10

Therefore, PH is better with $20 cash.

   Related Questions in Business Economics

  • Q : Impact of dollar on aspects of

    Question Discuss the impact of dollar depreciation on the various aspects of American Economy. Devaluation of the DollarIntroduction:

    		•
  • Q : Micro economics and macro economics

    Micro economics and macro economics:Economic theory can be widely divided into micro and macroeconomics. The word micro means small and macro means big.In microeconomics, we deal

    		•
  • Q : Define the for whom query in market

    The market system responses the “for whom?” query with: (i) distributing goods on the basis of require. (ii) using central planning to coordinate production decisions. (iii) catering to consumers with adequate resources to demand goods. (i

    		•
  • Q : U.S. exports create a demand for

    True or false? “U.S. exports create a demand for foreign currencies; foreign imports of U.S. goods generate supplies of foreign currencies.”  Explain.

    		•
  • Q : Concepts of Economic system argues by

    For Economic system argues by Adam Smith relies heavily upon all the given concepts EXCEPT: (w) market expansion will be facilitated through capital accumulation. (x) prices will be driven to the lowest point at that production can ev

    		•
  • Q : Increase the overall effectiveness of

    How the government can increase the overall effectiveness of the market system?

    		•
  • Q : Larger amount is actually purchased at

    Critically evaluate:  “In comparing the two equilibrium positions, it note that a larger amount is actually purchased at a higher price. This disprove the law of demand.”

    		•
  • Q : Market Apparent program For the

    For the question below, utilize the given information. The market for gizmos is competitive, with an increasing sloping supply curve and a downward sloping demand curve. With no govt. intervention, the equilibrium price is $25 and the equilibrium quantity is 10,000 gi

    		•
  • Q : Mixed Economy Define the term Mixed

    Define the term Mixed Economy and also state their advantages and disadvantages?

    		•
  • Q : Define Direct and inverse relationships

    Define Direct and inverse relationships?

    		•