Question 1: Utility maximization and price index Tim consumes haircuts (x₁) and sandwiches (x2). His utility function is: u (X1, X2) = (x₁)* (x₂)¹−º 1-0 The price of ₁ is p₁ and the price of x2 is p2. He has a total income of m. 1. Find Tim's demand function for goods 1 (x₁(P₁, P2, m)) and 2 (x2 (P1, P2, m)), using a Lagrangian. 2. Suppose we'd want to compute a price index for the "average" good that Tim consumes. We define it as such that: P* V(p1, P2, m) = m where P is the price index, V (p₁, P2, m) is the indirect utility that Tim can achieve when prices are p₁ and p2 and his income is m. Solve for the price level as a function of the individual prices, P(p1, P2), and show that it is equal to the inverse of the Lagrange multiplier in 1. Interpret. hint: the indirect utility is obtained by plugging the demand you found in (1) into the utility function: V(p1, P2, m) = u((x1 (P1₁, P2, m), 2 (p1, P2, m)) 3. Does the price index satisfy homogeneity of degree 1? How does the im- portance of each good in the price index vary depending on the parameter 0? Interpret. hint: take the log of the price index and see how 0 mediates the impact of changes in p₁ and p2) 4. Suppose that in the US, the price of a haircut is $16, and the price of a sandwich is $4. In India, a haircut costs $9 and a sandwich $1. Suppose that = 0.5, what is the price index of the US relative to the price index of India? 5. Tim lives in the US, and Tim's cousin lives in India. If Tim earns USD 100 per day and Tim's cousin earns USD 10 per day, how much is Tim richer than his cousin in nominal term, and in PPP terms?

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question
Question 1: Utility maximization and price index
Tim consumes haircuts (₁) and sandwiches (x2). His utility function is:
u (x₁, x2) = (x₁) (x₂)¹-0
The price of ₁ is p₁ and the price of x2 is p2. He has a total income of m.
1. Find Tim's demand function for goods 1 (x1 (P1, P2, m)) and 2 (x2 (P1, P2, m)),
using a Lagrangian.
2. Suppose we'd want to compute a price index for the "average" good that
Tim consumes. We define it as P such that:
PV (p1, P2, m) = m
where P is the price index, V(p1, P2, m) is the indirect utility that Tim
can achieve when prices are p₁ and p2 and his income is m. Solve for the
price level as a function of the individual prices, P(p1, P2), and show that
it is equal to the inverse of the Lagrange multiplier in 1. Interpret.
hint: the indirect utility is obtained by plugging the demand you found in
(1) into the utility function: V(P1, P2, m) = u((x₁ (P1, P2, m), x2 (P1, P2, m))
3. Does the price index satisfy homogeneity of degree 1? How does the im-
portance of each good in the price index vary depending on the parameter
0? Interpret.
hint: take the log of the price index and see how 0 mediates the impact of
changes in p₁ and p2)
4. Suppose that in the US, the price of a haircut is $16, and the price of a
sandwich is $4. In India, a haircut costs $9 and a sandwich $1. Suppose
that 00.5, what is the price index of the US relative to the price index
of India?
5. Tim lives in the US, and Tim's cousin lives in India. If Tim earns USD
100 per day and Tim's cousin earns USD 10 per day, how much is Tim
richer than his cousin in nominal term, and in PPP terms?
Transcribed Image Text:Question 1: Utility maximization and price index Tim consumes haircuts (₁) and sandwiches (x2). His utility function is: u (x₁, x2) = (x₁) (x₂)¹-0 The price of ₁ is p₁ and the price of x2 is p2. He has a total income of m. 1. Find Tim's demand function for goods 1 (x1 (P1, P2, m)) and 2 (x2 (P1, P2, m)), using a Lagrangian. 2. Suppose we'd want to compute a price index for the "average" good that Tim consumes. We define it as P such that: PV (p1, P2, m) = m where P is the price index, V(p1, P2, m) is the indirect utility that Tim can achieve when prices are p₁ and p2 and his income is m. Solve for the price level as a function of the individual prices, P(p1, P2), and show that it is equal to the inverse of the Lagrange multiplier in 1. Interpret. hint: the indirect utility is obtained by plugging the demand you found in (1) into the utility function: V(P1, P2, m) = u((x₁ (P1, P2, m), x2 (P1, P2, m)) 3. Does the price index satisfy homogeneity of degree 1? How does the im- portance of each good in the price index vary depending on the parameter 0? Interpret. hint: take the log of the price index and see how 0 mediates the impact of changes in p₁ and p2) 4. Suppose that in the US, the price of a haircut is $16, and the price of a sandwich is $4. In India, a haircut costs $9 and a sandwich $1. Suppose that 00.5, what is the price index of the US relative to the price index of India? 5. Tim lives in the US, and Tim's cousin lives in India. If Tim earns USD 100 per day and Tim's cousin earns USD 10 per day, how much is Tim richer than his cousin in nominal term, and in PPP terms?
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 7 steps with 5 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Utility Function
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education