This module considers important concepts in economics: Total Utility, Marginal Utility, Diminishing Marginal Utility, and Utility Maximization within a budget constraint.  These tools can be applied to personal decision making, particularly the consumption choices we make.  Microeconomics often considers rational optimizing behavior by individuals, including consumers.   Use the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility to discuss why Market Demand has to have a downward slope. In other words, in order for consumers to demand a higher quantity of an item, its price must fall. Also use the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility to explain why consumers often prefer to purchase a variety of goods and services (in other words, we are unlikely to fill a grocery cart with many units of the exact same product).  Finally, use the utility optimizing condition that the ratio of Marginal Utility to Price for any good has to be the same across all goods to justify why it may be rational behavior to buy an item that is expensive compared to other items.

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
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ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
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Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
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This module considers important concepts in economics: Total Utility, Marginal Utility, Diminishing Marginal Utility, and Utility Maximization within a budget constraint.  These tools can be applied to personal decision making, particularly the consumption choices we make.  Microeconomics often considers rational optimizing behavior by individuals, including consumers.  

Use the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility to discuss why Market Demand has to have a downward slope. In other words, in order for consumers to demand a higher quantity of an item, its price must fall. Also use the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility to explain why consumers often prefer to purchase a variety of goods and services (in other words, we are unlikely to fill a grocery cart with many units of the exact same product). 

Finally, use the utility optimizing condition that the ratio of Marginal Utility to Price for any good has to be the same across all goods to justify why it may be rational behavior to buy an item that is expensive compared to other items. 

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