Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781337794992
Author: William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 5, Problem 1TY
To determine

Whether 14 gallons of water will give more utility, or 22 gallons of water will give more utility.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

There are three types of commodities, namelygoods, bads and neutrals.

"Goods" are those commodities that provide more utility when more is consumed.

"Bads" are those commodities that provide less utility with each additional unit consumed.

"Neutrals" are those commodities that provide the same utility irrespective of the number of units consumed.

If water is a good, then 14 gallons of water will provide less utility than 22 gallons of water.

If water is a bad, then 14 gallons of water will provide more utility than 22 gallons of water, because more gallons of water consumed will decrease the utility obtained.

If water is a neutral, then the utility obtained from 14 gallons of water will be equal to 22 gallons of water.

Economics Concept Introduction

Total utility refers to the level of satisfaction that a consumer receives from the consumption of a good or service.

The total utility initially increases at an increasing rate first, then at a diminishing rate, and then it finally starts to fall after reaching its maximum point.

A consumer would be willing to purchase more of a good if the total utility is increasing.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
??!!
. What the heck is this GDP thingy? It is Thursday afternoon, just a few days before the holiday season starts in your region, and you decided to visit your uncle Chao who owns a local delivery company. While sitting in the living room watching the evening news with your uncle, you heard the news reporter stating the following with an optimistic tone: "According to recent studies, gross domestic product (GDP) is rising due to an increase in consumer spending. The increase in spending was due to an increase in consumer confidence because the job market has shown a positive increase in both employment and income." Immediately, your uncle Chao looked at you with some confusion on his face and asked: What the heck is GDP, and why does the news dude seem excited about its increase? Does this “good” change in this GDP thingy have any effect on my delivery business? How? Do I need to do something different to prepare for the rise in GDP? How?
3. I need people who don’t want me! As an operations manager at a factory that produces manual tools, you were tasked with preparing a new site for expansion. The plan is to start production in the new location within 6 months from the current date. The new location requires 100 workers to operate fully. The workers you need don’t require any form of education or special skills because the tasks at the factory are simple and straightforward. In other words, you typically hire lower-skilled workers. In recent years, your company has been having problems finding workers who meet those criteria because the demand for them is so high. While sitting in your office, your teammate, Alejandra, walked to your office and said, "Have you heard the recent news about the economy? They said that investment has declined, and government spending has declined too. They also said that GDP is expected to shrink in the next 6 to 10 months. I wonder what is next." Then, she looked at you and said: How…
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Economics
ISBN:9781337794992
Author:William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Economics Today and Tomorrow, Student Edition
Economics
ISBN:9780078747663
Author:McGraw-Hill
Publisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill School Pub Co
Text book image
Microeconomics: Private and Public Choice (MindTa...
Economics
ISBN:9781305506893
Author:James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Russell S. Sobel, David A. Macpherson
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Economics: Private and Public Choice (MindTap Cou...
Economics
ISBN:9781305506725
Author:James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Russell S. Sobel, David A. Macpherson
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Survey of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781305260948
Author:Irvin B. Tucker
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781337617383
Author:Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:Cengage Learning