问答题 Use the information in the table below to answer the following questions concerning a consumer's choice between food and clothing.
Clothing
MUc
MUc/Pc
Food
MUf
MUf/Pf
1
60
6.00
1
115
5.75
2
55
2
105
3
51
3
98
4
48
4
94
5
47
5
92
6
46
6
90

(a)Fill in the blanks that remain in the table.
(b)Let income=$130, Pf=$20, and Pc=$10. Does the market basket C=1 and F=6 satisfy the budget constraint? Could this be the utility maximizing market basket? If not, in which direction would the consumer like to reallocate his purchases (i. e., more food or more clothing)?
【正确答案】
【答案解析】(a)
Clothing
MUc
MUc/Pc
Food
MUf
MUf/Pf
1
60
6.00
1
115
5.75
2
55
5.50
2
105
5.10
3
51
5.10
3
98
4.90
4
48
4.80
4
94
4.70
5
47
4.70
5
92
4.60
6
46
4.60
6
90
4.50

(b)Yes, 1×10+6×20=$130=income, so the budget constraint is satisfied with this market basket. However, this market basket could not be utility maximizing since (MUc/Pc)=6>(MUf/Pf)=4.5. The consumer can increase utility by spending more money on clothing.