Consider a simple quasi-linear utility function of the form \(U(x, y)=x+\ln y\) a. Calculate the income effect for each good. Also calculate the income elasticity of demand for each good. b. Calculate the substitution effect for each good. Also calculate the compensated own-price elasticity of demand for each good. c. Show that the Slutsky equation applies to this function. d. Show that the elasticity form of the Slutsky equation also applies to this function. Describe any special features you observe.

Short Answer

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In this exercise, we analyzed a quasi-linear utility function \(U(x, y)=x+\ln y\). We derived the demand functions for goods x and y as \(x = \frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}\) and \(y = \frac{I}{q}\), respectively. We then calculated their income and own-price elasticities, which for both goods were equal to 1 for income elasticity and -1 for own-price elasticity. Lastly, we verified the validity of the Slutsky equation and its elasticity form for the given utility function.

Step by step solution

01

Deriving the demand functions for x and y

To derive the demand functions for goods x and y, we first need to set up the consumer's problem. The consumer aims to maximize their utility subject to their budget constraint. We can write the problem as: \(max U(x, y)=x+\ln y\) subject to: \(px+qy=I\) Assuming that an interior solution exists, we can use the method of Lagrange multipliers to solve this problem. For this, we set up the Lagrangian: \(L(x, y, \lambda)=x+\ln y + \lambda(I-px-qy)\) Taking the partial derivatives with respect to x, y, and \(\lambda\) gives the following three conditions: \(\frac{\partial L}{\partial x}=1-\lambda p=0\) \(\frac{\partial L}{\partial y}=\frac{1}{y}-\lambda q=0\) \(\frac{\partial L}{\partial \lambda}=I-px-qy=0\) From the first two conditions, we can solve for \(\lambda\): \(\lambda=\frac{1}{p}\) and \(\lambda=\frac{1}{yq}\) Setting the two expressions for \(\lambda\) equal and solving for y gives us the demand function for y: \(y = \frac{I}{q}\) Since utility is linear in x, the remaining income (I - qy) is spent on x. Thus, the demand function for x is: \(x = \frac{I}{p} - y = \frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}\)
02

Calculating the income and own-price elasticities of demand for x and y

Now, let's calculate the income elasticities \(\eta_x\) and \(\eta_y\) and the own-price elasticities \(\epsilon_x\) and \(\epsilon_y\) for both goods x and y: The income elasticity \(\eta\) is given by: \(\eta_i = \frac{dD_i}{dI} \frac{I}{D_i}\), where \(i \in \{x, y\}\) For x, we have: \(\eta_x = \frac{d}{dI} \left(\frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}\right) \frac{I}{\frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}} = 1\) Similarly, for y: \(\eta_y = \frac{d}{dI} \left(\frac{I}{q}\right) \frac{I}{\frac{I}{q}} = 1\) The own-price elasticity \(\epsilon\) is given by: \(\epsilon_i = \frac{dD_i}{dp_i} \frac{p_i}{D_i}\), where \(i \in \{x, y\}\) For x, we have: \(\epsilon_x = \frac{d}{dp} \left(\frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}\right) \frac{p}{\frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}} = -1\) Similarly, for y: \(\epsilon_y = \frac{d}{dq} \left(\frac{I}{q}\right) \frac{q}{\frac{I}{q}} = -1\)
03

Verifying the Slutsky equation

Now let's verify the Slutsky equation, which states that: \((\frac{dD_x}{dp} \frac{p}{D_x}) = (\frac{dh_x}{dp} \frac{p}{D_x}) + (\frac{dh_x}{dI} \frac{\partial{E}}{\partial{p_y}})\) Where \(D_x\) and \(D_y\) are demand functions, \(h_x\) and \(h_y\) are the Hicksian demand functions, \(E\) is the consumer's expenditure. Using the demand functions derived above, we have: \(-1 = -1 + \frac{d}{dI} \left(\frac{I}{p} - \frac{I}{q}\right) \frac{I}{q}\) This simplifies to: \(0 = 0\), verifying the Slutsky equation for this utility function.
04

Verifying the elasticity form of the Slutsky equation

Finally, let's verify the elasticity form of the Slutsky equation, which states that: \(\epsilon_{x_px} = \epsilon_{x_p}^c + \eta_x \times \frac{p_x\epsilon_{xp_y}}{p_y}\) For the function at hand, we have: \(-1 = -1 + \eta_x \times \frac{p\epsilon_{xp_y}}{q}\) As both \(\eta_x\) and \(\epsilon_{x_px}\) are equal to 1, this simplifies to: \(0 = 0\), verifying the elasticity form of the Slutsky equation for this utility function. In conclusion, we have derived the demand functions for both goods x and y, calculated their income and own-price elasticities, and verified the Slutsky equation and its elasticity form for the given quasi-linear utility function.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

corresponding share elasticities. a. Show that the elasticity of a good's budget share with respect to income \(\left(e_{s_{x}, I}=\partial s_{x} / \partial I \cdot I / s_{x}\right)\) is equal to \(e_{x, I}-1 .\) Interpret this conclusion with a few numerical examples. b. Show that the elasticity of a good's budget share with respect to its own price \(\left(e_{s_{s}, p_{x}}=\partial s_{x} / \partial p_{x} \cdot p_{x} / s_{x}\right)\) is equal to \(e_{x}, p_{x}+1 .\) Again, interpret this finding with a few numerical examples. c. Use your results from part (b) to show that the "expenditure elasticity" of good \(x\) with respect to its own price \(\left[e_{x \cdot p_{a}, p_{a}}=\partial\left(p_{x} \cdot x\right) / \partial p_{x} \cdot 1 / x\right]\) is also equal to \(e_{x, p_{x}}+1\) d. Show that the elasticity of a good's budget share with respect to a change in the price of some other good \(\left(e_{s_{x}, p_{y}}=\partial s_{x} / \partial p_{y} \cdot p_{y} / s_{x}\right)\) is equal to \(e_{x}, p_{y}\) c. In the Extensions to Chapter 4 we showed that with a CES utility function, the share of income devoted to good \(x\) is given by \(s_{x}=1 /\left(1+p_{y}^{k} p_{x}^{-k}\right),\) where \(k=\delta /(\delta-1)=1-\sigma .\) Use this share equation to prove Equation \(5.56 ; e_{x^{\prime}, p_{x}}=-\left(1-s_{x}\right) \sigma\) Hint: This problem can be simplified by assuming \(p_{x}=p_{y}\) in which case \(s_{x}=0.5\)

The general form for the expenditure function of the almost ideal demand system (AIDS) is given by $$\ln E\left(p_{1}, \ldots, p_{n}, U\right)=a_{0}+\sum_{i=1}^{n} \alpha_{i} \ln p_{i}+\frac{1}{2} \sum_{i=1}^{n} \sum_{j=1}^{n} \gamma_{i j} \ln p_{i} \ln p_{j}+U \beta_{0} \prod_{i=1}^{k} p_{k}^{\beta_{k}}$$ For analytical ease, assume that the following restrictions apply:For analytical ease, assume that the following restrictions apply: $$\gamma_{i j}=\gamma_{j i}, \quad \sum_{i=1}^{n} \alpha_{i}=1, \quad \text { and } \quad \sum_{j=1}^{n} \gamma_{i j}=\sum_{k=1}^{n} \beta_{k}=0$$ a. Derive the AIDS functional form for a two-goods case. b. Given the previous restrictions, show that this expenditure function is homogeneous of degree 1 in all prices. This, along with the fact that this function resembles closely the actual data, makes it an "ideal" function. c. Using the fact that \(s_{x}=\frac{d \ln E}{d \ln p_{x}}\) (see Problem 5.8 ), calculate the income share of each of the two goods.

The three aggregation relationships presented in this chapter can be generalized to any number of goods. This problem asks the following elasticities: $$\begin{array}{l} e_{i, I}=\frac{\partial x_{i}}{\partial I} \cdot \frac{I}{x_{i}} \\ e_{i, j}=\frac{\partial x_{i}}{\partial p_{j}} \cdot \frac{p_{j}}{x_{i}} \end{array}$$ Use this notation to show: a. Homogeneity: \(\sum_{j=1}^{n}=e_{i, j}+e_{i, l}=0\) b. Engel aggregation: \(\sum_{i=1}^{n}=s_{i} e_{i, l}=1\) c. Cournot aggregation: \(\sum_{i=1}^{n} s_{i} e_{i, j}=-s_{j}\)

As defined in Chapter 3 , a utility function is homothetic if any straight line through the origin cuts all indifference curves at points of equal slope: The \(M R S\) depends on the ratio \(y / x\) a. Prove that, in this case, \(\partial x / \partial I\) is constant. b. Prove that if an individual's tastes can be represented by a homothetic indifference map then price and quantity must move in opposite directions; that is, prove that Giffen's paradox cannot occur.

David N. gets \(\$ 3\) per week as an allowance to spend any way he pleases. Because he likes only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, he spends the entire amount on peanut butter (at \(\$ 0.05\) per ounce) and jelly (at \(\$ 0.10\) per ounce). Bread is provided free of charge by a concerned neighbor. David is a particular eater and makes his sandwiches with exactly 1 ounce of jelly and 2 ounces of peanut butter. He is set in his ways and will never change these proportions. a. How much peanut butter and jelly will David buy with his \(\$ 3\) allowance in a week? b. Suppose the price of jelly were to increase to \(\$ 0.15\) an ounce. How much of each commodity would be bought? c. By how much should David's allowance be increased to compensate for the increase in the price of jelly in part (b)? d. Graph your results in parts (a) to (c). e. In what sense does this problem involve only a single commodity, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Graph the demand curve for this single commodity. f. Discuss the results of this problem in terms of the income and substitution effects involved in the demand for jelly.

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