Chapter 16: Problem 10
Suppose silver is used as the medium of exchange in the economy described in Example \(16.4 .\) Does this economy exhibit the classical dichotomy?
Chapter 16: Problem 10
Suppose silver is used as the medium of exchange in the economy described in Example \(16.4 .\) Does this economy exhibit the classical dichotomy?
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Get started for freeSuppose an economy produces only two goods, \(X\) and \(Y\). Production of good \(X\) is given by where \(K_{x}\) and \(L_{x}\) are the inputs of capital and labor devoted to \(X\) production. The production function for good Fis given by \\[ =\sin ^{3} y^{-4} \lg ^{2} x^{2} \\] where \(K_{\text {; }}\) a.nd \(\mathrm{L}_{\text {, are the inputs of capital and labor devoted to } \mathrm{F} \text { production. The supply of }}\) capital is fixed at 100 units and the supply of labor is fixed at 200 units. Hence, if both units are fully employed, \\[ \begin{array}{l} K_{x}+K_{Y}=K_{T}=100 \\ L_{x}+L_{Y}=L_{T}=200 \end{array} \\] Using this information, complete the following questions. a Show how the capital-labor ratio in \(X\) production \(\left(K / L_{x}=k_{x}\right)\) must be related to the capital-labor ratio in \(\mathrm{F}\) production \(\left(K_{y} / L_{Y}=k_{y}\right)\) if production is to be efficient. b. Show that the capital-labor ratios for the two goods are constrained by \\[ a_{x} k_{x}+\left(l-a_{x}\right) k_{y}=\underline{K}_{T}-\underline{100}_{-} \\] where \(a_{x}\) is the share of total labor devoted to \(X\) production [that is, \(a_{x}=L, / L_{r}=L_{s} /\) \((L x+L y) J\) c. Use the information from parts (a) and (b) to compute the efficient capital-labor ratio for good Xfor any value of \(a_{x}\) between 0 and 1 d. Graph the Edgeworth production box for this economy and use the information from part (c) to develop a rough sketch of the production contract curve. e. Which good, \(X\) or \(Y\), is capital intensive in this economy? Explain why the production possibility curve for the economy is concave. \(f\) Calculate the mathematical form of the production possibility frontier for this economy (this calculation may be rather tedious!). Show that, as expected, this is a concave function.
Suppose the production possibility frontier for guns \((X)\) and butter \((Y)\) is given by \\[ X^{2}+2 \mathrm{F}^{2}=900 \\] a. Graph this frontier. b. If individuals always prefer consumption bundles in which \(Y=2 X\), how much Xand \(Y\) will be produced? c. At the point described in part (b), what will be the \(K P T\) and hence what price ratio will cause production to take place at that point? (This slope should be approximated by considering small changes in Xand \(Y\) around the optimal point. d. Show your solution on the figure from part (a).
Suppose the production possibility frontier for cheeseburgers (C) and milkshakes \((M)\) is given by \\[ C+2 M=600 \\] a. Graph this function. b. Assuming that people prefer to eat two cheeseburgers with every milkshake, how much of each product will be produced? Indicate this point on your graph. c. Given that this fast-food economy is operating efficiently, what price ratio \(\left(P / P_{M}\right)\) must prevail?
Suppose there are only three goods \(\left(\mathrm{X}, \mathrm{X}_{2}, \text { and } \mathrm{X}_{3}\right)\) in an economy and that the excess demand functions for \(X>\) and \(X_{3}\) are given by \\[ \begin{array}{l} E D_{2}=-\mathrm{SP}_{\mathrm{J}} / \mathrm{P},+2 P J P_{,}-1 \\ E D_{3}=4 P_{3} / P,-96 P J P_{x}-2 \end{array} \\] a. Show that these functions are homogeneous of degree zero in \(P_{x}, P_{2},\) and \(P_{s}\) b. Use Walras' law to show that if \(E D_{2}=E D_{3}=0, E D_{1}\) also must be 0. Can you also use Walras' law to calculate \(E D\\{?\) c. Solve this system of equations for the equilibrium relative prices \(P_{2} / P i\) and \(P J P\) ( What is the equilibrium value for \(P J P^{\wedge}\)
The purpose of this problem is to examine the relationship among returns to scale, factor intensity, and the shape of the production possibility frontier. Suppose there are fixed supplies of capital and labor to be allocated between the production of good \(X\) and good \(Y\). The production function for \(X\) is given by \\[ X=K^{\alpha} L^{\beta} \\] and for \(Y\) by \\[ Y=K^{\gamma} L^{s} \\] where the parameters \(\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta\) will take on different values throughout this problem. Using either intuition, a computer, or a formal mathematical approach, derive the production possibility frontier for \(X\) and \(Y\) in the following cases: a. \(\quad \alpha=\beta=\gamma=\delta=\frac{1}{2}\) b. \(\quad \alpha=\beta=\frac{1}{2}, \gamma=\frac{1}{3}, \delta=\frac{2}{3}\) \(c_{*} \quad \alpha=\beta=\frac{1}{2}, \gamma=\delta=\frac{2}{3}\) d. \(\alpha=\beta=\gamma=\delta=\frac{2}{3}\) e. \(\quad \alpha=\beta=.6, \gamma=.2, \delta=1.0\) f. \(\quad \alpha=\beta=.7, \gamma=.6, \delta=.8\) Do increasing returns to scale always lead to a convex production possibility frontier? Explain.
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