Monetary welfare measurement. 1 Hicks s Compensating and Equivalent Variations

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Monetary welfare measurement. 1 Hicks s Compensating and Equivalent Variations"

Transcription

1 Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences Monetary welfare measurement KC Border Fall 2008 Revised Fall 2014 One of the goals of consumer demand theory is to be able to measure welfare changes. The ideal is to measure welfare changes in monetary units, so that they can be added up across consumers to get an aggregate value. Unfortunately, there are problems with this approach that were pointed out by Kaldor [15], Scitovsky [23], and culminating in Arrow s famous impossibility theorem [1]. Chipman and Moore [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] provide an extensive analysis of the difficulties involved. 1 Hicks s Compensating and Equivalent Variations Hicks [11, 12] assigns monetary values to budget changes. He defines the Compensating Variation [12, p. 126] to be the loss of income which would just offset a fall in price, leaving the consumer no better off than before. That is, starting from a budget (p 0, w), considering a price change to the new budget (p 1, w) he defines CV(p 0, p 1 ) by v(p 1, w CV) = v(p 0, w), where v is the indirect utility function. In terms of the expenditure function, letting υ 0 = v(p 0, w) and υ 1 = v(p 1, w), we have w CV = e(p 1, υ 0 ) and w = e(p 1, υ 1 ), so CV(p 0, p 1 ) = e(p 1, υ 1 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ). Similarly he defines the Equivalent Variation [12, p. 128] to be the change in income which, if it took place at [p 0 ] prices, would have the same effect on satisfactions as is produced by the change in prices from [p 0 ] to [p 1 ] as EV(p 0, p 1 ) = e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 0, υ 0 ). See Figure 1 for the case where the price of y is held fixed and and the price of x decreases. I hope it is apparent from the figure that the compensating and equivalent variations need not be equal. One difficulty with Hicks approach is that the expenditure function is not directly observable. Nevertheless, as we show in sections 3 and 9, there is a way to use ordinary demand functions to recover these welfare measures. 1

2 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 2 y e(p 0, υ 1 ) u = υ 0 u = υ 1 EV(p 0, p 1 ) w CV(p 0, p 1 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ) ˆx(p 0, υ 1 ) x (p 0, w) x (p 1, w) ˆx(p 1, υ 0 ) (p 0, w) (p 1, w) x Figure 1. Compensating and equivalent variation for a decrease in p x. (The figure is drawn to scale for the case u(x, y) = x 2/3 y 1/3, w = 1, p 0 x = 1, p 1 x = 1/2, p 0 y = p 1 y = 1.)

3 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 3 2 The quasi-linear case A utility function u(x 1,..., x n, y) is quasi-linear if it is of the form u(x 1,..., x n, y) = y + f(x 1,..., x n ), where f is concave. The indifference curves of a quasi-linear function are vertical shifts of one another, and so typically intersect the x-axis, so corner solutions with y = 0 are common. For interior points though, any additional income is spent on good y. In this case the CV and EV are just vertical shifts of each other and so are equal see Figure 2. But if corner solutions are involved, this is no longer true see Figure 3 for a particularly nasty example. y e(p 0, υ 1 ) EV(p 0, p 1 ) w CV(p 0, p 1 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ) ˆx(p 0, υ 1 ) x (p 0, w) x (p 1, w) ˆx(p 1, υ 0 ) (p 0, w) (p 1, w) x Figure 2. A nice quasi-linear case where CV = EV. (Here u(x, y) = y + (1/3) ln x, w = 1, p 0 x = 1, p 1 x = 1/2, p 0 y = p 1 y = 1.) 3 Money metric utility A more general approach to assigning monetary values to budgets is the following. Define µ(p ; p, w) = e ( p, v(p, w) ), ( ) where p is an arbitrary price vector. Since e is strictly increasing in v, this is an indirect utility or welfare measure. That is, v(p, w) v(p, w ) if and only if µ(p ; p, w) µ(p ; p, w ),

4 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 4 y e(p 0, υ 1 ) EV(p 0, p 1 ) w CV(p 0, p 1 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ) (p 0, w) (p 1, w) ˆx(p 0, υ 1 ) x (p 0, w) = ˆx(p 1, υ 0 ) x (p 1, w) x Figure 3. A nasty quasi-linear case where CV EV. (Here u(x, y) = y ln x, w = 0.4, p 0 x = 1, p 1 x = 1/2, p 0 y = p 1 y = 1. It may not look like it, but the red indifference curve is a vertical shift of the blue one.)

5 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 5 but the units of µ are in dollars (or euros, or whatever currency). The money values depend on the choice of p. This function is variously called a money metric (indirect) utility or an income-compensation function. This approach is taken by Varian [24] and Chipman and Moore [5, 7], who adapt ideas from McKenzie [18] 1 and Hurwicz and Uzawa [13]. 2 4 Compensating and equivalent variation in terms of money metrics Thus we may define the compensating and equivalent variations of arbitrary budget changes by CV(p 0, w 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) = e(p 1, υ 1 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ) = µ(p 1 ; p 1, w 1 ) µ(p 1 ; p 0, w 0 ) (1) EV(p 0, w 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) = e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 0, υ 0 ) = µ(p 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ). (2) 5 A single price change Now consider a decrease in the price of only good i. That is, and p 1 i < p 0 i, p 1 j = p 0 j = p j for j i w 0 = w 1 = w. Since the price of good i decreases, the new budget set includes the old one, so welfare will not decrease. To make the analysis non-vacuous, let us assume that x i (p1, w) > 0. By definition, CV(p 0, p 1 ) = µ(p 1 ; p 1, w 1 ) µ(p 1 ; p 0, w 0 ) }{{} w EV(p 0, p 1 ) = µ(p 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ) }{{} w We now use the following trick (which applies whenever w 0 = w 1 = w): µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ) = w 0 = w = w 1 = µ(p 1 ; p 1, w 1 ). 1 McKenzie defines an expenditure function in terms of a preference relation by µ(p, x 0 ) = min{p x : x x 0 }. This enables him to dispense with a the utility function. 2 Varian attributes the money-metric function µ to Samuelson [22], but this seems a stretch to me. The closest Samuelson seems to come is found on page 1262 and again on page 1273, where he uses McKenzie s expenditure function. The discussion of how this can be used as an indirect utility is confusing at best.

6 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 6 This enables us to rewrite the values as CV = µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ) µ(p 1 ; p 0, w 0 ) }{{} w EV = µ(p 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) µ(p 1 ; p 1, w 1 ) }{{} w Or in terms of the expenditure function, we have: CV = e(p 0, υ 0 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ). EV = e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 1, υ 1 ) Compare these expression to the definitions (2) and (1). In terms of the expenditure function, definition (2) is equivalent to EV(p 0, w 0 ; p 1, w 1 ) = e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 0, υ 0 ), which by the trick is equal to e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 1, υ 1 ). In my opinion, using the trick obscures the true comparison, which is of the budgets (p 0, w 0 ) and (p 1, w 1 ) using the money metric defined by p 0. So why did Hicks rewrite things this way? So he could use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and the fact that e/ p i = ˆx i to get EV(p 0, p 1 ) = e(p 0, υ 1 ) e(p 1, υ 1 ) = p 0 i p 1 i ˆx i (p, p i, υ 1 ) dp (2 ) CV(p 0, p 1 ) = e(p 0, υ 0 ) e(p 1, υ 0 ) = p 0 i p 1 i ˆx i (p, p i, υ 0 ) dp, (1 ) where the notation p, p i refers to the price vector ( p 1,..., p i 1, p, p i+1,..., p n ). That is, for a change in the price of good i, the equivalent and the compensating variation are the areas under the Hicksian compensated demand curves for good i corresponding to utility levels υ 1 and υ 0 respectively. Also since p 0 i > p1 i, the integrals above are positive if ˆx i is positive. Assume now that good i is not inferior, that is, assume for all (p, w). Recall the Slutsky equation, x i w > 0 ( ) ˆx i p, v(p, w) = x i (p, w) + x p j p j(p, w) x i (p, w). (S) j w Under the assumption that good i is normal and that x j > 0, this implies that ( ) ˆx i p, v(p, w) > x i (p, w). p j p j

7 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 7 We know that the Hicksian compensated demands for good i are downward-sloping as a function of p i (other prices held constant), that is, ˆx i / p i < 0, so we have for j = i 0 > ˆx ( ) i p, v(p, w) > x i (p, w). (3) p i p i Now by the equivalence of expenditure minimization and utility maximization we know that Then (3) tells us that x (p 1, w) = ˆx(p 1, υ 1 ) and x (p 0, w) = ˆx(p 0, υ 0 ). (4) 0 > ˆx i(p 1, υ 1 ) p i > x i (p1, w) and 0 > ˆx i(p 0, υ 0 ) > x i (p0, w) p i p i p i That is, as a function of p i. the ordinary demand x i is steeper (more negatively sloped) than the Hicksian demand ˆx i, where it crosses the Hicksian demand. Since x i is downward sloping and p 1 i < p 0 i it must be the case that the Hicksian demand ˆx i (, υ 1 ) lies above the Hicksian demand ˆx i (, υ 0 ). See Figure 4. Thus, for a price decrease, if good i is not inferior, then EV > CS > CV > 0. The inequalities are reversed for a price increase. Also note that if x i w demand curves coincide. = 0, then the three 6 Deadweight loss Consider a simple problem where the good 1 is subjected to an ad rem tax of t per unit, but income and other prices remain unchanged. The original price vector is p 0 and the new one is p 1 = (p t, p0 2,..., p0 n). Clearly the consumer is worse off under the price vector p 1. But how much worse off? We shall compare the tax revenue T = tx 1(p 1, w) (5) to the welfare cost measured by the money metric utility. Specifically, we shall compare tax revenue to the equivalent variation of the price change. The equivalent variation is negative, since the consumer is worse off. We shall show that EV > T. That is, the dollar magnitude of the welfare loss as measured by the equivalent variation exceeds the tax revenue raised. This excess of the welfare loss over the tax revenue is often referred to as the deadweight loss 3 from ad rem taxation. 3 I don t know why the term deadweight is used. Musgrave [19] uses the term excess burden in 1959, which dates back at least to Joseph [14] in 1939, who claims the concept was known to Marshall [16, 8th edition] in Harberger [10] uses the term deadweight loss in 1964, and claims the analysis of the concept goes back at least to Dupuit [9] in 1844.

8 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 8 x i x i (p i; p i, w) CS EV ˆx i (p i ; p i, υ 1 ) CV ˆx i (p i ; p i, υ 0 ) p 1 i p 0 i p i Figure 4. Illustration of a single price decrease. (Graphs are for a Cobb Douglas utility.) N.B. The horizontal axis is the price axis and the vertical axis is quantity axis. The equivalent variation is the area under the Hicksian demand curve for utility level υ 0. The compensating variation is the area under the Hicksian demand curve for utility level υ 1. The consumer s surplus is the area under the ordinary demand curve.

9 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 9 Let s abuse the notation slightly to get rid of some of the visual noise by setting x(p) = ˆx 1 (p, p 0 2,..., p 0 n, υ 1 ), where p is just a scalar that represents p 1. Then EV T = = = = p 0 1 +t p 0 1 p 0 1 +t p 0 1 p 0 1 +t p 0 1 p 0 1 +t p 0 1 x(p) dp T by (2 ) x(p) dp tx 1(p 1, w) by (5) x(p) dp tˆx 1 (p 1, υ 1 ) p 0 1 +t x(p) dp ˆx 1 (p 1, υ 1 ) dp. p 0 1 The last equality come from integrating the constant ˆx 1 (p t, p0 1, υ 1) over an interval of length t. But Hicksian compensated demands are downward sloping, so for p 0 1 p p1 1 = p0 1 +t, we have x(p) = ˆx 1 (p, p 0 2,..., p 0 n, υ 1 ) > ˆx 1 (p 1 1, p 1 2,..., p 1 n, υ 1 ), so the last expression is > 0. Therefore a lump-sum tax leaves the consumer better off than an ad rem tax that raises the same revenue. The amazing thing is not so much that the ad rem tax is inferior to the lump-sum tax, but that some taxes are worse than others at all, even when they collect the same amount of revenue! This would not be apparent without our theoretical apparatus. 7 Revealed preference and lump-sum taxation Recall that x is revealed preferred to y if there is some budget containing both x and y and x is chosen. If the choice function is generated by utility maximization, then if x is revealed preferred to y, we must have u(x) u(y). So consider an ad rem tax t on good 1 versus a lump-sum tax, as above. Assume both taxes raise the same revenue T. The ad rem tax leads to the budget (p 1, w), and the lump-sum to the budget (p 0, w T ), where p 1 1 = p t and p 1 j = p 0 j, j = 2,..., n. Let x 1 be demanded under the ad rem tax and x 0 be demanded under the lump-sum tax. Then x 0 is revealed preferred to x 1 : w p 1 x 1 = p 0 x 1 + tx 1 1 = p 0 x 1 + T,

10 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 10 so p 0 x 1 w T, which says that x 1 is in the budget (p 0, w T ), from which x 0 is chosen. Thus u(x 0 ) u(x 1 ), so the lump-sum tax is at least as good as the ad rem tax. This argument is a lot simpler than the argument above, but we don t get a dollar value of the difference. Of course the previous argument gave us two or three different dollar values, depending on how we chose p for the money metric. 8 Money metrics and recovering utility from demand: A little motivation It is possible to solve differential equations to recover a utility function from a demand function. The general approach may be found in Samuelson [20, 21], but the following discussion is based on Hurwicz and Uzawa [13]. Consider the demand function x : R n ++ R ++ R n + derived by maximizing a locally nonsatiated utility function u. Let v be the indirect utility, that is, v(p, w) = u ( x (p, w) ). Since u is locally nonsatiated, the indirect utility function v is strictly increasing in w. The Hicksian expenditure function e is defined by e(p, υ) = min{p x : u(x) υ}. and the income compensation function µ is defined by µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = e ( p, v(p 0, w 0 ) ), Set υ 0 = v(p 0, w 0 ). From the Envelope Theorem we know that e(p, υ 0 ) p i = ˆx i (p, υ 0 ) = x ( i p, e(p, υ 0 ) ). Suppressing υ 0, this becomes a total differential equation e (p) = x ( p, e(p) ). (6) What does it mean to solve such an equation, and what happened to υ 0?

11 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 11 An aside on solutions of differential equations You may recall from your calculus classes that, in general, differential equations have many solutions, often indexed by constants of integration. For instance, take the simplest differential equation, y = a for some constant a. The general form of the solution is y(x) = ax + C, where C is an arbitrary constant of integration. What this means is that the differential equation y = a has infinitely many solutions, one for each value of C. The parameter υ in our problem can be likened to a constant of integration. You should also recall that we rarely specify C directly as a condition of the problem, since we don t know the function y in advance. Instead we usually specify an initial condition (x 0, y 0 ). That is, we specify that y(x 0 ) = y 0. In this simple case, the way to translate an initial condition into a constant of integration is to solve the equation y 0 = ax 0 + C = C = y 0 ax 0, and rewrite the solution as y(x) = ax + (y 0 ax 0 ) = y 0 + a(x x 0 ). In order to make it really explicit that the solution depends on the initial conditions, differential equations texts may go so far as to write the solution as y(x; x 0, y 0 ) = y 0 + a(x x 0 ). In our differential equation (6), an initial condition corresponding to the constant of integration υ is a pair (p 0, w 0 ) satisfying e(p 0, υ) = w 0. From the equivalence of expenditure minimization an utility maximization under a budget constraint, this gives us the relation υ = v(p 0, w 0 ) = u ( x (p 0, w 0 ) ). Following Hurwicz and Uzawa [13], define the income compensation function in terms of the Hicksian expenditure function e via µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = e ( p, v(p 0, w 0 ) ). Observe that and µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ) = w 0 µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = e(p, υ0 ) = ˆx i (p, υ 0 ) = x ( i p, e(p, υ 0 ) ) = x ( i p, µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) ). p i p i

12 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 12 In other words, the function e defined by e(p) = µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) solves the differential equation subject to the initial condition e (p) = x ( p, e(p) ). e(p 0 ) = w 0. We are now going to turn the income compensation function around and treat (p 0, w 0 ) as the variable of interest. Fix a price, any price, p R n ++ and define the function ˆv : R n ++ R ++ R by ˆv(p, w) = µ(p ; p, w) = e ( p, v(p, w) ). The function ˆv is another indirect utility. That is, ˆv(p, w) ˆv(p, w ) v(p, w) v(p, w ). We can use w to find a utility U, at least on the range of x by U(x) = µ(p ; p, w) where x = x (p, w). 9 Recovering utility from demand: The plan The discussion above leads us to the following approach. Given a demand function x : 1. Somehow solve the differential equation µ(p) p i = x ( ) i p, µ(p). Write the solution explicitly in terms of the intial condition µ(p 0 ) = w 0 as µ(p; p 0, w 0 ). 2. Use the function µ to define an indirect utility function ˆv by ˆv(p, w) = µ(p ; p, w). 3. Invert the demand function to give (p, w) as a function of x. 4. Define the utility on the range of x by U(x) = µ(p ; p, w) where x = x (p, w). This is easier said than done, and there remain a few questions. For instance, how do we know that the differential equation has a solution? If a solution exists, how do we know that the utility U so derived generates the demand function x? We shall address these questions presently, but I find it helps to look at some examples first.

13 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement Examples In order to draw pictures, I will consider two goods x and y. By homogeneity of x, I may take good y as numéraire and fix p y = 1, so the price of x will simply be denoted p Deriving the income compensation function from a utility For the Cobb Douglas utility function where α + β = 1, the demand functions are u(x, y) = x α y β x (p, w) = αw p, y (p, w) = βw. The indirect utility is thus The expenditure function is v(p, w) = wβ β ( α p ) α. e(p, υ) = υβ β ( p α) α. Now pick (p 0, w 0 ) and define µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = e ( p; v(p 0, w 0 ) ) ( ) α α ) ( p = (w 0 β β p 0 β β α = w 0 ( p p 0 ) α. ) α Evaluating this at p = p 0 we have µ(p 0 ; p 0, w 0 ) = w 0. That is, the point (p 0, w 0 ) lies on the graph of µ( ; p 0, w 0 ). Figure 5 shows the graph of this function for different values of (p 0, w 0 ). For each fixed (p 0, w 0 ), the function µ(p) = µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) satisfies the (ordinary) differential equation dµ [ dp = α w 0 (p 0 ) α] p α 1 = αµ(p) = x ( p, µ(p) ). p Note that homogeneity and budget exhaustion have allowed us to reduce the dimensionality by 1. We have n 1 prices, as we have chosen a numéraire, and the demand for the n th good is gotten from x n = w n 1 i=1 p ix i.

14 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 14 µ, w p Figure 5. Graph of µ(p; p 0 ; w 0 ) for Cobb Douglas α = 2/5 utility and various values of (p 0, w 0 ) Examples of recovering utility from demand Let n = 2, and set p 2 = 1, so that there is effectively only one price p, and only one differential equation (for x 1 ) µ (p) = x ( p, µ(p) ). 1 Example In this example x(p, w) = αw p. (This x is the demand for x 1. From the budget constraint we can infer x 2 = (1 α)w.) The corresponding differential equation is µ = αµ p or µ µ = α p. (For those of you more comfortable with y-x notation, this is y = αy/x.) Integrate both sides of the second form to get ln µ = α ln p + C so exponentiating each side gives µ(p) = Kp α where K = exp(c) is a constant of integration. Given the initial condition (p 0, w 0 ), we must have w 0 = K(p 0 ) α, so K = w0 (p 0 ) α, or µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = w0 (p 0 ) α pα.

15 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 15 For convenience set p = 1, to get ˆv(p, w) = µ(p ; p, w) = w p α. To recover the utility u, we need to invert the demand function, that is, we need to know for what budget (p, w) is (x 1, x 2 ) chosen. The demand function is x 1 = αw p, x 2 = (1 α)w, so solving for w and p, we have Thus x 1 = α x 2 1 α p w = x 2 1 α x 2 = p = α. 1 α x 1 u(x 1, x 2 ) = ˆv(p, w) ( ) α x 2 x 2 = ˆv, 1 α x 1 1 α = = x 2 1 α ( ) α α x 2 1 α x 1 ( x2 1 α = cx α 1 x 1 α 2, ) 1 α ( x1 α where c = (1 α) 1 α α α, which is a Cobb Douglas utility. ) α 2 Example In this example we find a utility that generates a linear demand for x. That is, x(p, w) = β αp. (Note the lack of w.) The differential equation is µ = β αp. This differential equation is easy to solve: µ(p) = βp α 2 p2 + C For initial condition (p 0, w 0 ) we must choose C = w 0 βp 0 + α 2 p0 2, so the solution becomes µ(p; p 0, w 0 ) = βp α 2 p2 + w 0 βp 0 + α 2 p0 2. So choosing p = 0 (not really allowed, but it works in this case), we have ˆv(p, w) = µ(p ; p, w) = w βp + α 2 p2.

16 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 16 Given (x, y) (let s use this rather than (x 1, x 2 )), we need to find the (p, w) at which it is chosen. We know x = β αp, y = w px = w βp + αp 2, so p = β x α, w = y + βp αp2 = y + β β x α ( ) β x 2 α. α Therefore ( β x u(x, y) = ˆv(p, w) = w α, y + β β x ( ) ) β x 2 α α α = y + β β x ( ) β x 2 α α β β x + α ( ) β x 2 α α }{{}}{{} 2 α }{{} w p p 2 = y (β x)2. 2α Note that the utility is decreasing in x for x > β. Representative indifference curves are shown in Figure 6. The demand curve specified implies that x and y will be negative for some values of p and w, so we can t expect that this is a complete specification. I ll leave it to you to figure out when this makes sense Figure 6. Indifference curves for Example 2 (linear demand) with β = 10, α = A general integrability theorem Hurwicz and Uzawa [13] prove the following theorem, presented here without proof. 3 Hurwicz Uzawa Integrability Theorem Let ξ : R n ++ R + R n +. Assume (B) The budget exhaustion condition p ξ(p, w) = w is satisfied for every (p, w) R n ++ R +. (D) Each component function ξ i is differentiable everywhere on R n ++ R +.

17 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 17 (S) The Slutsky matrix is symmetric, that is, for every (p, w) R n ++ R +, S i,j (p, w) = S j,i (p, w) i, j = 1,..., n. (NSD) The Slutsky matrix is negative semidefinite, that is, for every (p, w) R n ++ R +, and every v R n, n n S i,j (p, w)v i v j 0. i=1 j=1 (IB) The function ξ satisfies the following boundedness condition on the partial derivative with respect to income. For every 0 a ā R n ++, there exists a (finite) real number M a,ā such that for all w 0 a p ā = Let X denote the range of ξ, ξ i (p, w) w M a,ā i = 1,..., n. X = {ξ(p, w) R n + : (p, w) R n ++ R + }. Then there exists an upper semicontinuous monotonic utility function u: X R on the range X such that for each (p, w) R n ++ R +, ξ(p, w) is the unique maximizer of u over the budget set {x X : p x w}. Moreover u has the following property (which reduces to strict quasiconcavity if X is itself convex): For each x X, there exists a p R n ++ such that if y x and u(y) u(x), then p y > p x. I have more extensive notes on this topic, including most of a sketch of the proof here. References [1] K. J. Arrow A difficulty in the concept of social welfare. Journal of Political Economy 58(4): [2] J. S. Chipman and J. C. Moore The compensation principle in welfare economics. In A. M. Zarley, ed., Papers in Quantitative Economics, volume 2, pages Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press. [3] Aggregate demand, real national income, and the compensation principle. International Economic Review 14(1): [4] The new welfare economics International Economic Review 19(3):

18 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 18 [5] Compensating variation, consumer s surplus, and welfare. American Economic Review 70(5): [6] Real national income with homothetic preferences and a fixed distribution of income. Econometrica 48(2): [7] Acceptable indicators of welfare change, consumer s surplus analysis, and the Gorman polar form. In J. S. Chipman, D. L. McFadden, and M. K. Richter, eds., Preferences, Uncertainty, and Optimality: Essays in Honor of Leonid Hurwicz, pages Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. [8] P. A. Diamond and D. L. McFadden Some uses of the expenditure function in public finance. Journal of Public Economics 3:3 21. [9] J. E. J. Dupuit De la l utilité and de sa mesure. Collezione di scritti inediti o rari di economisti. Turin: La Riforma Soziale. Collected and reprinted by Mario di Bernardi and Luigi Einaudi, La Riforma Soziale, Turin, [10] A. C. Harberger The measurement of waste. American Economic Review 54: [11] J. R. Hicks Value and capital. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. [12] Consumers surplus and index-numbers. Review of Economic Studies 9(2): [13] L. Hurwicz and H. Uzawa On the integrability of demand functions. In J. S. Chipman, L. Hurwicz, M. K. Richter, and H. F. Sonnenschein, eds., Preferences, Utility, and Demand: A Minnesota Symposium, chapter 6, pages New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. [14] M. F. W. Joseph The excess burden of indirect taxation. Review of Economic Studies 6(3): [15] N. Kaldor Welfare propositions of economics and interpersonal comparisons of utility. Economic Journal 49(195): [16] A. Marshall Principles of economics. London. [17] A. Mas-Colell, M. D. Whinston, and J. R. Green Microeconomic theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [18] L. W. McKenzie Demand theory without a utility index. Review of Economic Studies 24(3): [19] R. A. Musgrave The theory of public finance. New York: McGraw Hill. [20] P. A. Samuelson Foundations of economic analysis. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

19 KC Border Monetary welfare measurement 19 [21] The problem of integrability in utility theory. Economica N.S. 17(68): [22] Complementarity: An essay on the 40th anniversary of the Hicks Allen revolution in demand theory. Journal of Economic Literature 12(4): [23] T. Scitovsky A note on welfare propositions in economics. Review of Economic Studies 9(1): [24] H. R. Varian Microeconomic analysis, 3d. ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. [25] J. A. Weymark Money-metric utility functions. International Economic Review 26(1):

Technical Results on Regular Preferences and Demand

Technical Results on Regular Preferences and Demand Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences Technical Results on Regular Preferences and Demand KC Border Revised Fall 2011; Winter 2017 Preferences For the purposes of this note, a preference relation

More information

Advanced Microeconomics

Advanced Microeconomics Welfare measures and aggregation October 30, 2012 The plan: 1 Welfare measures 2 Example: 1 Our consumer has initial wealth w and is facing the initial set of market prices p 0. 2 Now he is faced with

More information

Introductory notes on stochastic rationality. 1 Stochastic choice and stochastic rationality

Introductory notes on stochastic rationality. 1 Stochastic choice and stochastic rationality Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences Introductory notes on stochastic rationality KC Border Fall 2007 1 Stochastic choice and stochastic rationality In the standard theory of rational choice

More information

The Fundamental Welfare Theorems

The Fundamental Welfare Theorems The Fundamental Welfare Theorems The so-called Fundamental Welfare Theorems of Economics tell us about the relation between market equilibrium and Pareto efficiency. The First Welfare Theorem: Every Walrasian

More information

Notes on Consumer Theory

Notes on Consumer Theory Notes on Consumer Theory Alejandro Saporiti Alejandro Saporiti (Copyright) Consumer Theory 1 / 65 Consumer theory Reference: Jehle and Reny, Advanced Microeconomic Theory, 3rd ed., Pearson 2011: Ch. 1.

More information

Microeconomic Theory-I Washington State University Midterm Exam #1 - Answer key. Fall 2016

Microeconomic Theory-I Washington State University Midterm Exam #1 - Answer key. Fall 2016 Microeconomic Theory-I Washington State University Midterm Exam # - Answer key Fall 06. [Checking properties of preference relations]. Consider the following preference relation de ned in the positive

More information

Week 9: Topics in Consumer Theory (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 2)

Week 9: Topics in Consumer Theory (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 2) Week 9: Topics in Consumer Theory (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 2) Tsun-Feng Chiang *School of Economics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China November 15, 2015 Microeconomic Theory Week 9: Topics in Consumer Theory

More information

Hicksian Demand and Expenditure Function Duality, Slutsky Equation

Hicksian Demand and Expenditure Function Duality, Slutsky Equation Hicksian Demand and Expenditure Function Duality, Slutsky Equation Econ 2100 Fall 2017 Lecture 6, September 14 Outline 1 Applications of Envelope Theorem 2 Hicksian Demand 3 Duality 4 Connections between

More information

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis, Lecture 6

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis, Lecture 6 Advanced Microeconomic Analysis, Lecture 6 Prof. Ronaldo CARPIO April 10, 017 Administrative Stuff Homework # is due at the end of class. I will post the solutions on the website later today. The midterm

More information

Structural Properties of Utility Functions Walrasian Demand

Structural Properties of Utility Functions Walrasian Demand Structural Properties of Utility Functions Walrasian Demand Econ 2100 Fall 2017 Lecture 4, September 7 Outline 1 Structural Properties of Utility Functions 1 Local Non Satiation 2 Convexity 3 Quasi-linearity

More information

Utility Maximization Problem

Utility Maximization Problem Demand Theory Utility Maximization Problem Consumer maximizes his utility level by selecting a bundle x (where x can be a vector) subject to his budget constraint: max x 0 u(x) s. t. p x w Weierstrass

More information

Duality. for The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd ed. Lawrence E. Blume

Duality. for The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd ed. Lawrence E. Blume Duality for The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd ed. Lawrence E. Blume Headwords: CONVEXITY, DUALITY, LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS, PARETO EFFICIENCY, QUASI-CONCAVITY 1 Introduction The word duality is

More information

Advanced Microeconomics

Advanced Microeconomics Welfare measures and aggregation October 17, 2010 The plan: 1 Welfare measures 2 Example: 1 Our consumer has initial wealth w and is facing the initial set of market prices p 0. 2 Now he is faced with

More information

Introduction to General Equilibrium: Framework.

Introduction to General Equilibrium: Framework. Introduction to General Equilibrium: Framework. Economy: I consumers, i = 1,...I. J firms, j = 1,...J. L goods, l = 1,...L Initial Endowment of good l in the economy: ω l 0, l = 1,...L. Consumer i : preferences

More information

Microeconomics II Lecture 4. Marshallian and Hicksian demands for goods with an endowment (Labour supply)

Microeconomics II Lecture 4. Marshallian and Hicksian demands for goods with an endowment (Labour supply) Leonardo Felli 30 October, 2002 Microeconomics II Lecture 4 Marshallian and Hicksian demands for goods with an endowment (Labour supply) Define M = m + p ω to be the endowment of the consumer. The Marshallian

More information

Notes I Classical Demand Theory: Review of Important Concepts

Notes I Classical Demand Theory: Review of Important Concepts Notes I Classical Demand Theory: Review of Important Concepts The notes for our course are based on: Mas-Colell, A., M.D. Whinston and J.R. Green (1995), Microeconomic Theory, New York and Oxford: Oxford

More information

Consumer theory Topics in consumer theory. Microeconomics. Joana Pais. Fall Joana Pais

Consumer theory Topics in consumer theory. Microeconomics. Joana Pais. Fall Joana Pais Microeconomics Fall 2016 Indirect utility and expenditure Properties of consumer demand The indirect utility function The relationship among prices, incomes, and the maximised value of utility can be summarised

More information

Economics th April 2011

Economics th April 2011 Economics 401 8th April 2011 Instructions: Answer 7 of the following 9 questions. All questions are of equal weight. Indicate clearly on the first page which questions you want marked. 1. Answer both parts.

More information

Rice University. Answer Key to Mid-Semester Examination Fall ECON 501: Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Part A

Rice University. Answer Key to Mid-Semester Examination Fall ECON 501: Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Part A Rice University Answer Key to Mid-Semester Examination Fall 006 ECON 50: Advanced Microeconomic Theory Part A. Consider the following expenditure function. e (p ; p ; p 3 ; u) = (p + p ) u + p 3 State

More information

Problem Set 5: Expenditure Minimization, Duality, and Welfare 1. Suppose you were given the following expenditure function: β (α

Problem Set 5: Expenditure Minimization, Duality, and Welfare 1. Suppose you were given the following expenditure function: β (α Problem Set 5: Expenditure Minimization, Duality, and Welfare. Suppose you were given the following expenditure function: ) ep,ū) = ūp p where 0

More information

Advanced Microeconomics Fall Lecture Note 1 Choice-Based Approach: Price e ects, Wealth e ects and the WARP

Advanced Microeconomics Fall Lecture Note 1 Choice-Based Approach: Price e ects, Wealth e ects and the WARP Prof. Olivier Bochet Room A.34 Phone 3 63 476 E-mail olivier.bochet@vwi.unibe.ch Webpage http//sta.vwi.unibe.ch/bochet Advanced Microeconomics Fall 2 Lecture Note Choice-Based Approach Price e ects, Wealth

More information

Chapter 1 Consumer Theory Part II

Chapter 1 Consumer Theory Part II Chapter 1 Consumer Theory Part II Economics 5113 Microeconomic Theory Kam Yu Winter 2018 Outline 1 Introduction to Duality Theory Indirect Utility and Expenditure Functions Ordinary and Compensated Demand

More information

Final Examination with Answers: Economics 210A

Final Examination with Answers: Economics 210A Final Examination with Answers: Economics 210A December, 2016, Ted Bergstrom, UCSB I asked students to try to answer any 7 of the 8 questions. I intended the exam to have some relatively easy parts and

More information

Unlinked Allocations in an Exchange Economy with One Good and One Bad

Unlinked Allocations in an Exchange Economy with One Good and One Bad Unlinked llocations in an Exchange Economy with One Good and One ad Chiaki Hara Faculty of Economics and Politics, University of Cambridge Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University pril 16,

More information

= 2 = 1.5. Figure 4.1: WARP violated

= 2 = 1.5. Figure 4.1: WARP violated Chapter 4 The Consumer Exercise 4.1 You observe a consumer in two situations: with an income of $100 he buys 5 units of good 1 at a price of $10 per unit and 10 units of good 2 at a price of $5 per unit.

More information

x 1 1 and p 1 1 Two points if you just talk about monotonicity (u (c) > 0).

x 1 1 and p 1 1 Two points if you just talk about monotonicity (u (c) > 0). . (a) (8 points) What does it mean for observations x and p... x T and p T to be rationalized by a monotone utility function? Notice that this is a one good economy. For all t, p t x t function. p t x

More information

Alfred Marshall s cardinal theory of value: the strong law of demand

Alfred Marshall s cardinal theory of value: the strong law of demand Econ Theory Bull (2014) 2:65 76 DOI 10.1007/s40505-014-0029-5 RESEARCH ARTICLE Alfred Marshall s cardinal theory of value: the strong law of demand Donald J. Brown Caterina Calsamiglia Received: 29 November

More information

Week 6: Consumer Theory Part 1 (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 1)

Week 6: Consumer Theory Part 1 (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 1) Week 6: Consumer Theory Part 1 (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 1) Tsun-Feng Chiang* *School of Economics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China November 2, 2014 1 / 28 Primitive Notions 1.1 Primitive Notions Consumer

More information

Week 7: The Consumer (Malinvaud, Chapter 2 and 4) / Consumer November Theory 1, 2015 (Jehle and 1 / Reny, 32

Week 7: The Consumer (Malinvaud, Chapter 2 and 4) / Consumer November Theory 1, 2015 (Jehle and 1 / Reny, 32 Week 7: The Consumer (Malinvaud, Chapter 2 and 4) / Consumer Theory (Jehle and Reny, Chapter 1) Tsun-Feng Chiang* *School of Economics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China November 1, 2015 Week 7: The Consumer

More information

Utility Maximization Problem. Advanced Microeconomic Theory 2

Utility Maximization Problem. Advanced Microeconomic Theory 2 Demand Theory Utility Maximization Problem Advanced Microeconomic Theory 2 Utility Maximization Problem Consumer maximizes his utility level by selecting a bundle x (where x can be a vector) subject to

More information

The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics

The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics Topics Volume 9, Issue 1 2009 Article 43 Simple Economies with Multiple Equilibria Theodore C. Bergstrom Ken-Ichi Shimomura Takehiko Yamato University of California,

More information

Economics 401 Sample questions 2

Economics 401 Sample questions 2 Economics 401 Sample questions 1. What does it mean to say that preferences fit the Gorman polar form? Do quasilinear preferences fit the Gorman form? Do aggregate demands based on the Gorman form have

More information

Lecture 1. History of general equilibrium theory

Lecture 1. History of general equilibrium theory Lecture 1 History of general equilibrium theory Adam Smith: The Wealth of Nations, 1776 many heterogeneous individuals with diverging interests many voluntary but uncoordinated actions (trades) results

More information

i) This is simply an application of Berge s Maximum Theorem, but it is actually not too difficult to prove the result directly.

i) This is simply an application of Berge s Maximum Theorem, but it is actually not too difficult to prove the result directly. Bocconi University PhD in Economics - Microeconomics I Prof. M. Messner Problem Set 3 - Solution Problem 1: i) This is simply an application of Berge s Maximum Theorem, but it is actually not too difficult

More information

Consumer Theory. Ichiro Obara. October 8, 2012 UCLA. Obara (UCLA) Consumer Theory October 8, / 51

Consumer Theory. Ichiro Obara. October 8, 2012 UCLA. Obara (UCLA) Consumer Theory October 8, / 51 Consumer Theory Ichiro Obara UCLA October 8, 2012 Obara (UCLA) Consumer Theory October 8, 2012 1 / 51 Utility Maximization Utility Maximization Obara (UCLA) Consumer Theory October 8, 2012 2 / 51 Utility

More information

u(x) s.t. px w x 0 Denote the solution to this problem by ˆx(p, x). In order to obtain ˆx we may simply solve the standard problem max x 0

u(x) s.t. px w x 0 Denote the solution to this problem by ˆx(p, x). In order to obtain ˆx we may simply solve the standard problem max x 0 Bocconi University PhD in Economics - Microeconomics I Prof M Messner Probem Set 4 - Soution Probem : If an individua has an endowment instead of a monetary income his weath depends on price eves In particuar,

More information

Microeconomics II. MOSEC, LUISS Guido Carli Problem Set n 3

Microeconomics II. MOSEC, LUISS Guido Carli Problem Set n 3 Microeconomics II MOSEC, LUISS Guido Carli Problem Set n 3 Problem 1 Consider an economy 1 1, with one firm (or technology and one consumer (firm owner, as in the textbook (MWG section 15.C. The set of

More information

September Math Course: First Order Derivative

September Math Course: First Order Derivative September Math Course: First Order Derivative Arina Nikandrova Functions Function y = f (x), where x is either be a scalar or a vector of several variables (x,..., x n ), can be thought of as a rule which

More information

Econ 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics

Econ 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics Econ 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics Dirk Bergemann, Spring 2012 Week of 1/29-2/4 1 Lecture 7: Expenditure Minimization Instead of maximizing utility subject to a given income we can also minimize expenditure

More information

Lecture 8: Basic convex analysis

Lecture 8: Basic convex analysis Lecture 8: Basic convex analysis 1 Convex sets Both convex sets and functions have general importance in economic theory, not only in optimization. Given two points x; y 2 R n and 2 [0; 1]; the weighted

More information

Public Goods and Private Goods

Public Goods and Private Goods Chapter 2 Public Goods and Private Goods One Public Good, One Private Good Claude and Dorothy are roommates, also. 1 They are not interested in card games or the temperature of their room. Each of them

More information

Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Chapter 2: Demand Theory

Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Chapter 2: Demand Theory Advanced Microeconomic Theory Chapter 2: Demand Theory Outline Utility maximization problem (UMP) Walrasian demand and indirect utility function WARP and Walrasian demand Income and substitution effects

More information

Microeconomic Theory -1- Introduction

Microeconomic Theory -1- Introduction Microeconomic Theory -- Introduction. Introduction. Profit maximizing firm with monopoly power 6 3. General results on maximizing with two variables 8 4. Model of a private ownership economy 5. Consumer

More information

Recitation #2 (August 31st, 2018)

Recitation #2 (August 31st, 2018) Recitation #2 (August 1st, 2018) 1. [Checking properties of the Cobb-Douglas utility function.] Consider the utility function u(x) = n i=1 xα i i, where x denotes a vector of n different goods x R n +,

More information

Nonrepresentative Representative Consumers* Michael Jerison Department of Economics SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA

Nonrepresentative Representative Consumers* Michael Jerison Department of Economics SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA Nonrepresentative Representative Consumers* Michael Jerison Department of Economics SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA m.jerison@albany.edu Revised: July 2006 Abstract: Single consumer models are often used to

More information

Econ 5150: Applied Econometrics Empirical Demand Analysis. Sung Y. Park CUHK

Econ 5150: Applied Econometrics Empirical Demand Analysis. Sung Y. Park CUHK Econ 5150: Applied Econometrics Empirical Analysis Sung Y. Park CUHK Marshallian demand Under some mild regularity conditions on preferences the preference relation x ર z ( the bundle x us weakly preferred

More information

Sometimes the domains X and Z will be the same, so this might be written:

Sometimes the domains X and Z will be the same, so this might be written: II. MULTIVARIATE CALCULUS The first lecture covered functions where a single input goes in, and a single output comes out. Most economic applications aren t so simple. In most cases, a number of variables

More information

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis Solutions to Homework #2

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis Solutions to Homework #2 Advanced Microeconomic Analysis Solutions to Homework #2 0..4 Prove that Hicksian demands are homogeneous of degree 0 in prices. We use the relationship between Hicksian and Marshallian demands: x h i

More information

GARP and Afriat s Theorem Production

GARP and Afriat s Theorem Production GARP and Afriat s Theorem Production Econ 2100 Fall 2017 Lecture 8, September 21 Outline 1 Generalized Axiom of Revealed Preferences 2 Afriat s Theorem 3 Production Sets and Production Functions 4 Profits

More information

GS/ECON 5010 section B Answers to Assignment 1 September Q1. Are the preferences described below transitive? Strictly monotonic? Convex?

GS/ECON 5010 section B Answers to Assignment 1 September Q1. Are the preferences described below transitive? Strictly monotonic? Convex? GS/ECON 5010 section B Answers to Assignment 1 September 2011 Q1. Are the preferences described below transitive? Strictly monotonic? Convex? Explain briefly. The person consumes 2 goods, food and clothing.

More information

Chapter 8: Slutsky Decomposition

Chapter 8: Slutsky Decomposition Econ 33 Microeconomic Analysis Chapter : Slutsky Decomposition Instructor: Hiroki Watanabe Spring 13 Watanabe Econ 33 Slutsky Decomposition 1 / 59 1 Introduction Decomposing Effects 3 Giffen Is Income-Inferior

More information

Microeconomics, Block I Part 1

Microeconomics, Block I Part 1 Microeconomics, Block I Part 1 Piero Gottardi EUI Sept. 26, 2016 Piero Gottardi (EUI) Microeconomics, Block I Part 1 Sept. 26, 2016 1 / 53 Choice Theory Set of alternatives: X, with generic elements x,

More information

The Fundamental Welfare Theorems

The Fundamental Welfare Theorems The Fundamental Welfare Theorems The so-called Fundamental Welfare Theorems of Economics tell us about the relation between market equilibrium and Pareto efficiency. The First Welfare Theorem: Every Walrasian

More information

Firms and returns to scale -1- John Riley

Firms and returns to scale -1- John Riley Firms and returns to scale -1- John Riley Firms and returns to scale. Increasing returns to scale and monopoly pricing 2. Natural monopoly 1 C. Constant returns to scale 21 D. The CRS economy 26 E. pplication

More information

Adding Production to the Theory

Adding Production to the Theory Adding Production to the Theory We begin by considering the simplest situation that includes production: two goods, both of which have consumption value, but one of which can be transformed into the other.

More information

Last Revised: :19: (Fri, 12 Jan 2007)(Revision:

Last Revised: :19: (Fri, 12 Jan 2007)(Revision: 0-0 1 Demand Lecture Last Revised: 2007-01-12 16:19:03-0800 (Fri, 12 Jan 2007)(Revision: 67) a demand correspondence is a special kind of choice correspondence where the set of alternatives is X = { x

More information

Recitation 2-09/01/2017 (Solution)

Recitation 2-09/01/2017 (Solution) Recitation 2-09/01/2017 (Solution) 1. Checking properties of the Cobb-Douglas utility function. Consider the utility function u(x) Y n i1 x i i ; where x denotes a vector of n di erent goods x 2 R n +,

More information

Microeconomic Theory I Midterm

Microeconomic Theory I Midterm Microeconomic Theory I Midterm November 3, 2016 Name:... Student number:... Q1 Points Q2 Points Q3 Points Q4 Points 1a 2a 3a 4a 1b 2b 3b 4b 1c 2c 4c 2d 4d Each question has the same value. You need to

More information

The General Neoclassical Trade Model

The General Neoclassical Trade Model The General Neoclassical Trade Model J. Peter Neary University of Oxford October 15, 2013 J.P. Neary (University of Oxford) Neoclassical Trade Model October 15, 2013 1 / 28 Plan of Lectures 1 Review of

More information

Demand Theory. Lecture IX and X Utility Maximization (Varian Ch. 7) Federico Trionfetti

Demand Theory. Lecture IX and X Utility Maximization (Varian Ch. 7) Federico Trionfetti Demand Theory Lecture IX and X Utility Maximization (Varian Ch. 7) Federico Trionfetti Aix-Marseille Université Faculté d Economie et Gestion Aix-Marseille School of Economics October 5, 2018 Table of

More information

Functions. Paul Schrimpf. October 9, UBC Economics 526. Functions. Paul Schrimpf. Definition and examples. Special types of functions

Functions. Paul Schrimpf. October 9, UBC Economics 526. Functions. Paul Schrimpf. Definition and examples. Special types of functions of Functions UBC Economics 526 October 9, 2013 of 1. 2. of 3.. 4 of Functions UBC Economics 526 October 9, 2013 of Section 1 Functions of A function from a set A to a set B is a rule that assigns to each

More information

Index. Cambridge University Press An Introduction to Mathematics for Economics Akihito Asano. Index.

Index. Cambridge University Press An Introduction to Mathematics for Economics Akihito Asano. Index. , see Q.E.D. ln, see natural logarithmic function e, see Euler s e i, see imaginary number log 10, see common logarithm ceteris paribus, 4 quod erat demonstrandum, see Q.E.D. reductio ad absurdum, see

More information

Rice University. Fall Semester Final Examination ECON501 Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Writing Period: Three Hours

Rice University. Fall Semester Final Examination ECON501 Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Writing Period: Three Hours Rice University Fall Semester Final Examination 007 ECON50 Advanced Microeconomic Theory Writing Period: Three Hours Permitted Materials: English/Foreign Language Dictionaries and non-programmable calculators

More information

Notes on General Equilibrium

Notes on General Equilibrium Notes on General Equilibrium Alejandro Saporiti Alejandro Saporiti (Copyright) General Equilibrium 1 / 42 General equilibrium Reference: Jehle and Reny, Advanced Microeconomic Theory, 3rd ed., Pearson

More information

Firms and returns to scale -1- Firms and returns to scale

Firms and returns to scale -1- Firms and returns to scale Firms and returns to scale -1- Firms and returns to scale. Increasing returns to scale and monopoly pricing 2. Constant returns to scale 19 C. The CRS economy 25 D. pplication to trade 47 E. Decreasing

More information

ARE211, Fall 2005 CONTENTS. 5. Characteristics of Functions Surjective, Injective and Bijective functions. 5.2.

ARE211, Fall 2005 CONTENTS. 5. Characteristics of Functions Surjective, Injective and Bijective functions. 5.2. ARE211, Fall 2005 LECTURE #18: THU, NOV 3, 2005 PRINT DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 2005 (COMPSTAT2) CONTENTS 5. Characteristics of Functions. 1 5.1. Surjective, Injective and Bijective functions 1 5.2. Homotheticity

More information

1 + x 1/2. b) For what values of k is g a quasi-concave function? For what values of k is g a concave function? Explain your answers.

1 + x 1/2. b) For what values of k is g a quasi-concave function? For what values of k is g a concave function? Explain your answers. Questions and Answers from Econ 0A Final: Fall 008 I have gone to some trouble to explain the answers to all of these questions, because I think that there is much to be learned b working through them

More information

Midterm Examination: Economics 210A October 2011

Midterm Examination: Economics 210A October 2011 Midterm Examination: Economics 210A October 2011 The exam has 6 questions. Answer as many as you can. Good luck. 1) A) Must every quasi-concave function must be concave? If so, prove it. If not, provide

More information

DECISIONS AND GAMES. PART I

DECISIONS AND GAMES. PART I DECISIONS AND GAMES. PART I 1. Preference and choice 2. Demand theory 3. Uncertainty 4. Intertemporal decision making 5. Behavioral decision theory DECISIONS AND GAMES. PART II 6. Static Games of complete

More information

CHAPTER 4: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES. Likewise, we may define the higher order derivatives. f(x, y, z) = xy 2 + e zx. y = 2xy.

CHAPTER 4: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES. Likewise, we may define the higher order derivatives. f(x, y, z) = xy 2 + e zx. y = 2xy. April 15, 2009 CHAPTER 4: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES In this chapter D denotes an open subset of R n. 1. Introduction Definition 1.1. Given a function f : D R we define the second partial derivatives as

More information

Economics 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics Midterm Suggested Solutions 2/8/ (a) The equation of the indifference curve is given by,

Economics 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics Midterm Suggested Solutions 2/8/ (a) The equation of the indifference curve is given by, Dirk Bergemann Department of Economics Yale University Economics 121b: Intermediate Microeconomics Midterm Suggested Solutions 2/8/12 1. (a) The equation of the indifference curve is given by, (x 1 + 2)

More information

EE290O / IEOR 290 Lecture 05

EE290O / IEOR 290 Lecture 05 EE290O / IEOR 290 Lecture 05 Roy Dong September 7, 2017 In this section, we ll cover one approach to modeling human behavior. In this approach, we assume that users pick actions that maximize some function,

More information

Applications I: consumer theory

Applications I: consumer theory Applications I: consumer theory Lecture note 8 Outline 1. Preferences to utility 2. Utility to demand 3. Fully worked example 1 From preferences to utility The preference ordering We start by assuming

More information

Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Chapter 6: Partial and General Equilibrium

Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Chapter 6: Partial and General Equilibrium Advanced Microeconomic Theory Chapter 6: Partial and General Equilibrium Outline Partial Equilibrium Analysis General Equilibrium Analysis Comparative Statics Welfare Analysis Advanced Microeconomic Theory

More information

An Application of Integrability and Duality Theory to the Classical Transfer Problem in International Trade

An Application of Integrability and Duality Theory to the Classical Transfer Problem in International Trade An Application of Integrability and Duality Theory to the Classical Transfer Problem in International Trade John S. Chipman University of Minnesota 1 Introduction and Background A classic problem in the

More information

Revealed Preferences and Utility Functions

Revealed Preferences and Utility Functions Revealed Preferences and Utility Functions Lecture 2, 1 September Econ 2100 Fall 2017 Outline 1 Weak Axiom of Revealed Preference 2 Equivalence between Axioms and Rationalizable Choices. 3 An Application:

More information

Professor: Alan G. Isaac These notes are very rough. Suggestions welcome. Samuelson (1938, p.71) introduced revealed preference theory hoping

Professor: Alan G. Isaac These notes are very rough. Suggestions welcome. Samuelson (1938, p.71) introduced revealed preference theory hoping 19.713 Professor: Alan G. Isaac These notes are very rough. Suggestions welcome. Samuelson (1938, p.71) introduced revealed preference theory hoping to liberate the theory of consumer behavior from any

More information

The Last Word on Giffen Goods?

The Last Word on Giffen Goods? The Last Word on Giffen Goods? John H. Nachbar February, 1996 Abstract Giffen goods have long been a minor embarrassment to courses in microeconomic theory. The standard approach has been to dismiss Giffen

More information

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis Solutions to Midterm Exam

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis Solutions to Midterm Exam Advanced Microeconomic Analsis Solutions to Midterm Exam Q1. (0 pts) An individual consumes two goods x 1 x and his utilit function is: u(x 1 x ) = [min(x 1 + x x 1 + x )] (a) Draw some indifference curves

More information

The Law of Demand versus Diminishing Marginal Utility

The Law of Demand versus Diminishing Marginal Utility Review of Agricultural Economics Volume 28, Number 2 Pages 263 271 DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9353.2006.00286.x The Law of Demand versus Diminishing Marginal Utility Bruce R. Beattie and Jeffrey T. LaFrance Diminishing

More information

Midterm Exam, Econ 210A, Fall 2008

Midterm Exam, Econ 210A, Fall 2008 Midterm Exam, Econ 0A, Fall 008 ) Elmer Kink s utility function is min{x, x }. Draw a few indifference curves for Elmer. These are L-shaped, with the corners lying on the line x = x. Find each of the following

More information

Lecture Notes for Chapter 12

Lecture Notes for Chapter 12 Lecture Notes for Chapter 12 Kevin Wainwright April 26, 2014 1 Constrained Optimization Consider the following Utility Max problem: Max x 1, x 2 U = U(x 1, x 2 ) (1) Subject to: Re-write Eq. 2 B = P 1

More information

Problem set 2 solutions Prof. Justin Marion Econ 100M Winter 2012

Problem set 2 solutions Prof. Justin Marion Econ 100M Winter 2012 Problem set 2 solutions Prof. Justin Marion Econ 100M Winter 2012 1. I+S effects Recognize that the utility function U =min{2x 1,4x 2 } represents perfect complements, and that the goods will be consumed

More information

Final Exam - Math Camp August 27, 2014

Final Exam - Math Camp August 27, 2014 Final Exam - Math Camp August 27, 2014 You will have three hours to complete this exam. Please write your solution to question one in blue book 1 and your solutions to the subsequent questions in blue

More information

Ph.D. Preliminary Examination MICROECONOMIC THEORY Applied Economics Graduate Program May 2012

Ph.D. Preliminary Examination MICROECONOMIC THEORY Applied Economics Graduate Program May 2012 Ph.D. Preliminary Examination MICROECONOMIC THEORY Applied Economics Graduate Program May 2012 The time limit for this exam is 4 hours. It has four sections. Each section includes two questions. You are

More information

Heterogeneity. Krishna Pendakur. May 24, Krishna Pendakur () Heterogeneity May 24, / 21

Heterogeneity. Krishna Pendakur. May 24, Krishna Pendakur () Heterogeneity May 24, / 21 Heterogeneity Krishna Pendakur May 24, 2015 Krishna Pendakur () Heterogeneity May 24, 2015 1 / 21 Introduction People are heterogeneous. Some heterogeneity is observed, some is not observed. Some heterogeneity

More information

Duality in Consumer Theory

Duality in Consumer Theory Pages 44-55 from Chipman, J., D. McFadden and M. Richter: PTe!er'ences, Uncertainty and Optimality, Westview Press, 1990. 2 Duality in Consumer Theory Vijay Krishna and Hugo Sonnenschein 1. Introduction

More information

Math Review ECON 300: Spring 2014 Benjamin A. Jones MATH/CALCULUS REVIEW

Math Review ECON 300: Spring 2014 Benjamin A. Jones MATH/CALCULUS REVIEW MATH/CALCULUS REVIEW SLOPE, INTERCEPT, and GRAPHS REVIEW (adapted from Paul s Online Math Notes) Let s start with some basic review material to make sure everybody is on the same page. The slope of a line

More information

EconS 301. Math Review. Math Concepts

EconS 301. Math Review. Math Concepts EconS 301 Math Review Math Concepts Functions: Functions describe the relationship between input variables and outputs y f x where x is some input and y is some output. Example: x could number of Bananas

More information

Tvestlanka Karagyozova University of Connecticut

Tvestlanka Karagyozova University of Connecticut September, 005 CALCULUS REVIEW Tvestlanka Karagyozova University of Connecticut. FUNCTIONS.. Definition: A function f is a rule that associates each value of one variable with one and only one value of

More information

Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems

Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems Kiminori Matsuyama 1 Philip Ushchev 2 October 2017 1 Department of Economics, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA. Email:

More information

Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Supergradients. KC Border Fall 2001 v ::15.45

Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Supergradients. KC Border Fall 2001 v ::15.45 Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences Supergradients KC Border Fall 2001 1 The supergradient of a concave function There is a useful way to characterize the concavity of differentiable functions.

More information

Problem Set 1 Welfare Economics

Problem Set 1 Welfare Economics Problem Set 1 Welfare Economics Solutions 1. Consider a pure exchange economy with two goods, h = 1,, and two consumers, i =1,, with utility functions u 1 and u respectively, and total endowment, e = (e

More information

EC /11. Math for Microeconomics September Course, Part II Problem Set 1 with Solutions. a11 a 12. x 2

EC /11. Math for Microeconomics September Course, Part II Problem Set 1 with Solutions. a11 a 12. x 2 LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS Professor Leonardo Felli Department of Economics S.478; x7525 EC400 2010/11 Math for Microeconomics September Course, Part II Problem Set 1 with Solutions 1. Show that the general

More information

Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems

Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems Beyond CES: Three Alternative Classes of Flexible Homothetic Demand Systems Kiminori Matsuyama 1 Philip Ushchev 2 December 19, 2017, Keio University December 20. 2017, University of Tokyo 1 Department

More information

Competitive Consumer Demand 1

Competitive Consumer Demand 1 John Nachbar Washington University May 7, 2017 1 Introduction. Competitive Consumer Demand 1 These notes sketch out the basic elements of competitive demand theory. The main result is the Slutsky Decomposition

More information

The Non-Existence of Representative Agents

The Non-Existence of Representative Agents The Non-Existence of Representative Agents Matthew O. Jackson and Leeat Yariv November 2015 Abstract We characterize environments in which there exists a representative agent: an agent who inherits the

More information

The Ohio State University Department of Economics. Homework Set Questions and Answers

The Ohio State University Department of Economics. Homework Set Questions and Answers The Ohio State University Department of Economics Econ. 805 Winter 00 Prof. James Peck Homework Set Questions and Answers. Consider the following pure exchange economy with two consumers and two goods.

More information

Slope Fields: Graphing Solutions Without the Solutions

Slope Fields: Graphing Solutions Without the Solutions 8 Slope Fields: Graphing Solutions Without the Solutions Up to now, our efforts have been directed mainly towards finding formulas or equations describing solutions to given differential equations. Then,

More information

ARE202A, Fall 2005 CONTENTS. 1. Graphical Overview of Optimization Theory (cont) Separating Hyperplanes 1

ARE202A, Fall 2005 CONTENTS. 1. Graphical Overview of Optimization Theory (cont) Separating Hyperplanes 1 AREA, Fall 5 LECTURE #: WED, OCT 5, 5 PRINT DATE: OCTOBER 5, 5 (GRAPHICAL) CONTENTS 1. Graphical Overview of Optimization Theory (cont) 1 1.4. Separating Hyperplanes 1 1.5. Constrained Maximization: One

More information