Calculating Consumption and Measuring Relative Risk Aversion
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1. Calculate the change in consumption of goods x and y for a person with utility U(x,y)= 8(x)^0.6(y)^0.3 and income of $270 facing px = $2 and py = $3 when a tax of $1 per unit is added to the
price of x. Decompose the change in consumption of x into Hicks income and substitution
effects. Finally, calculate and interpret the compensating and equivalent variations for this tax.
2. For U(x,y) = 0.5(x)^0.4(y)^0.6, find the Marshallian demands, the indirect utility function, the
expenditure function, and the compensated demands. You must derive the functions, do NOT
plug into a formula. Calculate the change in consumer surplus from good x that results from a
change in the price of x from $10 to $5 when income is $500 and the price of y is $30.
3. A person with $10 million in wealth and utility of wealth given by U(w) = 100(w)^0.4 is
considering buying fire insurance. She faces a 2% chance of suffering a $500,000 loss due to fire.
a. Show (mathematically) that her expected utility is higher when she purchases an
actuarially fair insurance policy than when she faces the risk of fire with no insurance.
What is the most she should consider paying?
b. After various events, this person has accumulated new wealth of W. Show what
percentage, f, of her new wealth she would be willing to pay to avoid a fair gamble
involving 50% of her wealth. What does the fact that f does not depend on W imply
about her relative risk aversion? Verify your answer by calculating the measure of
relative risk aversion.
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Solution Summary
The expert calculates the change in consumption of foods. The consumption and measuring relative risk aversions are determined.
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Answer:
Given that,
U(x,y)=8*x^0.6*y^0.3
I=$270
P_x=$2
P_y=$3
When a tax of $1 per unit is added to the price of x:
P_x=3
Therefore,
〖MU〗_x=8*0.6*x^(-0.4)*y^0.3
And,
〖MU〗_y=8*0.3*x^0.6*y^(-0.7)
Also,
P_x*x+P_y*y=M
Or,
x=(M-P_y*y)/P_x
As we know that, condition for utility maximization is:
〖MU〗_x/P_x =〖MU〗_y/P_y
Or,
(8*0.6*x^(-0.4)*y^0.3)/P_x =(8*0.3*x^0.6*y^(-0.7))/P_y
Or,
P_x/P_y =2*y/x
Putting the value of x, we have:
P_x/P_y =2*y*P_x/(M-P_y*y)
Or,
M-P_y*y=2*y*P_y
Or,
y=M/(3*P_y )=$270/(3*3)=30
Putting the value of y in x, we get
x=(M-P_y*M/(3*P_y ))/P_x
Or,
x=(2*M)/(3〖*P〗_x )=(2*$270)/(3*2)=90
If the price of Px changes to 3, we have
∆x=(2*$270)/(3*3)-(2*$270)/(3*2)=-30
Hick's Income and Substitution Effect with change in consumption of x:
Substituting demand ...
Education
- MBA, Indian Institute of Finance
- Bsc, Madras University
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