Consumer Behavior and Indifference Curves
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Questions and Answers

What shape do the indifference curves take for perfect substitutes?

  • Straight lines (correct)
  • Diagonal lines
  • Circular lines
  • Curved lines
  • What does an indifference curve shaped as a right angle indicate about the goods?

  • They are perfect complements (correct)
  • They are perfect substitutes
  • They are normal goods
  • They are inferior goods
  • In the case of perfect substitutes, how does a consumer perceive the trade-off between two goods?

  • The consumer will only consume one type of good
  • The consumer is indifferent to the quantity of each good (correct)
  • The consumer prefers one good over the other
  • The consumer values both goods equally only if consumed together
  • What happens to the consumer's satisfaction if they obtain an additional left shoe without a matching right shoe?

    <p>Satisfaction remains the same (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can one describe the relationship between the quantities of left shoes and right shoes for a consumer who views them as perfect complements?

    <p>They are consumed in fixed proportions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) for perfect complements?

    <p>It is either zero or infinite (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a neutral good in the context of consumer preferences?

    <p>A good that the consumer is indifferent about (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which direction does increasing preference for a consumer's bundles of goods move on the graph?

    <p>Up and to the right (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of the theory of consumer behaviour?

    <p>To explain how consumers maximize their satisfaction through income allocation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is assumed about consumers in traditional consumer behaviour theory?

    <p>They aim to maximize utility within their income constraints (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes a consumption bundle?

    <p>A specific combination of goods a consumer wishes to consume (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the consumer's choice behavior depicted graphically in the theory of consumer behaviour?

    <p>By representing the consumption bundle with two goods (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do we assume about the number of different goods in the consumer behaviour theory?

    <p>It remains constant and finite (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the convexity of a consumption set imply?

    <p>Goods can be consumed in fractional units and are divisible (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does a household play in consumer behaviour when purchasing goods and services?

    <p>The household acts as the decision-making unit for common goods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do changes in income and prices affect consumer behavior according to the theory?

    <p>They influence demand differently among various goods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the budget line when both prices of Good 1 and Good 2 increase simultaneously by a constant factor?

    <p>The budget line shifts inward. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the prices of both goods double, how does this affect the intercepts of the budget line?

    <p>Both intercepts shift inward. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When the price of Good 2 increases more than the price of Good 1, what effect does this have on the slope of the budget line?

    <p>The budget line becomes steeper. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does an increase in the price of Good 1 have on the budget line?

    <p>It rotates the budget line inward. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a quantity tax affect the price of a good in terms of the consumer's budget line?

    <p>It acts like an increase in the price of the good. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a decrease in the price of Good 2 affect the vertical intercept of the budget line?

    <p>It increases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the slope of the budget line when the price of Good 2 decreases?

    <p>The slope becomes steeper. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What implication does an increase in both prices and a simultaneous decrease in income have on the budget line?

    <p>The budget line shifts inward. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the price of Good 2 increases, what is the expected change in the budget line?

    <p>It rotates inward and becomes flatter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If both goods are subjected to a price increase by a constant amount, what is the mathematical representation of the new budget constraint?

    <p>α p1 x1 + α p2 x2 = m (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which situation does the budget line remain unchanged?

    <p>When both income and prices are multiplied by the same constant. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the maximum amount of Good 1 purchased represent at the higher price of Good 1?

    <p>The horizontal intercept of the budget line. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When the price of Good 2 is reduced, which of the following does NOT change?

    <p>The horizontal intercept of the budget line. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the price ratio p1/p2 increases, what can be inferred about the budget line?

    <p>The budget line rotates toward the vertical axis. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the graphical representation of an increase in the price of Good 2?

    <p>Flatter budget line. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the price of Good 1 is unchanged, what primarily affects the budget line when Good 2's price changes?

    <p>The price ratio of goods. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the theory of revealed preference base its inference of consumer preferences on?

    <p>Observed choices or purchases (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement correctly reflects the concept of consistency in revealed preference?

    <p>If a consumer prefers basket X over Y, they will never prefer Y over X. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If a consumer chooses basket A over basket B and both baskets cost the same, what can we conclude?

    <p>Basket A is preferred by the consumer. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What assumption is NOT part of the revealed preference axiom?

    <p>Preferences are influenced by external factors. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes transitivity in consumer preferences?

    <p>If X is preferred to Y and Y is preferred to Z, then X must be preferred to Z. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of cardinal utility, how is a higher utility assigned?

    <p>To the chosen bundle over the rejected bundle. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the revealed preference theory be illustrated in a marketplace?

    <p>By observing the purchasing behavior of consumers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an implication of a consumer choosing a more expensive basket when a cheaper option is available?

    <p>Their preference for the more expensive basket is not revealed. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) of good 1 for good 2 calculated as?

    <p>The ratio of the marginal utilities of goods 1 and 2 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which transformation is not considered a monotonic transformation?

    <p>Adding a negative number (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the marginal utility of a good indicate?

    <p>The rate at which the utility changes as consumption increases (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the utility function is given as $u(x_1, x_2) = x_1 x_2$, what does this indicate about its indifference curves?

    <p>Each curve can be formed by varying $u(x_1, x_2)$ across constants (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which utility function is a monotonic transformation of $u(x_1, x_2) = x_1 x_2$?

    <p>$v(x_1, x_2) = (x_1 x_2)^2$ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the marginal utility of good 1 calculated?

    <p>By differentiating the utility function with respect to good 1 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the property of monotonic transformations?

    <p>They maintain the same shape of indifference curves. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If a consumer is willing to give up 2 units of good 2 for 1 additional unit of good 1, what is the MRS of good 1 for good 2?

    <p>2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Consumer Behavior

    How consumers use their income to buy goods to get the most satisfaction

    Consumer

    Individual or household using a good or service; rational, making utility-maximizing decisions with limited income and information

    Consumption Bundle

    Specific combination of goods a consumer wants to consume; often depicted with x1, x2 for two goods

    Utility Maximization

    A consumer's goal to get the most satisfaction possible from their budget of goods

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    Market Demand

    Sum of the demands of all individual consumers for a good

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    Consumption Set

    All possible combinations of goods and services a consumer can afford

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    Goods

    Items that can be part of a consumption bundle, represented as x1, x2, ..., xn

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    Rational Consumer

    A consumer that acts in a logical way to meet their needs and wants with the resources they have.

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    Perfect Substitutes

    Goods where the consumer is equally satisfied consuming either good. The marginal rate of substitution (MRS) is constant.

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    Indifference Curve (Perfect Substitutes)

    A curve showing all consumption bundles that yield the same level of satisfaction for a consumer who considers two goods perfect substitutes.

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    Perfect Complements

    Goods that are consumed together in fixed proportions. The consumer gets no extra satisfaction from more of one good without the other.

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    Indifference Curve (Perfect Complements)

    A curve showing all consumption bundles that give the same level of satisfaction to a consumer who needs goods in a fixed ratio.

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    Marginal Rate of Substitution (MRS)

    The rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for another while maintaining the same level of satisfaction.

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    Neutral Good

    A good the consumer neither gains nor loses satisfaction from consuming.

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    Preferences shape indifference curves

    Different preferences will make indifference curves have different shapes, which reflects the willingness to substitute one good for another.

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    Fixed Proportions

    Goods consumed in specific quantities relative to each other. For example, a consumer needs two items of a single pair, one of each item.

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    Impact of Good 1 Price Increase on Budget Line

    An increase in the price of Good 1 leads to a steeper and inward-rotating budget line, reducing the maximum amount of Good 1 that can be purchased.

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    Impact of Good 2 Price Decrease on Budget Line

    A decrease in the price of Good 2 makes the budget line flatter and outward-rotating, potentially increasing the maximum amount of Good 2 that can be purchased.

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    Horizontal Intercept of Budget Line

    The point on a budget line where maximum consumption of one good can be obtained (assuming zero consumption of other good).

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    Vertical Intercept of Budget Line

    The point on a budget line where maximum consumption of another good can be obtained (assuming zero consumption of first good).

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    Budget Line Slope

    The slope of the budget line represents the relative price of two goods. A steeper slope means the cost of one good is higher relative to the other

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    Impact of Good 2 Price Increase on Budget Line

    An increase in the price of Good 2 leads to a flatter and inward-rotating budget line, diminishing the maximum amount of Good 2.

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    Budget Line Rotation

    A change in the price of one good while holding income and the other good's price constant leads to a rotation of the budget line.

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    Consumer's Income

    Consumer's financial capacity to afford goods, fixed in this context for analysis of price changes on budget lines.

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    Budget Line Shift: Price Increase

    When the prices of both goods increase by the same factor, the budget line shifts inward, indicating a smaller attainable consumption set.

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    Budget Line Shift: Price Decrease

    If both prices of goods decrease by the same factor, the budget line shifts outward, allowing the consumer to purchase more of both goods.

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    Price Changes and Budget Line Slope

    Changes in relative prices (one good's price increasing more than the other) affect the slope of the budget line. A steeper slope means the good with the larger price increase is relatively more expensive.

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    Quantity Tax Impact

    A quantity tax levied on a good effectively increases its price for the consumer, shifting the budget line inward and reducing the attainable consumption set.

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    Budget Line Unchanged

    If income and both prices increase by the same factor, the budget line remains unchanged. The consumer's overall purchasing power remains the same.

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    Budget Line Shift: Income Decrease

    A decrease in income shifts the budget line inward, reducing the consumer's ability to purchase goods.

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    Budget Line Shift: Price Increase (Different Rates)

    If the prices of two goods increase at different rates, the budget line shifts in a way that reflects the relative price changes.

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    Budget Line Shift: Price Decrease (Different Rates)

    If prices of two goods decrease at different rates, the budget line shifts outward, but the slope changes reflecting the relative price changes.

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    Revealed Preference

    A theory that infers a person's preferences by observing their choices in the marketplace.

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    Rationality Assumption

    The assumption that consumers make logically sound decisions when choosing between goods.

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    Transitivity

    If a consumer prefers Good A to Good B, and Good B to Good C, then they must also prefer Good A to Good C.

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    Cardinal Utility

    A measure of utility that allows for comparisons of the intensity of preference between different bundles of goods.

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    Ordinal Utility

    A measure of utility that only ranks preferences between different bundles of goods, not their intensity.

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    Consistency Assumption

    The assumption that consumers make consistent choices based on their preferences, meaning if they prefer A over B today, they'll prefer the same in the future.

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    Revealed Preference Axiom

    The statement that if a consumer chooses one bundle of goods over another, given the same budget, then they must prefer the chosen bundle.

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    Marginal Utility (MU)

    The extra satisfaction a consumer gets from consuming one more unit of a good.

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    How to calculate MRS?

    The MRS of good 1 for good 2 is calculated by dividing the marginal utility of good 1 (MUx1) by the marginal utility of good 2 (MUx2).

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    How to calculate MU?

    To find the marginal utility of a good (MUx1 or MUx2), differentiate the utility function (u(x1, x2)) with respect to that good.

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    Monotonic Transformation

    A change in the utility function that preserves the original preferences. It doesn't change the shape of indifference curves.

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    Utility Function

    A mathematical equation that represents a consumer's preferences for different combinations of goods.

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    Indifference Curve

    A curve that shows all the combinations of goods that give a consumer the same level of satisfaction (utility).

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    How to draw indifference curves from a utility function?

    To draw indifference curves from u(x1, x2), set the utility function equal to a constant and plot the points that satisfy the equation. Each constant represents a different indifference curve.

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    Description

    This quiz explores concepts related to consumer behavior, focusing on indifference curves, perfect substitutes, and perfect complements. It examines how consumers perceive trade-offs between goods and the implications for their satisfaction. Test your understanding of critical terms like marginal rate of substitution and neutral goods.

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