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30351.

A consumer consumes only two Goods X and Y. Marginal Rate of Substitution is 3 and per unit prices of X and Y are Rs. 4 and Rs.2 respectively. Is the consumer in equilibrium ? What will be the further reaction of the consumer ? Give reason.

Answer»

The Consumer is not in equilibrium because :

MRS> Px/Py or 3> 4/2

Since the consumer is prepared to pay more for X than market demands, consumer will buy more of X and less of Y till MRS decline enough to be equal to Px/Py and consumer reaches equilibrium.

30352.

A consumer consumes only two Goods X and Y. The Marginal Rate of Substitution is 2. Prices per unit of X and Y are Rs. 5 and Rs.4 respectively. Is consumer in equilibrium ? What will be the further reaction of the consumer ? Give reason.

Answer»

The Consumer is not in equilibrium because:

MRS> Px/Py or 2>5/4

The consumer is prepared to pay more for one more unit of X than market demands. So, he will buy more of X and less of Y till MRS falts enough to be equal to Px/Py and consumer is in equilibrium again.

30353.

A consumer consumes only two Goods X and Y. The Marginal Rate of Substitution is 1. Prices of X and Y are Rs.3 and Rs.4 per unit respectively. Is the consumer in equilibrium ? What will be further reaction of the consumer ? Give reason.

Answer»

The Consumer is not in equilibrium because:

MRS> Px/Py or 3/4

Since the consumer is willing to pay more for Good X than the market requires, the consumer will buy more of Good X and less of Good Y, continue to do so till MRS declines enough to become equal to Px/Py.

30354.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Complementary goods often exhibit low elasticity of demand.

Answer»

Yes. Complementary goods often exhibit low elasticity of demand. Because, increase or decrease in the demand for Good-1 causes a simultaneous increase or decrease in the demand for Good-2 even when price of Good-2 has not changed.

30355.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:From a point of intersection, a flatter demand curve shows greater elasticity of demand than a steeper demand curve. 

Answer»

Yes. From a point of intersection of the demand curve, flatter the curve, more elastic it is. Because, for a given change in PX, (at the point of intersection) flatter demand curve shows greater change in QX.

30356.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:A vertical straight line demand curve shows that demand rises to infinity even when price remains constant.

Answer»

No. A vertical straight line demand curve parallel to Y-axis shows no change in the demand irrespective of change in price.

30357.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Luxuries of life often exhibit low elasticity of demand.

Answer»

No. Luxuries of life have greater elasticity of demand. Change in their prices has a great effect on their demand. Because, these goods are not essentials of life.

30358.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason: A horizontal straight line demand curve shows zero elasticity of demand.

Answer»

No. A horizontal straight line demand curve parallel to X-axis shows infinite elasticity of demand (Ed).

30359.

Why does Indifference Curve slopes downwards?

Answer»

An Indifference Curve slopes downwards because increase in units of one good required a decrease in the number of unit of another good to maintain the same level of satisfaction

30360.

Explain the characteristics of Indifference Curves.

Answer»

The three properties of Indifference Curves are:

(i) An IC slope downward from left to right: It is because to consume more quantity of one good, some quantity of the other goods must be reduced because the utility level remains the same.

(ii) An IC is convex towards origin: It is consumed of one good because  MRS declines as more 

(iii) An IC to the right represents a higher level of Satisfaction: It is because an IC to the right show more units of goods consumed and more units of goods are assumed to have more utility.

Detailed Answer:

Properties of Indifference Curve:

(i) Indifference Curves are negatively sloped or they slope downwards: It shows that more of one commodity implies less of the other so that the total satisfaction (at any point on Indifference Curve) remains the same.

(ii) Indifference Curves are convex to the point of origin: An Indifference Curve will ordinarily be convex to the origin. This is because of Diminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution.

(iii) Indifference Curve neither touches X-axis nor Y-axis: It is often assumed that a consumer buys a combination of two goods. Hence, an Indifference Curve neither touches X-axis nor Y-axis.

(iv) Indifference Curves never touch or intersect each other: Each indifference Curve represents a different level of satisfaction. So, their intersection is ruled out.

(v) Higher Indifference curve represents higher level of satisfaction: This is based on the assumption of monotonic preferences which means that greater consumption of a commodity by the consumer gives a higher level of satisfaction.

30361.

Complete the following sentence:Moving along an indifference curve, we find that MRS tends to________

Answer»

Moving along an indifference curve, we find that MRS tends to diminish.

30362.

Write the Properties or Characteristics of Indifference Curves :

Answer»

(i) It slopes downwards from left to right.

(ii) Indifference Curves are convex to the origin.

(iii) Indifference Curves will never intersect each other.

(iv) A higher Indifference Curve represents a higher level of satisfaction.

(v) Indifference Curve neither touches X-axis nor y-axis.

30363.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Higher the price level, higher should be the elasticity of demand.

Answer»

Yes. Elasticity of demand will be high at higher level of price of the commodity. Because corresponding to higher level of PX, the ratio (lower segment/upper segment)  tends to be high.

30364.

What is Indifference Map

Answer»

It refers to a set of indifference curves corresponding to different income levels of the consumers. An indifference curve which is to the right and above another indifference curve corresponds to the higher level of income and therefore, represents higher level of satisfaction.

30365.

Why are Indifference Curves always convex to the origin?

Answer»

Irrdifference Curves are always convex to the origin because of the Diminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution

30366.

How would you explain a situation when supply of a commodity increases without any increase in price of the commodity?

Answer»

When supply of a commodity increases without any increase in price of the commodity, it is known as the situation of increase in supply. Increase in supply occurs when quantity supplied increases due to determinants other than price of the concerned commodity.

30367.

Suppose a consumer wants to consume two goods which are available only in integer units. The two goods are equally priced at 10 and the consumer's incomes are RS.40. (i) Write down all the bundles that are available to the consumer. (ii) Among the bundles that are available to the consumer, identify those which cost her exactly Rs.40

Answer»

Let Px= Py=10

Income :40

(i) Bundles available to consumer are:

(0,0), (0,1), (0,2), (0,3), (0,4), (L,0), (1,1), (1.,2), (1,3), (1,4), (2,0), (2,1), (2,2), (3,0), (3,1) and (4,0).

(ii) (0,4), (1.,3), (2,2), (3,1) and (4,0) cost exactly 40. All other bundles cost less than Rs.40

30368.

Define the term Price elasticity of demand. 

Answer»

The price elasticity of demand is the degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded of a commodity to the change in its price.

30369.

Complete the following sentence:At the mid-point of straight line downward sloping demand curve, elasticity of demand = _______

Answer»

At the mid-point of straight line downward sloping demand curve, elasticity of demand = 1 (one)

30370.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:In an indifference curve map, higher IC always points to higher level of satisfaction.

Answer»

Yes. Higher indifference curve shows higher level of satisfaction. Because, higher IC corresponds to higher level of income of the consumer or higher level of consumption of both goods X and Y.

30371.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Extension and contraction of supply are related to factors other than price of the concerned commodity.

Answer»

No. Extension and contraction of supply are related to own price of the commodity, other factors remaining constant.

30372.

A consumer wants to consume two goods.The prices of the two goods are  Rs. 4 and Rs.5 respectively. The consumer's income is Rs. 20.(i) Write down the equation of the budget line.(ii) How much of good-1 can the consumer consume if she spends her entire income on that good?(iii) How much of good-2 can she consume if she spends her entire income on that good?(iv) What is the slope of the budget line?

Answer»

(i) Let the two goods be X and Y. We are given Px =Rs. 4, Py= Rs.5, Consumer's income (M) =Rs. 20.

Budget line equation is : PxX +PyY = M

or=>4x+5y=29

(ii) If quantity consumed of Good Y = 0,

Budget equation becomes :

Pxx+ Pyy= M

5x+0=20

x=20/5 =4 units

(iii) If quantity consumed of Good X =0,

Budget equation becomes : zero + PyY = M

or=>5Y=20=Y=20/5=4 units

(iv) slope of budget line Px/Py=4/5=0.8

30373.

Define the term Individual demand schedule and market demand schedule.

Answer»

Individual demand schedule is a table showing various quantities of a commodity which a consumer is ready to buy at different possible prices of the commodity at a point of time. Market demand schedule is a schedule showing various quantities of a commodity which all the buyers in the market are ready to buy at different possible prices of the commodity at a point of time.

30374.

Complete the following sentence:When price of the commodity increases, demand for the commodity _________

Answer»

When price of the commodity increases, demand for the commodity contracts.

30375.

Given price of a good, how does a consumer decide as to how much of that good to buy? Explain.

Answer»

Consumer purchases up to the point where MU= Price. So long as MU > P, he keeps on purchasing. As he makes purchases, MU falls and at a particular quantity of the good MU becomes equal to price. Consumer purchases up to this point.

Detailed Answer:

Given price of a good, consumer Purchases that much of the commodity where rupee worth of additional satisfaction (MUx/Px) from the consumption of a unit more of a good is equal to the marginal utility of Money (MUm) for the consumer. So that, in a state of equilibrium: (MUx/Px)= MUm.

30376.

Define a Budget Line. When can it shift to the right?

Answer»

Budget Line is the locus of points that show such combinations of two goods that the consumer can buy with his given income and at given prices.

Budget line depends upon an income of the consumer and the prices of the two goods. If prices of the two goods remain unchanged, then with an increase in income, budget line of the consumer shifts to the right. Similarly, when there is fall in the prices of both the goods X and y and if the income of the consumer remains unchanged, then also the budget line will shift to the right.

30377.

Explain the distinction between budget set and budget line. When can a budget line shift?

Answer»

Budget set refers to the set of possible combination of the two goods the consumer consume which he can afford from his income and given price, whereas budget line is the graphical presentation of the whole collection of the combination of the two goods which costs the consumer exactly his income.

Budget line shifts when any one or more of its determinants that is income and price of the two goods changes.

Detailed Answer: 

Budget Set 

Budget set refers to the attainable combinations of a set of two goods, given prices of the goods and income of the consumer. 

A budget set is based on the assumptions that income of the consumer and the prices of two goods (consumed by the consumer) remain unchanged. Accordingly, a change, either in prices or in consumer's income will lead to a change in the budget set.

Budget Line 

A budget line is the line that shows the maximum amount of good-X or of good-Y (or the possible combinations of X and Y) that the consumer can buy, given his money income and the prices of the goods X and Y. It is also called Price Line, as it shows the price ratio between good-X and Good-Y, or the rate at which one good can be exchanged for the other, given prices of the two goods in the market. Position of the budget line depends on the income of the consumer and prices of the two goods. If prices of two goods remain unchanged, then with an increase in income, budget line of the consumer shifts to the right. Similarly, if income of the consumer remains unchanged, the budget line will shift to the right when there is a proportionate fall in the prices of both goods X and Y. Thus, if the prices of both X and Y are reduced to half, the budget line will shift to the right showing twice the possible purchase of X and Y than before.

30378.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Changes in income causes a shift in demand curve, while change in price does not.

Answer»

Yes. Shift in demand curve occurs due to change in factors other than own price of the commodity such as change in income of the consumer, tastes or preferences.

30379.

Define the term Demand curve.

Answer»

Demand curve is a graphic presentation of demand schedule, showing inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded of a commodity.

30380.

Complete the following sentence:Law of demand fails in situations of (i) _______, (ii) ______, and (iii) ______

Answer»

Law of demand fails in situations of (i) articles of distinction, (ii) ignorance of the buyer and  (iii) giffen goods.

30381.

Complete the following sentence:Convexity of IC to the origin shows_______

Answer»

Convexity of IC to the origin shows diminishing marginal rate of substitution.

30382.

(i) Arrange the following coefficients of price elasticity of demand in ascending order: -0.7, -0.3, -1.1, -0.8 (ii) Comment upon the degree of elasticity of demand for Good X, using the total outlay method, if the price of X falls from t 18 per unit to Rs.13 per unit and its quantity demanded rises from 50 units to 100 units

Answer»

(i) Ascending order: -0.3, -0.7, -0.8, -1.1 (minus sign only represents the inverse relation between price and quantity demanded)

(ii) 

Price (In Rs.)Quantity (in units)Total outlay (in Rs.)
1850900
131001300

Conclusion: The given data shows an inverse relation between Px and total outly, thus as per the total expenditure method, Ed > 1.

30383.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:A commodity showing high elasticity of demand often has a large number of close substitutes in the market.

Answer»

Yes. Elasticity of demand is high in case of goods with close substitutes. Because availability of close substitutes makes it possible for the consumer to switch from one commodity to the other in response to change in the relative price structure.

30384.

Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ with a reason:If 5% increase in P causes 5% increase in expenditure on Good-X, elasticity of demand = 1.

Answer»

False

It is a situation of zero price elasticity of demand. Because, when expenditure on the commodity is increasing proportionate to increase in price, total purchase of the commodity remains constant. Constant purchase means zero elasticity of demand.

30385.

Mention the factors affecting market supply curve.

Answer»

(i) No. of firms. 

(ii) Possibility of expected change in price 

(iii) Taxes and subsidies. 

(iv) Change in technology 

(v) Input price changes 

(vi) Agreement among producers.

30386.

What is Variable Factors ? Give an examples.

Answer»

Variable Factors are those factors which vary to change the level of output. The costs of such factors vary with level of output. 

E.g. labour, raw material etc. 

30387.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Demand for a commodity refers to the entire demand schedule.

Answer»

Yes. Demand for a commodity refers to the entire demand schedule showing various quantities of the commodity that the buyers in the market are ready to buy at different possible prices at a point of time.

30388.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Demand for a commodity can exist independent of its price. 

Answer»

No. Demand for a commodity is always expressed with reference to price.

30389.

Suppose a consumer can afford to buy 6 units of Good-1 and 8 units of Good-2 if she spends her entire income. The prices of the two goods are Rs.6 and Rs.8 respectively. How much is the consumer's income?

Answer»

Budget equation is given as :

PxX+PyY=M

Let Good-1 be X

and Good-2 be Y

Putting the values, we get :

(6).(6) + (8).(8) = 36 + 64= Rs.100

30390.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:If price elasticity of demand is zero, it means expenditure on the commodity does not change with change in price of the commodity. 

Answer»

No. When Ed = 0, demand remains constant, no matter what the price is. Implying that total expenditure may increase/decrease, but not the quantity demanded.

30391.

Complete the following sentence:Elasticity of demand (with respect to price of the commodity) shows______

Answer»

Elasticity of demand (with respect to price of the commodity) shows percentage change in quantity demanded due to percentage change in price of the commodity.

30392.

Define the term Movement along the demand curve and shift in demand curve.

Answer»

Movement along the demand curve occurs when quantity demanded is related to changes in price of the commodity. 

Shift in demand curve occurs when demand for a commodity is related to factors other than price of the commodity.

30393.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Elasticity of demand (with respect to price of the commodity) is constant along a straight line demand curve.

Answer»

No. Price elasticity of demand along a straight line demand curve is different at different points on the demand curve. Because, at a particular point on the demand curve, (Ed =  lower segment/upper segment,) which tends to change from point to point.

30394.

Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ with a reason:If 5% increase in P is accompanied with constant expenditure on the commodity, elasticity X of demand = 1.

Answer»

True

Because increase in price is not causing any change in expenditure on the commodity. This is in accordance with expenditure method of measuring elasticity.

30395.

Define the term Marginal utility and total utility.

Answer»

Marginal utility is the utility derived from an additional unit of a commodity. 

Total utility is the sum total of marginal utilities from the consumption of different units of a commodity.

30396.

Give the classified of Factors inputs.

Answer»

Factors inputs are classified as 

(i) Fixed factors and 

(ii) variable factors.

30397.

Defend or refute the statement. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with reason:Quantity demanded is a specific amount of a commodity that the consumer is ready to buy against a specific price, while demand is not.

Answer»

Yes. Because demand refers to various quantities of a commodity that the consumer is ready to buy against different possible prices.

30398.

A consumer consumes only two goods X and Y and is in equilibrium. Show that when price of good X falls, demand for good X rises. Use utility analysis.

Answer»

According to the utility analysis, the consumer is in equilibrium when:

MUx/Px=MUy/Py=Mum

Now, given that Px falls,then

MUx/Px> MUy/Py

Since per rupee MUx is higher than per rupee MUy the consumer will buy more units of X commodity and less of Y commodity.

30399.

What is meant by Elasticity of demand ?

Answer»

Elasticity of demand shows the degree of responsiveness of demand to change in the price of a commodity.

30400.

Can the demand curve slope upwards ?

Answer»

In some cases the demand curve slopes upwards. 

(i) Giffen goods. Inferior goods have large negative income effect. 

(ii) Demand increases when prestige is attached to the possession of a good,