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Marginal Utility & Indifference Curves

1) The document explains the connection between the marginal utility model and indifference curve model of describing consumer preferences. It shows that maximizing utility is the same as choosing the optimal point on the budget line where marginal utility per dollar is equal between goods. 2) Choosing the point with the highest utility is equivalent to selecting the point where the marginal rate of substitution between goods equals the price ratio. 3) The existence of utility can be inferred from observing consumer behavior and choosing combinations that maximize utility subject to a budget constraint, providing evidence that utility exists.

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Mohammad Raihanul Hasan
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79 views

Marginal Utility & Indifference Curves

1) The document explains the connection between the marginal utility model and indifference curve model of describing consumer preferences. It shows that maximizing utility is the same as choosing the optimal point on the budget line where marginal utility per dollar is equal between goods. 2) Choosing the point with the highest utility is equivalent to selecting the point where the marginal rate of substitution between goods equals the price ratio. 3) The existence of utility can be inferred from observing consumer behavior and choosing combinations that maximize utility subject to a budget constraint, providing evidence that utility exists.

Uploaded by

Mohammad Raihanul Hasan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APPENDIX 8

Marginal Utility and


Indifference Curves
After studying this chapter you will be able to

Explain the connection between utility and indifference


curves
Explain why maximizing utility is the same as choosing
the best affordable point
Explain why utility exists
Two Ways of Describing Preferences

The marginal utility model describes preferences


by using the concept of utility.
The indifference curve model describes
preferences by using the concepts of preference
and indifference.
Figure A8.1 on the next slide illustrates the
connection between these two ways of describing
preferences.
Two Ways of Describing Preferences

In part (a), you can see the


levels of utility derived from
each quantity of movies
and soda.
Three combinations
generate 331 units of utility
and two combinations
generate 313 units of utility.
Indifference curves pass
through these points.
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

Call the marginal utility of movies MUM .


Call the marginal utility of soda MUS .
Call the price of movies PM .
Call the price of soda PS .
The marginal utility per dollar from movies is MUM/PM .
The marginal utility per dollar from soda is MUS/PS.
Utility is maximized when
MUM/PM = MUS/PS.
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

Call the marginal rate of substitution of movies for soda


MRS.
The consumer is at the best affordable point on the
budget line when
MRS = PM/PS.
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

To see that maximizing utility is the same as choosing the


best affordable point, begin with
MUM/PM = MUS/PS
and multiply both sides of this equation by PM and divide
both sides by MUS to get
MUM/MUS = PM/PS.
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

Because the best affordable point is when MRS = PM/PS,


it must be the case that
MUM/MUS = MRS.
To see that this proposition is true, note first that
U = MUM QM + MUS QS .
But along an indifference curve, which is where we
measure MRS, U = 0, so
0 = MUM QM + MUS QS .
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

Because
0 = MUM QM + MUS QS
we know that
MUM QM = MUS QS .
Now divide both sides of this equation by MUS and by
QM to obtain
MUM / MUS = QS /QM .
Maximizing Utility is Choosing the Best
Affordable Point

But QS /QMrise over runis the slope of the


indifference curve and removing the minus sign, it is the
marginal rate of substitution.
So
MRS = MUM / MUS = QS /QM .
The two models of consumer choice give the same
answer.
One implies the other.
Utility Exists!

The indifference curve model is powerful because it


enables us to derive the downward-sloping demand curve
from the assumption of diminishing marginal rate of
substitution.
The model is also powerful because it implies that utility
exists.
By observing incomes and prices and the quantities bought
at those prices, we can infer a persons utility schedule and
the marginal utilities at each quantity combination.
THE END

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