Problem Set 5

Due by 11:59 PM Sunday, April 25, 2021 by PDF upload in Blackboard Assignments

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Please type your answers to the following questions in a document and save as a PDFIn MS Word, or Pages, or most word processing software, File -> Save As -> PDF, or File -> Export -> PDF.

to upload on Blackboard under Assignments. You may handwrite answers if you will be able to scan/photograph & convert them to a single PDF, if they are easily readable, but this is not preferred. See my guide to making a PDF - an essential skill in the modern world. If you are handwriting answers, you may print the pdf above and write on it, or just write on a piece of paper (we only need your answers).

For the few questions that ask you to draw a graph, try to do so on your computer (use MS Paint, the drawing tools in MS Word or MS Powerpoint, plot points in MS Excel, drawing/notetaking apps, etc.), and save it as an image to include on your homework document. Again, they need not be perfect or to scale, just show that you understand the broad idea. Being able to understand and sketch the graphs is still a very important and useful skill! If all else fails, I will be lenient in grading graph questions if you are unable to technologically include a graph.

You may work together (and I highly encourage that) but you must turn in your own answers. Your TA, under my supervision, will grade homeworks 70% for completion, and for the remaining 30%, and one question will be graded for accuracy - so it is best that you try every problem, even if you are unsure how to complete it accurately.

Concepts and Critical Thinking

Please answer the following questions briefly (1-3 sentences). Use examples as necessary. Be sure to label graphs fully, if appropriate.

Question 1

In your own words, what do (1) allocative efficiency, (2) productive efficiency, and (3) Pareto efficiency mean? Under what three conditions are markets efficient?

Question 2

In your own words, what are the functions of market prices in society?

Question 3

In your own words, what are transaction costs, and how do they affect exchange?

Question 4

In your own words, explain the law of one price. Why would we expect it to be true (i.e. what market processes push us towards the predicted outcome)? What might prevent the same goods from being exchanged at the same price?Hint: Think about your answer to the previous question!

Question 5

In your own words, explain what entrepreneurship is, and how it affects market prices.

Question 6

In your own words, explain what consumer surplus and producer surplus mean. If Ann is willing to pay up to $6,000 for a used car, but buys it at a market price of $2,000, what is her consumer surplus? What is the producer’s surplus for Bob, who sells Ann the car for $2,000, but would be willing to go as low as $1,000?

Question 7

In your own words, explain why consumers who have less elastic demand earn greater consumer surplus.

Question 8

In your own words, explain what an externality is. Give an example, and draw a graph — either for a negative externality or a positive externality. Explain some possible ways that the problem can be solved.

Question 9

In your own words, explain what a public good is, and give an example. Explain why markets face problems providing public goods.

Question 10

In your own words, explain the “nirvana fallacy” and provide an example.

Problems

Show all work for calculations. You may lose points, even if correct, for missing work. Be sure to label graphs fully, if appropriate.

Question 11

The Ministry of Tourism in the Republic of Palau estimates that the monthly supply and demand for its scuba diving tours are: \[\begin{align*} q_S&=30p-2000\\ q_D&=6000-20p\\ \end{align*}\] > where quantity represents the number of individual dives each month and \(p\) is the price of a two-tank dive.

Part A

Calculate the equilibrium quantity and price (\(q^*,p^*)\).

Part B

Calculate the consumer surplus received by divers visiting Palau, and the producer surplus received by the dive ships.

Part C

Calculate the price elasticity of demand at equilibrium. Is it relatively elastic or inelastic?

Part D

Calculate the price elasticity of supply at equilibrium. Is it relatively elastic or inelastic?

Part E

Who earns more surplus, consumers or producers, and why?

Part F

Suppose that the demand for scuba diving services increases, and that the new demand curve is given by \(q_D'=7,000-20P\). Calculate the impact of this change in demand on the consumer surplus and producer surplus.

Part G

Draw a well-labelled graph of all that you found in this question (label prices, quantities, surpluses, curves, etc).

Question 12

The market for hotel rooms in a small town is characterized by the following equations:

\[\begin{align*} q_D&=200-0.4p\\ q_S&=0.8p-40\\ \end{align*}\]

Part A

Calculate the equilibrium price and quantity.

Part B

Calculate the price elasticity of demand and price elasticity of supply in equilibrium. Is each relatively elastic or inelastic?

Part C

Calculate the consumer and producer surplus in equilibrium. Who gets more surplus, and why?

Part D

Suppose the local government sets a price ceiling on the price of hotel rooms - saying they can charge no more than $150/night. At $150, how many hotel rooms do consumers want to rent, and how many rooms do the hotels want to rent out? What is this situation?

Part E

Explain what would happen as a result of part D if the price were allowed to change.

Part F

The price cannot change because of the price control. Hotels will only rent out the quantity you found in part D. Calculate consumer surplus and producer surplus at this price and quantity. Compare it to your answer in part C, what has changed?

Part G

Due to the situation created, how do you think those hotel rooms will be allocated and why?Hint: Think about the example we did with COVID.