Joe Observes That a Car in 1925 Sold for an Average

question 35

Essay

Joe observes that a car in 1925 sold for an average of $500 versus $20,000 for a 2005 model. He concludes that 2005 cars must be 40 times better than 1925 cars. What's wrong with this way of thinking?

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Definitions:

Marginal Utility

The additional satisfaction or usefulness obtained from acquiring or consuming one more unit of a product or service.

Diminishing

A principle often seen where there is a decrease in the marginal (incremental) output of a production process as the amount of a single factor of production increases while others remain constant.

Donut

A fried dough confectionery or dessert food, usually sweet, and often served with a variety of toppings or fillings.

Total Utility

The total satisfaction received from consuming a particular quantity of a good or service.