On the Planet Hyperion Every Consumer Who Has Ever Lived

question 16

Multiple Choice

On the planet Hyperion every consumer who has ever lived has a utility function U(x, y) = min{x, 2y}. The currency of Hyperion is the doggerel. In 1850 the price of x was 1 doggerel per unit and the price of y was 2 doggerels per unit. In 2000, the price of x was 10 doggerels per unit and the price of y was 4 doggerels per unit. The Paasche price index of prices in 2000 relative to prices in 1850 is

• A) 6.
• B) 4.67.
• C) 2.50.
• D) 3.50.
• E) not possible to determine without further information.

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Definitions:

Gentlemen's Agreements

Informal, non-binding agreements based on trust, honor, and the integrity of the parties, without any written documentation.

Cartel

An agreement among competing firms to control prices or limit production in a sector, often to maximize profits at the expense of consumers.

Economic Performance

An assessment of how well an economy is functioning, often evaluated through indicators such as GDP growth rate, unemployment rates, and inflation.

Cost Differences

The discrepancies in the amount of money required to produce or obtain goods and services between different companies or regions.