Recall Bob and Ray in Problem 4

question 2

Multiple Choice

Recall Bob and Ray in Problem 4. They are thinking of buying a sofa. Bob's utility function is U_B(S, M_B) = (1 + S) M_B and Ray's utility function is U_R(S, M_R) = (2 + S) M_R, where S = 0 if they don't get the sofa and S = 1 if they do and where M_B and M_R are the amounts of money they have respectively to spend on their private consumptions. Bob has a total of $1,200 to spend on the sofa and other stuff. Ray has a total of $1,200 to spend on the sofa and other stuff. The maximum amount that they could pay for the sofa and still arrange to both be better off than without it is

• A) $1,500.
• B) $600.
• C) $1,000.
• D) $550.
• E) $2,000.

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Definitions:

Tax Burden

Tax Burden describes the total amount of tax that individuals, corporations, or other entities must pay, relative to their income or profits.

Excise Tax

A specific duty charged on the sale or consumption of particular goods, such as luxury items, gasoline, and alcohol, which is often aimed at discouraging certain behaviors.

Consumers

Individuals or entities that purchase goods or services for personal use rather than for manufacturing or reselling.

Soft Coal

A term often used for bituminous coal, characterized by its relatively high volatile content and used primarily for electricity generation and industrial heat.