The Table Below Reflects the Levels of Total Utility Received

question 251

Essay

The table below reflects the levels of total utility received from income for each of four members of a society.
Assume that the society has the following income distribution:
Peter $3
Paul $7
a. Mary $5
Jane $3
Is it possible for the government to increase total aggregate utility by redistributing income among members of society? Explain your answer. Assume that the government has $19 to allocate among the four members of society.
b. (Assume that no one has any income to start with.) If the government is interested in distributing income in a way that maximizes aggregate total utility, how should it distribute the $19 of income?
c. Does the table above describe a situation characterized by diminishing marginal utility? Explain your answer.

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Definitions:

LRAC Curve

Long-Run Average Cost curve, showing the minimum average cost of production at different levels of output when all inputs are variable.

Total Cost

The complete cost of production, including both fixed and variable costs.

Barrier To Entry

Factors that prevent or hinder companies from entering a specific market or industry.

Invention And Innovation

Invention refers to the creation of new ideas, goods, or services, while innovation involves improving or implementing new ideas into existing products or processes.