Consider a Consumer That Only Purchases Two Goods,X and Y

question 46

Essay

Consider a consumer that only purchases two goods,X and Y.The government wishes to collect revenue from taxing this consumer and is considering two policies.The first policy is to only tax good X.The second policy will tax both goods by the same percentage.Assume that the tax rates in each policy are selected such that they collect the same amount of revenue.Which policy will have a smaller reduction in the consumer's well-being? (Use a graph of indifference curves and budget constraints to illustrate your answer)

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Definitions:

Pareto Optimal

A condition in resource allocation where it's unachievable to improve the standing of any party without detrimentally impacting another party or criterion of choice.

Endowment

The total resources available to an individual or entity, including assets, income, and wealth.

Competitive Equilibrium

Competitive equilibrium is a market condition where supply equals demand, with no incentive for price or quantity adjustments.

Pure Exchange

An economic model that assumes no production and focuses solely on the redistribution of existing goods and services among individuals based on preferences and initial endowments.