Consider a Small Economy in Which Consumers Buy Only Two

question 186

Multiple Choice

Consider a small economy in which consumers buy only two goods: pretzels and cookies. In order to compute the consumer price index for this economy for two or more consecutive years, we assume that

• A)the percentage change in the price of pretzels is equal to the percentage change in the price of cookies from year to year.
• B)the number of pretzels bought by the typical consumer is equal to the number of cookies bought by the typical consumer in each year.
• C)neither the number of pretzels nor the number of cookies bought by the typical consumer changes from year to year.
• D)neither the price of pretzels nor the price of cookies changes from year to year.

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Definitions:

Substitution Effect

The change in consumption patterns due to a change in the relative prices of goods, leading consumers to substitute one good for another.

Diet Soda

is a low-calorie or zero-calorie carbonated beverage made with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.

Substitution Effect

The change in consumption patterns due to a change in price, leading consumers to substitute one product for another.

Real Balance Effect

An economic theory suggesting that inflation or deflation changes individuals' purchasing power, affecting their real income and consumption patterns.