Question

Abby, Bobbi, and Deborah each buy ice cream and paperback novels to enjoy on hot summer days. Ice cream costs $5 per gallon, and paperback novels cost $8 each. Abby has a budget of $80, Bobbi has a budget of $60, and Deborah has a budget of $40 to spend on ice cream and paperback novels. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. Each woman faces the same budget constraint.
b. The slope of the budget constraint is the same for each woman.
c. The area underneath the budget constraint is larger for Deborah than for Abby.
d. All of the above are correct.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. The slope of the budget constraint is the same for each woman.

Explanation:

Budget Line is the combination of two goods that a consumer can buy, given prices & money income (all spent).

Equation : p1x1 + p2x2 = m ;

where p1 & p2 are price of good 1 & 2 , x1 & x2 are quantities of good 1 & good 2 , m = money income  

• Abby's Budget Line : 5I + 8N = 80
• Bobbi's Budget Line : 5I + 8N = 60
• Deborah's Budget Line : 5I + 8N = 40 [ I = Icecream, N = Novel ]  

Slope of Budget Line represents change (sacrifise) of a good needed to get change (gain) of other good, given same prices & income.

Slope = ΔY/ΔX = Px / Py

Since prices are same for each woman, price ratios & hence the slope of budget line will also be same for all of them.