Answer:
a. Robert's optimal consumption bundle contains <u>9.18</u> cups of coffee and <u>45.88</u> packets of creamer.
b. Zero packets of creamer is the substitution effect.
Explanation:
a. Suppose that Robert has $39.00 to spend on coffee and creamer. His optimal consumption bundle contains _______cups of coffee and _________
The consumption ratio can be stated as follows:
5 Creamer = 1 cup of coffee
Budget line has an equation can also be given as follows:
B = (Pm * Qm) + (Pf * Qf) ...................... (1)
Where;
B = Budget = The amount Robert has to spend on coffee and creamer = $39.00
Pm = Price of creamer = $0.25
Qm = Quantity of creamer = ?
Pf = Price of coffee = $3.00
Qf = Quantity of coffee = ?
39 = (0.25 * Qm) + (3 * Qf)
39 = 0.25Qm + 3Qf
Since "5 Creamer = 1 cup of coffee". This also implies thal 1 creamer = 1 / 5 cup of coffee. Therefore, we have;
39 = 0.25Qm + (3 * 1/5 * Qm)
39 = 0.25Qm + (3/5)Qm
39 = 0.25Qm + 0.60Qm
39 = 0.85Qm
Qm = 39 / 0.85
Qm = 45.88
Qf = 45 / 5 = 9.18
Therefore, Robert's optimal consumption bundle contains <u>9.18</u> cups of coffee and <u>45.88</u> packets of creamer.
b. Now, suppose that the price of creamer rises to $0.50 per packet. What is the substitution effect of this price change?
Since Robert treats coffee and creamer as perfect complements, this implies that there there is nothing like substitution effect under this condition.
Therefore, zero packets of creamer is the substitution effect.
