Terence has $50 per week to spend on Subway sandwiches and milkshakes. The price
of a Subway sandwich is $5 and the price of a milkshake is $4. He buys 6 sandwiches
and 5 milkshakes. The marginal utility of the 6th sandwich = 25 and the marginal utility
of the 5th milkshake = 24. Which of the following is true?
A) He is not maximizing his utility and should buy more milkshakes.
B) He is maximizing his utility.
C) He is not maximizing his utility and should buy more Subway sandwiches.
D) He is not maximizing his utility because he is not spending all of his income.
Refer to the Article Summary. In an attempt to discourage smoking, New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a bill which would set a $10.50 minimum
price for a pack of cigarettes. The bill would also prohibit retailers from offering
any discounts such as 2-for-1 offers or accepting discount coupons. New York City
already has the highest cigarette tax in the country, at $5.85 per pack, and the state
of New York is one of many which already require cigarettes be marked up by a
specified percentage. This bill is a companion to one which would require stores to
keep tobacco products hidden from sight. Although the bills are expected to be
challenged in court, a precedent has been set in Rhode Island, where a court
upheld a ruling allowing the city of Providence to forbid retailers from accepting
coupons and offering discounts on cigarettes. Source: Vivian Yee, “Bloomberg
Seeks End to Cheap Cigarettes,” New York Times, March 26, 2013.
The minimum price of $10.50 per pack of cigarettes being proposed by mayor
Bloomberg would have which of the following effects on the market for cigarettes?
A) Consumer surplus will increase.
B) Producer surplus will increase.
C) Deadweight loss will increase.
D) Market efficiency will increase.