“SATISFACTION”
1
Thinking at the Margin
# Times Marginal Price
Watching Movie
Utility
1st $30 $10
2nd $15 $10
3rd $5 $10
Total $50 $30
Would you see the movie three times?
Notice that the total benefit is more than the
total cost but you would NOT watch the movie
the 3rd time.
Calculate Marginal Utility
# of Slices of Total Utility Marginal
Pizza (in utils) Utility/Benefit
0 0
1 8
2 14
3 19
4 23
5 25
6 26
7 26
8 24
How many pizzas would you buy if the price
per slice was $2? 3
Calculate Marginal Utility
# of Slices of Total Utility Marginal Marginal Cost
Pizza (in dollars) Utility/Benefit
0 0 0 $2
1 8 8 $2
2 14 6 $2
3 19 5 $2
4 23 4 $2
5 25 2 $2
6 26 1 $2
7 26 0 $2
8 24 -2 $2
How many pizzas would you buy if the price
per slice was $2? 4
Calculate Marginal Utility
# of Slices of Total Utility Marginal Marginal Cost
Pizza (in dollars) Utility/Benefit
0 0 0 2
1 You will continue to
8 8 2
2 14 6 2
3
consume
19
until
5 2
4 Marginal
23 Benefit
4 = 2
5 25 2 2
6
Marginal
26
Cost
1 2
7 26 0 2
8 24 -2 2
How many pizzas would you buy if the price
per slice was $2? 5
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
You plan to take a vacation and want to maximize
your utility. Based on the info below, which should
you choose?
6
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
You plan to take a vacation and want to maximize
your utility. Based on the info below, which should
you choose?
7
$10 $5
Utility Maximization