平狄克《微观经济学》课后答案 3-4.docVIP

CHAPTER 3 CONSUMER BEHAVIOR TEACHING NOTES Chapter 3 builds the foundation to derive the demand curve in Chapter 4. In order to understand demand theory, students must have a firm grasp of indifference curves, the marginal rate of substitution, the budget line, and optimal consumer choice. Utility theory may be discussed independently from consumer choice. Many students find utility functions to be a more abstract concept than preference relationships. However, if you plan to discuss uncertainty in Chapter 5, you will need to cover marginal utility. Even if you cover utility theory only briefly, make sure students are comfortable with the term utility because it appears frequently in Chapter 4. When introducing indifference curves, stress that physical quantities are represented on the two axes. After discussing supply and demand, students may think that price should be on the vertical axis. To develop indifference curves, start with any point in the Cartesian plane and ask for points that are more (and less) preferred. This will divide the plane into four quadrants. Then ask between which points they will be indifferent. Once students grasp the concept of preference points, introduce the notion of a “preference hill.” Using the example of a topographical map or a well-drawn three dimensional figure, point out that a three-dimensional figure is being collapsed into two dimensions. The marginal rate of substitution, MRS, is confusing to students. Some confuse the MRS with the ratio of the two quantities. If this is the case, point out that the slope is equal to the ratio of the rise, ?Y, and the run, ?X. This ratio is equal to the ratio of the intercepts of a line just tangent to the indifference curve. As we move along a convex indifference curve, these intercepts and the MRS change. Another problem is the terminology “of X for Y.” This is confusing because we are not substituting “X for Y,” but Y for one unit of X. Exercise (6) discusses this p