2. 2. Equilibrium in Consumption
There is equilibrium in Consumer Market also.
Two consumers X and Y, both consume the two
goods A and B.
Prices of both goods are given.
Law of Diminishing MU applies.
Income of consumers is given,
Also tastes, preferences, etc.
Total Q of A and B fixed by producing firms M, N.
If X increases his consumption of A&B, Y has to
decrease his consumption.
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3. 3
4. Efficiency in Consumption
0X
0Y
BX
AY
IC 1X
IC2 X
IC3 X
IC4X
BY
IC2Y
IC3Y
IC4Y
AX
IC1Y
1
2
3
4
5
4. As in the case of production, draw the Edgeworth
box for consumption.
Taking Indifference curves of consumers X and Y, for
the two goods A and B.
As X increases his consumption from IC1A to IC4A,
B has to decrease his from ICB4 to ICB1.
At 5, the ICs of both X and Y intersect, with X on
IC1X, and Y on IC3Y.
Is it possible to improve this situation?
If X moves to point 2, he will be on a higher IC =
IC2X, while Y will be on the same IC3Y. So X
improves his welfare (consumption), but no change
in Y. X is better off, Y is not worse off.
So point 5 is not an efficient position.
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5. If Y moves to IC4Y, then he will be on a higher IC at
point 1. But X will remain on the same IC2X. So at
point 1, Y is better off, but X is not worse off.
This is known as Pareto Improvement.
All points where the two IC curves of the two
consumers are tangents to (touch) each other, are
points of equilibrium, = 1, 2, 3, 4.
Joining them gives the Contact curve of
consumption, OX 1, 2, 3, 4 OY.
These are all Pareto optimal points.
Moving from one to another point on the Contact
curve, it is not possible for one consumer to increase
his consumption, without another one’s decreasing.
But no unique equilibrium point.
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6. Take any one point on the Contact Curve, e.g. 2
with X on IC2X and Y on IC3Y.
The budget line drawn to it (dotted line) shows
the ratio of the prices of A and B.
The slope of the Indifference curves shows the
Marginal rate of substitution, MRSA,B.
The slopes of the two IC and that of their Budget
lines are same on each point on the Contact
curve.
At point 2, the slope of IC2X = IC3Y = PB/PA
MRSx = MRSy = PB/PA => Equilibrium
And so on for each of the points on the contact
curve. No unique equilibrium.
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7. General Equilibrium
Equilibrium in Production, Consumption, and
Factor markets.
Prices of goods (Pa, and Pb) and Factor prices
(w, i) are given.
Equilibrium of both consumption and production
to be achieved simultaneously.
Superimpose the Edgeworth box of
consumption on the PPC to find the General
equilibrium point for a two goods, two
consumers, two firms and two factors market.
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9. In figure 5, Commodities A and B are measured on
the two axis.
Edgeworth box of consumption is fitted within the
PPC of production.
Point E, where it touches the PPC.
Shows the maximum A and B that can be produced:
0A and 0B.
These have to be shared between the two
consumers X and Y.
Slope of the PPC at point E gives the prices of the
two goods: PA/PB.
Draw a line parallel to pp in the inner space.
Find the point where it is tangent to any set of IC
curves (e.g. at point 2)
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10. At point 2, the slope of the Price line pp is same
as slope of the two IC curves.
Or, MRSX = MRSY = Pa/Pbt
Point E which is on the PPC also shows the ratio
of prices Pa/Pb,
This is the equilibrium of Production.
Hence E is the point of General Equilibrium
Here, both consumption and production are
determined simultaneously.
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11. But, it is not a unique point.
If there is any change in the relative prices, then the
equilibrium will change.
This will change allocations, employment, and
output.
Is based on given prices of goods and factors.
Does not show how they are determined.
Based on perfect competition in both product and
factor markets.
Not if there is imperfect competition in any market.
Difficult to show in the case of multiple goods
markets.
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12. Questions (both 1 and 2)
Short questions:
What is general equilibrium? How does it differ from
partial equilibrium?
Explain the meaning of “Pareto optimality” and “Pareto
improvement”.
Draw an Edgeworth box of a) production, and b)
consumption. Explain how it works.
What is a contract curve? What is its significance?
What is a Production Possibility Curve? How is it
derived? And what is its significance?
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13. Essay Questions:
Explain how Production equilibrium is achieved in a
Pareto optimal model.
How is equilibrium achieved in the consumer’s market
with two consumers, and two goods?
Show with the help of diagrams, how general
equilibrium is achieved in a Pareto model.
What are the limitations of the Pareto model of
General Equilibrium?
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