📚 Learning Guide
Marginal Utility and Consumer Choice
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A consumer has a fixed income and is deciding between two goods: apples and oranges. If the price of apples decreases, how does the substitution effect influence the consumer's choice between the two goods?

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Learning Path

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Choose the Best Answer

A

The consumer will buy more apples and less oranges.

B

The consumer will buy only oranges.

C

The consumer will buy the same amount of both fruits.

D

The consumer will only buy apples if they find them on sale.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

When the price of apples decreases, the substitution effect comes into play, which means that apples become relatively cheaper compared to oranges. This makes apples more attractive to the consumer, who may decide to buy more apples instead of oranges because they can get more fruit for their money. For example, if apples cost $1 each and oranges cost $1. 50 each, a consumer might usually buy two oranges for $3. However, if apples drop to $0.

Detailed Explanation

When apples cost less, they become a better deal. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests the consumer will ignore apples completely; This answer implies the consumer will not change their buying habits.

Key Concepts

Utility maximization
Substitution effect
Topic

Marginal Utility and Consumer Choice

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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