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An example of how indifference curves are obtained as the level curves of a utility function. A graph of indifference curves for several utility levels of an individual consumer is called an indifference map. Points yielding different utility levels are each associated with distinct indifference curves and these indifference curves on the ...
Isoelastic utility for different values of . When > the curve approaches the horizontal axis asymptotically from below with no lower bound.. In economics, the isoelastic function for utility, also known as the isoelastic utility function, or power utility function, is used to express utility in terms of consumption or some other economic variable that a decision-maker is concerned with.
Each demand curve (demand as a function of price) is a step function: the consumer wants to buy zero units of a good whose utility/price ratio is below the maximum, and wants to buy as many units as possible of a good whose utility/price ratio is maximum. The consumer regards the goods as perfect substitute goods.
Leontief utility functions represent complementary goods. For example: For example: Suppose x 1 {\displaystyle x_{1}} is the number of left shoes and x 2 {\displaystyle x_{2}} the number of right shoes.
One use of the indirect utility concept is the notion of the utility of money. The (indirect) utility function for money is a nonlinear function that is bounded and asymmetric about the origin. The utility function is concave in the positive region, representing the phenomenon of diminishing marginal utility. The boundedness represents the fact ...
A set of convex-shaped indifference curves displays convex preferences: Given a convex indifference curve containing the set of all bundles (of two or more goods) that are all viewed as equally desired, the set of all goods bundles that are viewed as being at least as desired as those on the indifference curve is a convex set.
[1]: 164 A useful property of the quasilinear utility function is that the Marshallian/Walrasian demand for , …, does not depend on wealth and is thus not subject to a wealth effect; [1]: 165–166 The absence of a wealth effect simplifies analysis [1]: 222 and makes quasilinear utility functions a common choice for modelling.
The consumer has a utility function, from which his demand curves can be calculated. Then, it is possible to predict the behavior of the consumer in certain conditions, price or income changes. But in reality, there are many different consumers, each with his own utility function and demand curve.