Q1. Set up the representative agent's utility maximization problem and write down the first order conditions for this maximization problem and determine ls and cD as functions of w and p.

Microeconomic Theory
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ISBN:9781337517942
Author:NICHOLSON
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Chapter9: Production Functions
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Problem 9.4P
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The question is a descriptive question in Microeconomics. Consider an economy inhabited by identical agents of size 1: A representative agent's preference over consumption (c) and labour supply (l) is given by the utility function

u(c,l) = ca (24-l)1-a for 0<a<1

Production of the consumption good c is given by the production function c = Al; where A > 0 is the productivity of labour. Both the commodity market and labour market are perfectly competitive: the buyers and sellers take the price as given while taking demand and supply decisions. Let us denote the hourly wage rate by w > 0 and price of the consumption good by p > 0:

A competitive equilibrium is given by the allocation of consumption and
labour, (cCE,lCE) and the relative price ratio, w/p, such that for given w and p, a representative agent decides her labour supply, lS, and consumption demand, cD; to maximize her utility;

A fi rm decides its labour demand, lD; and supply of consumption good, cD; to maximize its pro fit; and, finally, both the commodity market and labour market clear, that is, fi nally, both the commodity market and labour market clear, that is, lD= land cD=cS

Q1. Set up the representative agent's utility maximization problem and write down the first order conditions for this maximization problem and determine ls and cD as functions of w and p. 

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