MCQS ON HICKS AND MARSHALL DEMAND ANALYSIS
1. What are the two types of demand functions that are named after Marshall and Hicks respectively?
- A) Compensated and uncompensated demand
- B) Ordinary and compensated demand
- C) Direct and indirect demand
- D) Substitution and scale demand
- Answer: B) Ordinary and compensated demand
2. What are the four conditions that make the own-wage elasticity of demand for a category of labour high according to the Hicks-Marshall laws of derived demand?
- A) High price elasticity of demand for the product, high substitutability of other factors of production, high supply elasticity of other factors of production, and high labour cost share of total production cost
- B) Low price elasticity of demand for the product, low substitutability of other factors of production, low supply elasticity of other factors of production, and low labour cost share of total production cost
- C) High price elasticity of demand for the product, low substitutability of other factors of production, high supply elasticity of other factors of production, and low labour cost share of total production cost
- D) Low price elasticity of demand for the product, high substitutability of other factors of production, low supply elasticity of other factors of production, and high labour cost share of total production cost
- Answer: A) High price elasticity of demand for the product, high substitutability of other factors of production, high supply elasticity of other factors of production, and high labour cost share of total production cost
3. What is the difference between the Marshallian and Hicksian demand curves in terms of income and utility effects?
- A) The Marshallian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding income constant. The Hicksian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding utility constant.
- B) The Marshallian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding utility constant. The Hicksian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding income constant.
- C) The Marshallian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the income of the consumer changes, holding price constant. The Hicksian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the utility of the consumer changes, holding price constant.
- D) The Marshallian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the utility of the consumer changes, holding price constant. The Hicksian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the income of the consumer changes, holding price constant.
- Answer: A) The Marshallian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding income constant. The Hicksian demand curve shows the change in quantity demanded when the price of a good changes, holding utility constant.
Hicks and Marshall demand analysis are two different approaches to analysing consumer behaviour. The main difference between the two is the concept of income.
Marshallian demand analysis is based on the concept of real income. It measures the change in demand when the price of a good changes, while the consumer's real income remains constant. In contrast, Hicksian demand analysis is based on the concept of utility. It measures the change in demand when the price of a good changes, while the consumer's utility remains constant. The Marshallian approach is more intuitive and easier to understand, as it is based on the idea that consumers will buy more of a good when its price decreases. The Hicksian approach is more abstract, as it is based on the idea that consumers will buy more of a good when its marginal utility increases. In summary, the Marshallian approach is concerned with how changes in price affect the quantity of goods demanded, while the Hicksian approach is concerned with how changes in price affect the consumer's utility.