,ECS2606 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 1
2025 (253465 ) - DUE 24 March 2025; 100% TRUSTED
Complete, trusted solutions and explanations. ..Ensure your
success with us. ..
Answer ALL the
Questions 1. Explain and diagrammatically illustrate the impact
that the Covid-19 -pandemic induced restrictions on economic
activities imposed in CHINA in 2020/21 had on the
equimarginal principle . [10]
2.Explain how the following methods can be used to determine
the willingness to pay for benefits: [25] i. Averting costs ii.
Wage rates iii. Children’s health iv. House prices v. Intercity
wage differentials
Question 1: Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic-Induced
Restrictions on the Equimarginal Principle in China
(2020/21)
Explanation:
The equimarginal principle states that consumers (or firms)
allocate their resources in such a way that the marginal utility
(or marginal benefit) per unit of cost is equal across all goods or
activities. In other words, the last dollar spent on each good or
activity should yield the same level of satisfaction or benefit.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, China imposed strict restrictions
on economic activities, including lockdowns, travel bans, and
, reduced industrial production. These restrictions disrupted the
normal allocation of resources, affecting the equimarginal
principle in the following ways:
1. Disruption of Consumer Choices: Lockdowns and
restrictions limited access to certain goods and services
(e.g., dining out, travel, entertainment). Consumers had to
reallocate their spending to available goods (e.g., groceries,
home entertainment), which disrupted the equilibrium of
marginal utility per dollar spent.
2. Supply Chain Disruptions: Restrictions on production and
transportation led to shortages of certain goods, increasing
their prices. This shifted the marginal utility per dollar
spent, as consumers had to spend more on scarce goods,
violating the equimarginal principle.
3. Changes in Marginal Utility: With limited access to
certain activities (e.g., travel, leisure), the marginal utility
of alternative activities (e.g., home-based entertainment)
increased. Consumers reallocated their budgets, but the
equimarginal principle was disrupted due to the sudden and
uneven changes in marginal utilities.
4. Income Effects: Many individuals experienced reduced
incomes due to job losses or reduced working hours. This
forced them to prioritize essential goods, further distorting
the equimarginal allocation of resources.
Diagrammatic Illustration:
Below is a simplified diagram to illustrate the impact:
Copy
Before Pandemic:
2025 (253465 ) - DUE 24 March 2025; 100% TRUSTED
Complete, trusted solutions and explanations. ..Ensure your
success with us. ..
Answer ALL the
Questions 1. Explain and diagrammatically illustrate the impact
that the Covid-19 -pandemic induced restrictions on economic
activities imposed in CHINA in 2020/21 had on the
equimarginal principle . [10]
2.Explain how the following methods can be used to determine
the willingness to pay for benefits: [25] i. Averting costs ii.
Wage rates iii. Children’s health iv. House prices v. Intercity
wage differentials
Question 1: Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic-Induced
Restrictions on the Equimarginal Principle in China
(2020/21)
Explanation:
The equimarginal principle states that consumers (or firms)
allocate their resources in such a way that the marginal utility
(or marginal benefit) per unit of cost is equal across all goods or
activities. In other words, the last dollar spent on each good or
activity should yield the same level of satisfaction or benefit.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, China imposed strict restrictions
on economic activities, including lockdowns, travel bans, and
, reduced industrial production. These restrictions disrupted the
normal allocation of resources, affecting the equimarginal
principle in the following ways:
1. Disruption of Consumer Choices: Lockdowns and
restrictions limited access to certain goods and services
(e.g., dining out, travel, entertainment). Consumers had to
reallocate their spending to available goods (e.g., groceries,
home entertainment), which disrupted the equilibrium of
marginal utility per dollar spent.
2. Supply Chain Disruptions: Restrictions on production and
transportation led to shortages of certain goods, increasing
their prices. This shifted the marginal utility per dollar
spent, as consumers had to spend more on scarce goods,
violating the equimarginal principle.
3. Changes in Marginal Utility: With limited access to
certain activities (e.g., travel, leisure), the marginal utility
of alternative activities (e.g., home-based entertainment)
increased. Consumers reallocated their budgets, but the
equimarginal principle was disrupted due to the sudden and
uneven changes in marginal utilities.
4. Income Effects: Many individuals experienced reduced
incomes due to job losses or reduced working hours. This
forced them to prioritize essential goods, further distorting
the equimarginal allocation of resources.
Diagrammatic Illustration:
Below is a simplified diagram to illustrate the impact:
Copy
Before Pandemic: