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What is the point where the efficient frontier and utility curve meet?

Option 1: Equilibrium Point

Option 2: Break-even Point

Option 3: Tangency Point

Option 4: Intersection Point

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The Tangency Point is where the efficient frontier and utility curve meet, signifying the optimal utility-maximizing choice on a consumption budget constraint. This point is determined by the equality of the ratios of marginal utility to price for two goods and is influenced by substitution and income effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The point where the efficient frontier and the utility curve meet is known as the Tangency Point. This point represents the utility-maximizing choice on a consumption budget constraint. At this tangency point, an investor's or consumer’s indifference curve (representing their utility preferences) is just tangent to the efficient frontier (representing the best possible investment or consumption options given a certain level of risk). In finding this utility-maximizing choice, one could calculate the total utility of each option on the budget line and select the highest or compare marginal utility gains and losses to find the preferred choice.

A fundamental rule in this analysis is that, at the tangency point, the ratio of the marginal utility to the price of good 1 should equal the ratio of the marginal utility to the price of good 2. The tangency point can also be affected by external factors such as a change in the price of goods, which brings about a substitution effect and an income effect. These effects describe how a consumer optimizes their utility by choosing more or less of certain goods to maximize satisfaction within their budget constraints, considering the relative costs and their available income.

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