Tom has preferences over consumption and leisure of the
following form: U = ln(c1)+ 2 ln(l)+βln(c2), where ct denotes the
stream of consumption in period t and l, hours of leisure. He can
choose to work only when he is young. If he works an hour, he can
earn 10 dollars (he can work up to 100 hours). He can also use
savings to smooth consumption over time, and if he saves, he will
earn an interest rate of 10% per period. Suppose also that he
values the future and the present equally, i.e. β = 1. (Remember
the marginal utility of ln(c) is 1/c and marginal utility of
leisure is given by 2/3l).
(a) Draw a standard indifference curve on the consumption
today and leisure set. What is
the slope of the indifference curve?
(b) Draw a standard indifference curve on the consumption
today and consumption tomor- row set. What is the slope of the
indifference curve?
(c) Write down the budget constraint in the first
period.
(d) Write down the budget constraint in the second
period.
(e) Derive the lifetime budget constraint.
(f) Draw the lifetime budget constraint on the consumption
today and leisure set. What is the slope of the budget line?
(g) Draw the lifetime budget constraint on the consumption
today and consumption to- morrow set. What is the slope of the
budget line?
(h) Find Tom’s optimal consumption in each period (c∗1, l∗ and
c∗2) and optimal saving rate?