ECONOMICS ASSIGNMENT

(CLO 2) Question 1: Assume there is a well-defined geographic area of a city. The

area is composed exclusively of apartments and is populated by Middle-income
residents. The people who live in the area tend to stay in that area because (1)
they cannot afford to live in other areas of the city, (2) they prefer to live with
people of Middle Income Group or (3) the development/municipality charges are
relative less in this area. Rents paid are not very high percent of population incomes
in that area.
Required:
1) Would the demand for apartments in this area be relatively inelastic or relatively
elastic? State why.
(2) Would the supply of apartments in this area be relatively inelastic or relatively
elastic? State why.
(3) Draw the demand and supply curves as you have described them, showing the
initial Equilibrium price and quantity. Label carefully
Now assume the government creates a rent supplement program. Under this
program, the renter is required to pay 30% of income in rent. Any additional rent is
paid by the government --- up to a limit. For example, a Middle-income person with
an income of $2000 a month would be required to pay $600 in rent (30%). If the
rent is $1000, the other $400 would be paid by the government.

(4) Analyze the results of this program.

(5) Show the changes on the graph and explain what will result. Who gains and
who loses from this program?

Instead, now assume that the government decides to provide a building subsidy to
people who build apartments in this Middle -income area. A certain percent of their
costs will be paid by the government. Analyze the results of this program.

6. Show the results on the graph and explain what will be the result.
(CLO 2) Question 2: Assume that a Japanese car and a similar American car each
sell in the United States at a price of $40,000. A tariff is a tax placed on the
products of foreign countries sold in the United States. Assume, there is a 13% tax
on foreign-made automobiles.
Required:
Construct a scenario analysis of Demand for Automobiles in both countries and
explain who would bear the incidence of this tax? State the reason(s) in the
contexts of price elasticity, substitution effect and income effect concepts.