Nick lives in san diego and loves to eat desserts. he spends his entire weekly allowance on jello and pie. a bowl of jello is priced at $1.25, and a piece of apple pie is priced at $3.75. at his current consumption point, nick's marginal rate of substitution (mrs) of jello for pie is 3. this means that nick is willing to trade three bowls of jello per week for one piece of pie per week. does nick's current bundle maximize his utility—in other words, make him as well off as possible? if not, how should he change it to maximize his utility?

Yes.

Explanation:

Market rate of exchange of jello for pie:

= Price of a piece of apple pie ÷ Price of jello

= $3.75 ÷ $1.25

= 3.00

At his current consumption point, Nick's marginal rate of substitution (MRS) of jello for pie = 3

Since MRS = Px/Py, hence, at this point of consumption bundle he is having a maximum level of utility.

Therefore, there is no need to change his consumption bundle because he is already at his maximum level.

cognitive overload: having a lot on your mind impairs decision-making and tends to result in the simplest, but not necessarily best, option being selected.

empathy gaps: overlooking how you might feel in a different situation can result in unnecessary purchases, such as overbuying when shopping for food on an empty stomach.

optimism and overconfidence: wearing rose-tinted glasses and having unrealistic expectations about the future can affect money management and leave you unprepared for a change in circumstance.

instant gratification: seeking instant gratification drives impulsive spending and can undermine long-term planning and savings.

harmful habits: automatic or mindless behaviour can amplify a poor financial decision as it becomes a recurring event.

social norms: we are heavily influenced by the actions of others; while this can be in certain circumstances, it also contributes to the pressure to keep up with the joneses through conspicuous consumption.