Learn Before
Analyzing a Choice with a Reservation Option
A university student is deciding how to spend their summer. They have been offered a full-time, unpaid internship at a prestigious company in their field of study. Their only other alternative is to work at a local cafe, where they are guaranteed a job that would earn them $5,000 over the summer. After considering both choices, the student accepts the unpaid internship. Identify the student's reservation option and explain how the characteristics of this option influence the true cost of choosing the internship.
0
1
Tags
Social Science
Empirical Science
Science
Economics
Economy
Introduction to Microeconomics Course
CORE Econ
Ch.6 The firm and its employees - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Analysis in Bloom's Taxonomy
The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
Related
A freelance graphic designer is offered a project that will pay $1,500 and take two weeks to complete. The designer's only other work opportunity for that same two-week period is a series of smaller tasks for a regular client that would pay a total of $1,200. The designer finds the $1,500 project more interesting and decides to accept it. Based on this information, what is the designer's reservation option?
Identifying the Reservation Option
Analyzing a Choice with a Reservation Option
A company is considering upgrading its software system. The new system costs $50,000 but is projected to increase annual profits by $20,000. The company's other options are to continue using the current system, which has no new costs but also no new profit, or to switch to a different, cheaper software that costs $10,000 and is projected to increase annual profits by $12,000. The company decides to purchase the new $50,000 system. Based on this information, the company's reservation option is to continue using the current system.
Calculating the Value of a Reservation Option
An individual is deciding between three mutually exclusive options for the summer:
- A full-time internship that pays a total of $5,000.
- Working a local job that pays a total of $4,000.
- Taking an unpaid research position that offers valuable experience but no income.
The individual determines that the internship is their best option and the local job is their second-best option. If the pay for the local job suddenly increases to $5,500, how does this change affect the economic evaluation of the individual's choice?
A student is deciding how to spend their spring break. They have several options:
- Go on a trip to Florida with friends, which they value the most. The trip costs $800.
- Work a temporary job earning $600. They consider this their second-best option.
- Stay home and study for exams, which they consider their third-best option.
The student chooses to go on the trip to Florida. Match each element of the scenario to its correct economic description.
Critiquing a Business Decision
Analyzing Economic Surplus
Strategic Business Relocation
A Graduate's Decision with a Lower-than-Expected Wage Offer
Reservation Wage as the Indifference Point for Job Acceptance