The Positive Income Effect of a Gift (Figure 3.11)

Zero Income Effect on Free Time (Figure 3.12)

Two individuals, Sofia and Liam, both receive an unexpected, permanent increase in their daily non-wage income. Sofia has a strong preference for leisure and relaxation. Liam has a strong preference for consuming goods, which he purchases with his wage earnings. Assuming both can freely choose their hours of work, which of the following statements best analyzes the most likely change in their choice of free time?

Analyzing Work-Leisure Choices

Analyzing Preferences and Work Choices

An individual's response to a change in non-wage income depends on their personal preferences for consumption and free time. Match each description of an individual's preferences to the most likely outcome on their choice of free time after receiving a significant, unconditional cash gift.

An individual who works 40 hours per week receives a large, unconditional cash inheritance. After receiving the inheritance, they continue to work 40 hours per week. This outcome implies that the individual places no value on having additional free time.

Analyzing Responses to Increased Income

An individual receives a significant, unexpected increase in their daily non-wage income. They have a very strong preference for material goods over leisure. As a result of this income increase, the change in the number of hours they choose for free time each day will be close to ______.

Consider an individual's choice between daily consumption and hours of free time, represented on a graph where the budget constraint shows all possible combinations. The individual receives a significant, unconditional daily payment that does not depend on work hours, causing their budget constraint to shift outward, parallel to the original. On this new, higher budget constraint, they choose a new point that involves more consumption but fewer hours of free time than their initial choice. What does this behavioral change reveal about the individual's preferences?

Predicting Labor Supply Responses to a Grant

Evaluating the Labor Market Impact of a Universal Basic Income

Unearned Income vs. Wage Increase on Work-Leisure Choice