Why is it inefficient to be overinformed? What will be an ...

[student77]

Why is it inefficient to be overinformed?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Thinking about information as a good, what determines the information people are willing to pay for?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[carolinefletcherr]

Answer to Question 1

Information is costly to obtain. If the marginal cost of obtaining the information exceeds its marginal benefit, the individual would be better off by not obtaining the information. It is inefficient to acquire the information because the marginal benefit from the information does not make up for the marginal cost of obtaining it.

Answer to Question 2

People are willing to pay for information so long as the marginal cost is less than or equal to its marginal benefit. For instance, consumers are willing to purchase information that has a marginal benefit to them that exceeds the price they must pay. Consumers might be willing to purchase information about the price(s) of large-ticket goods and services that are of interest. Workers might well be interested in buying information about salaries paid in occupations that interest them or salaries paid their co-workers. Employers are willing to buy information about the average salary offer given to college graduates with different majors.