Scott and Tom are having dinner together at a new restaurant. They discover after ordering that the portions are huge, but the restaurant does not allow customers to take leftovers home so they eat until they both decide they are full. After this point, Scott forces himself to finish the rest of his food, even though he doesn't really want to, while Tom asks the waiter to remove his partially-full plate of food. How would an economist describe this behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tom acted rationally by stopping eating when he was full, thus maximizing his utility and avoiding the discomfort of overeating. Scott, by forcing himself to eat beyond his point of fullness, did not act in a way that maximized his utility, as the discomfort of overeating outweighs the benefit of not wasting food.

Scott and Tom Are Having Dinner Together at a New