Scott and Tom have dinner together at a new restaurant,and they discover that the portions are huge but taking home leftovers is not allowed.When both decide they are full,Scott forces himself to finish the rest of the food on his plate even though he doesn't really want to,while Tom asks the waiter to remove his plate while it still contains some food.How would an economist describe this behavior?

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An economist would describe Tom's behavior as rational because he maximized his utility by not forcing himself to eat more than he wanted, while still enjoying the benefits of the food he did eat. Scott, on the other hand, acted irrationally by forcing himself to eat more than he wanted purely because of a perceived social norm or rule.

Scott and Tom Have Dinner Together at a New Restaurant,and