Assignment 1 Model Answer
Assignment 1 Model Answer
1.
2.
Scarcity means that there is less of a good or resource available than people wish to have. T
Efficiency means everyone in the economy should receive an equal share of the goods and
services produced. F
3. There is no difference between a "change in demand" & a "change in quantity demanded".
F
4. Government policies that improve equality usually increase efficiency at the same time. F
5. If something happens to alter the quantity demanded at any given price, then the demand
curve shifts. T
6. When a production possibilities frontier is bowed outward, the opportunity cost of one good
in terms of the other is constant F
7. The invisible hand ensures that economic prosperity is distributed equally. F
8. Points inside the production possibilities frontier represent inefficient levels of production.
T
9. Productivity is defined as the quantity of goods and services produced from each unit of
labor input. T
10. If a person expects the price of socks to increase next month, then that persons current
demand for socks will increase. T
11. In a competitive market, there are so few buyers and so few sellers that each has a
significant impact on the market price, and the goods offered for sale are all exactly the
same. F
12. Monopolists are price takers. F
13. A technological advance in the production of the first good increases the opportunity cost of
the first good in terms of the second good. T
SHORT ANSWER
1-
1- Given the table below, graph the demand and supply curves for flashlights. Make
certain to label the equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity.
Price
$5
$4
$3
$2
$1
b.
c.
d.
price
a.
Surplus of 4000
5
4.5
Pe
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
Shortage of 8000
1.5
1
0.5
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
quantity
Qe
b.The equilibrium price (Pe) is $4 and the equilibrium quantity (Qe) is 8,000.
c. A surplus of 4,000 flashlights would be the problem in the market, and we would expect the
price to fall.
d.A shortage of 8,000 flashlights would be the problem in the market, and we would expect
the price to rise.
2.
ANS:
(a-c)
(d)
hammers
hammers
infeasible
discovery
feasible
efficient
inefficient
horseshoes
3.
horseshoes
Define opportunity cost. What is the opportunity cost to you of attending college? What was
your opportunity cost of coming to class today?
ANS:
Whatever must be given up to obtain some item it its opportunity cost. Basically, this would be a person's second
choice. The opportunity cost of a person attending college is the value of the best alternative use of that person's
time, as well as the additional costs the person incurs by making the choice to attend college. For most students this
would be the income the student gives up by not working plus the cost of tuition and books, and any other costs they
incur by attending college that they would not incur if they chose not to attend college. A student's opportunity cost
of coming to class was the value of the best opportunity the student gave up. (For most students, that seems to be
sleep.)
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.
Resources are
a. scarce for households but plentiful for economies.
b. plentiful for households but scarce for economies.
c. scarce for households and scarce for economies.
d. plentiful for households and plentiful for economies.
2.
3.
4.
6. Which of the following events would unambiguously cause a decrease in the equilibrium
price of cotton shirts?
a.
an increase in the price of wool shirts and a decrease in the price of raw cotton
b.
a decrease in the price of wool shirts and a decrease in the price of raw cotton
c.
an increase in the price of wool shirts and an increase in the price of raw cotton
d.
a decrease in the price of wool shirts and an increase in the price of raw cotton
7. A decrease in input costs to firms in a market will result in
a.
A decrease in equilibrium price and an increase in equilibrium quantity.
b.
A decrease in equilibrium price and a decrease in equilibrium quantity.
c.
An increase in equilibrium price and a decrease in equilibrium quantity.
d.
An increase in equilibrium price and an increase in equilibrium quantity.
8. Which of the following would not shift the demand curve for mp3 players?
a.
a decrease in the price of mp3 players
b.
a fad that makes mp3 players more popular among 12-25 year olds
c.
an increase in the price of CDs, a complement for mp3 players
d.
a decrease in the price of satellite radio, a substitute for mp3 players
9- If goods A and B are complements, then an increase in the price of good A will result in
a.
More of good A being sold.
b.
More of good B being sold.
c.
Less of good B being sold.
d.
No difference in the quantity sold of either good.