M U LTIPLE C H OICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Transcription

1 Exam N ame M U LTIPLE C H OICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1) In the short run, when capital is a fixed factor, a rise in the cost of labour A) leaves the M C curve unchanged. B) shifts the marginal cost curve up wards. C) shifts the total product curve down wards. D) leaves the ATC curve unchanged. E) shifts the AVC curve down. 2) A limited partnership differs from an ordinary partnership by A) having limited liability of all partners. B) including some partners w hose liability is restricted to the amount that they invested in the firm. C) having a limited number of partners, each w ith limited liability. D) having a limited number of partners. E) having unlimited liability for all partners. The table below provides information on output per month and short - run costs for a firm producing outdoor wooden lounge chairs. Q TFC T V C T C T A BLE 7-4 3) Refer to Table 7-4. A t what level of output is this firm at its capacity? A) 15 chairs B) 30 chairs C) 25 chairs D) 10 chairs E) 20 chairs Economics 208A, November 13, page 1

2 The table below shows output, marginal cost, and average variable cost for the production of pairs of shoes. All costs are in dollars. T A BLE 7-5 A verage O utput MarginalCost V ariable Cost ) Refer to Table 7-5. If the firm produces 130 pairs of shoes, and the fixed cost is $550, then the firm s total cost is A) $ B) $7000. C) $8000. D) $ E) $ ) The period of time over which at least one factor of production is fixed is called the A) very -short run. B) short run. C) long run. D) very - long run. E) none of the above. 6) Which of the following items is N O T a characteristic of a corporation? A) It has the right to sue and be sued. B) It is an entity separate from the individuals who own it. C) It is legally obliged to distribute all profits to shareholders. D) It can enter into contracts. E) It can incur debt that is an obligation of the corporation but not of its individual owners. 7) Jodi recently went into business producing widgets. Which of the following would be a fixed cost for her firm? 1. labour costs are $1000 per month 2. raw material costs are $5000 per month 3. a one- year lease on a building is $ A) 1 only B) 2 only C) 3 only D) 1 and 2 only E) 2 and 3 only Economics 208A, November 13, page 2

3 8) If increasing quantities of a variable factor are applied to a given quantity of fixed factors, then the law of diminishing returns tells us that A) the marginal product w ill eventually decrease w ith constant a verage product. B) total product will eventually begin to fall. C) the average product will eventually decrease w ith constant marginal product. D) the average product w ill eventually decrease, but only if total product is held constant. E) the marginal product and the average product of the variable factor w ill eventually decrease. The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family- owned firm producing catered meals. Total Revenues ($) Total Costs ($) - wages and salaries risk - free return of 6% on owners' capital of rent depreciation of capital equipment risk premium of 8% on owners' capital of intermediate inputs forgone wages of owners in alternative employment interest on bank loan T A BLE 7-1 9) Refer to Table 7-1. The accounting profits for this family - owned firm are A) $0 B) $ C) -$ D) $ E) $ ) Consider a firm in the short run. If total product is at its maximum, then A) average product must be rising and must lie above marginal product. B) average product must be falling and be equal to zero. C) marginal product must be greater than zero and must be falling. D) average product must equal marginal product. E) marginal product must be falling and be equal to zero. 11) The point of diminishing marginal productivity is the point where A) marginal product has reached its maximum. B) average product has reached its maximum. C) the marginal product curve lies below the average product curve. D) the total product begins to fall. E) the marginal product begins to fall at an increasing rate. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 3

4 12) Suppose a firm is producing 100 units of output, incurring a total cost of $ and total variable cost of $6000. It can be concluded that average fixed cost is A) $40. B) $60. C) $100. D) $160. E) $4000. A nswer: A The table below shows output, marginal cost, and average variable cost for the production of pairs of shoes. All costs are in dollars. T A BLE 7-5 A verage O utput MarginalCost V ariable Cost ) Refer to Table 7-5. The firm s marginal product of its variable factor is maximized when it produces units of output. A) 100 B) 110 C) 90 D) 170 E) 50 14) The opportunity cost to a firm of using an asset is zero if A) the asset was given to the firm for free. B) no money was spent to acquire the asset. C) the asset is already owned by the firm. D) the asset has no alternative uses. E) the asset has zero sunk costs associated with it. A nswer: D 15) Consider a firm in the short run. When the total- product curve is increasing at an increasing rate A) marginal product is positive but declining. B) average product is zero. C) the marginal- product curve lies below the average- product curve. D) average product is falling. E) marginal product is positive and increasing. Economics 208A, November 13, page 4

5 The diagram below shows the short- run cost curves for 3 perfectly competitive firms in the same industry. FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 9-6. If Firms A, B and C are in the same industry, is this industry in long- run equilibrium? A) No, because if the industry were in equilibrium, all 3 firms would be earning zero economic profits. B) No, because Firm A is not producing at a profit- maximizing level of output. C) Yes, because all 3 firms are producing at their minimum average total cost. D) Yes, because each of the 3 firms is operating at its minimum efficient scale. E) Yes, because P = M C = MR for each of the 3 firms. A nswer: A 17) T he demand curve facing a perfectly competitive firm depends on A) market demand and the market supply curve. B) market demand alone. C) the marginal cost of the firm. D) market demand and the firm's supply curve. E) market supply alone. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 5

6 Consider the following total cost schedule for a perfectly competitive firm producing ball- point pens. O utput per period T V C ($) TFC ($) T A BLE ) Refer to Table 9-2. If this firm were producing at an output level of 30 units, the A FC would be and the A V C would be. A) $6; $5 B) $0.17; $0.20 C) $0.10; $0.30 D) $5; $6 E) $0.20; $ ) Which of the following conditions are N O T true of a perfectly competitive firm when the industry is in long- run equilibrium? A) Price equals marginal revenue. B) Price equals minimum short- run and long- run average total cost. C) Economic profits are greater than zero. D) Price equals marginal cost. E) Economic profits are zero. 20) When economists say that a perfectly competiti ve firm is a "quantity adjuster", they mean that A) it is not concerned w ith cost factors. B) changing the output level does not affect the costs of production. C) its marginal-cost curve coincides with its own demand curve. D) it can vary its output by an infinite amount. E) it is a price taker. Economics 208A, November 13, page 6

7 Consider the following cost curves for Firm X, a perfectly competitive firm. FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 9-3. A t output Q1 and price P1, A) there is no lower-cost scale of plant which could be built by Firm X. B) Firm X is producing at its minimum efficient scale. C) new firms have a profit incentive to enter the industry, building larger plants. D) Firm X is at its long- run profit- maximizing position. E) there are profits to induce increases in output by Firm X, using its existing plant. 22) A perfectly competiti ve firm maximizes its profits by A) pricing slightly under its competitors. B) maximizing total revenue. C) choosing the optimal level of output. D) choosing the optimal price. E) maximizing total sales. 23) A verage revenue (AR) for an individual firm equals A)!(p q)/!q. B)!p!q. C)!q/!p. D) (p q)/q. E) p q. A nswer: D Economics 208A, November 13, page 7

8 24) If firms in a competitive industry are suffering economic losses, then one would expect that in the long run A) the demand curve for the product will shift to the left, causing equilibrium output and price to decline. B) the supply curve for the product will shift to the right as individual firms lower their prices to increase their sales. C) there would be no change in the number of firms in the industry as long as firms are covering their average variable costs. D) each firm would raise its price until it was breaking even. E) the supply curve for the product will shift to the left as firms leave the industry, causing industry output to fall and price to rise. Consider the following total cost schedule for a perfectly competitive firm producing ball- point pens. O utput per period T V C ($) TFC ($) T A BLE ) Refer to Table 9-2. As this firm increases output from 40 units to 50 units per period, its marginal cost rises to A) $0.10 B) $0.17 C) $0.375 D) $0.40 E) $ ) N atural barriers to entry include A) increasing- cost production. B) control or ownership of the entire supply of an essential raw material. C) large economies of scale in the industry. D) an government- awarded franchise. E) a patent which allows production by only the patent holder. 27) If a monopolist is practicing perfect price discrimination, then the following equation is true: A) MR = P for all units. B) MR = 1/2 P for any unit. C) AR = ATC at the profit- maximizing level of output. D) M C = 1/2 MR at the profit- maximizing level of output. E) both A and C are correct. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 8

9 Consider the following AR and M R curves for a single- price monopolist. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure If marginal costs were positive and constant but less than A, the profit- maximizing output for a single- price monopolist would be A) Q2. B) greater than zero, but less than Q2. C) greater than zero, but less than Q1. D) 0. E) none of the above. Economics 208A, November 13, page 9

10 The diagram below shows a pharmaceutical firm's demand curve and marginal cost curve for a new heart medication for which the firm holds a 20- year patent on its production. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure A ssume this pharmaceutical firm is practicing perfect price discrimination among its buyers. A t its profit- maximizing level of output, it will generate a deadweight loss to society represented by A) areas I+J+K. B) areas H+I+J+K. C) it is not possible to determine with the information provided. D) there is no dead weight loss generated. E) areas H+I. A nswer: D 30) Refer to Figure Assume this pharmaceutical firm charges a single price for its drug. A t its profit- maximizing level of output it w ill produce A) Q1 units and charge a price greater than its average total variable cost. B) Q0 units and charge a price of p0. C) Q0 units and charge a price of p2. D) Q0 units and charge the perfectly competitive price. E) Q1 units and charge a price of p1. Economics 208A, November 13, page 10

11 Your food- services company has been awarded an exclusive right to provide meals at a small university. The cost and demand schedules are: T A BLE 10-2 Sold Price Total Total per per Fixed V ariable Total Day M eal Cost Cost Revenue 0 $3.50 $ $3.25 $150 $300 $ $3.00 $150 $500 $ $2.75 $150 $650 $ $2.50 $150 $750 $ $2.25 $150 $830 $ $2.00 $150 $905 $ $1.75 $150 $995 $ ) Refer to Table 10-2, and suppose that the firm is a single- price monopolist. A t the profit - maximizing level of output, the firm's total profit per day will be A) $75. B) $100. C) $145. D) $150. E) $ ) Real capital includes A) corporate bonds. B) corporate stock. C) a firm's balance in its bank account. D) a firm's physical assets. E) ow ner's equity. A nswer: D 33) Which of the following is an example of an input that is an intermediate product? A) capital B) a product produced by another firm C) land D) money E) labour 34) The opportunity cost of any factor of production is A) its explicit cost. B) the benefit forgone by not using it in its best alternative. C) the money actually paid to the factors of production. D) the benefit forgone by not using it in its worst alternative. E) its accounting cost. Economics 208A, November 13, page 11

12 The diagram below shows some short- run const curves for a firm. FI G U RE 7-2 Economics 208A, November 13, page 12

13 35) Refer to Figure 7-2. W hich of the following choices correctly identifies the cost curves in part (ii) of the figure? A) Curve 4 is the marginal cost curve. Curve 5 is the average fixed cost curve. C urve 6 is the average variable cost curve. Curve 7 is the average total cost curve. B) Curve 4 is the average total cost curve. Curve 5 is the marginal cost curve. C urve 6 is the average variable cost curve. Curve 7 is the average fixed cost curve. C) Curve 4 is the average fixed cost curve. Curve 5 is the average total cost curve. Curve 6 is the marginal cost curve. C urve 7 is the average variable cost curve. D) Curve 4 is the marginal cost curve. C urve 5 is the average variable cost curve. Curve 6 is the average fixed cost curve. Curve 7 is the average total cost curve. E) Curve 4 is the marginal cost curve. Curve 5 is the average total cost curve. C urve 6 is the average variable cost curve. Curve 7 is the average fixed cost curve. Economics 208A, November 13, page 13

14 FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 9-1. The diagram shows cost curves for a perfectly competitive firm. If the market price is P2, the profit- maximizing firm in the short run should A) produce output B. B) produce output C. C) produce output D. D) produce output E. E) shut dow n, as it is incurring losses. A nswer: D Economics 208A, November 13, page 14

15 Consider the following cost curves for a perfectly competitive firm. FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 9-2. The short- run supply curve for this perfectly competitive firm is its A) SRAVC curve at and above $1.50. B) entire marginal cost curve. C) marginal cost curve at and above $3. D) marginal cost curve at and above $1.50. E) SRATC curve at and above $3. A nswer: D 38) Total revenue (TR) for an individual firm equals A)!q/!p. B)!(p q)/!q. C) (p q)/q. D)!p!q. E) p q. 39) A single- price monopolist is currently producing an output level where P = $20, MR = $13, ATC = $15, and M C = $14. In order to maximize profits, this monopolist should A) increase production and reduce price. B) not change his output level, because he is currently at the profit - maximizing output level. C) decrease prod uction and increase price. D) shut down. E) there is insufficient information to make a recommendation. Economics 208A, November 13, page 15

16 The diagram below shows total revenue for a single- price monopolist. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure The profit - maximizing output for the single- price monopolist is A) 0. B) Q1. C) Q2. D) Q3. E) not determinable from the diagram. 41) The equation Q = 0.5KL - (0.4)L + 2L2 is an example of A) an economic input function. B) a production function. C) a factor of production equation. D) an arithmetic expression of output quantities. E) a technological change equation. 42) If a perfectly competitive firm is producing a level of output for which price equals average total cost, and average total cost is less than marginal cost, the firm should A) not change its output. B) reduce its output. C) expand its output. D) shut down. E) increase the market price. Economics 208A, November 13, page 16

17 The table below shows the demand schedule for a product produced by a monopolist. Price $8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $3 $2 Q uantity T A BLE ) Refer to Table For a single- price monopolist producing and selling 9 units, the marginal revenue earned by selling the 9th unit is A) -2. B) 0. C) -4. D) 4. E) 2. 44) Short- run cost curves are eventually upward - sloping because of the effects of A) increasing marginal productivity of the variable inputs. B) the increasing price of variable inputs. C) decreasing total product. D) diminishing marginal product. E) increasing fixed costs. A nswer: D Assume the following total cost schedule for a perfectly competitive firm. T A BLE 9-1 O utput T V C TFC ) Refer to Table 9-1. The competitive firm's break - even price is A) $40. B) $70. C) $145. D) $220. E) $ ) Each point on a supply curve shows the acceptable price to firms for selling that unit; this price reflects to firms from producing that unit. A) maximum; the additional value B) minimum; the additional value C) minimum; the equilibrium price D) maximum; the additional cost E) minimum; the additional cost Economics 208A, November 13, page 17

18 47) If snow tires are produced and purchased in the month of November, we can say that economic surplus is A) the net value to those consumers who purchased the snow tires. B) the number of snow tires that are produced in excess of the equilibrium quantity. C) the net value that society as a w hole receives by producing and consuming those snow tires. D) the price at which the tires are sold multiplied by E) the profit earned by the producers of those snow tires. FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 5-5. Suppose this market for gardening services is in a free- market equilibrium. If the government then imposes a price floor of $50 per hour for gardening services, the result would be A) a loss of economic surplus of the areas 1, 2, 3, and 4. B) a loss of economic surplus of the areas 2 and 6. C) a loss of economic surplus of the areas 6 and 7. D) a loss of economic surplus of the area 1. E) a loss of economic surplus of the areas 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. 49) Dead weight loss represents A) the total market value of the goods no longer produced when quantity exchanged is below the equilibrium quantity. B) the loss of consumption that occurs when a binding price floor or ceiling is imposed. C) the loss of production that occurs when a binding price floor or ceiling is imposed. D) the overall loss of economic surplus to society that occurs when markets are inefficient. E) the loss of economic surplus to consumers. A nswer: D Economics 208A, November 13, page 18

19 FI G U RE ) Refer to Figure 5-7. The market for good X is in equilibrium at P0 and Q0. Now suppose the government imposes a at P2. One result would be. A) price floor; a dead weight loss represented by area 8. B) price floor; a dead weight loss represented by areas 5 and 6. C) price floor; an increase in economic surplus represented by area 1. D) price ceiling; a dead weight loss represented by areas 5 and 6. E) price ceiling; an increase in economic surplus represented by areas 2 and 5. 51) A n economy will be allocatively efficient if A) the economy's resources are fully employed. B) all firms are breaking even. C) price equals marginal cost for all products. D) the price equals average cost for all goods. E) the average cost of production is the lowest possible for all goods produced. 52) We can safely say that each point on a country's production possibilities boundary (PPB) is A) productively efficient. B) not productively efficient. C) allocatively efficient. D) one at which P = M C for all goods. E) Pareto optimal. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 19

20 Consider three firms, A, B and C, all producing kilos of potatoes (per year) in a perfectly competitive market. The diagrams below show marginal cost curves for each of the three firms. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure Suppose each of Firms A, B, and C are producing 500 kilos of potatoes. Is this industry productively efficient? A) No, because marginal costs are not equated for all firms. B) Yes, because output is equated for all firms. C) No, because the marginal cost curve for each firm has a different slope. D) No, because each firm could easily produce more than 500 kilos. E) It is not possible to say whether this industry is productively efficient because we do not know the market price of the product. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 20

21 The production possibilities boundary shows possible combinations of guns and butter that can be produced by a country. The lower diagram shows demand and supply for butter. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure Suppose demand and supply for butter are shown by D and S, respectively. A nd suppose the economy is at point (a) on the production possibilities boundary. Is this output of guns and butter allocatively efficient? A) No, because the marginal cost to producers of the butter produced is more than the marginal value to consumers. B) Yes, because the marginal cost of producing the butter equals the marginal value of consuming the butter. C) Yes, because all points on the production possibilities boundary are allocatively efficient. D) N o, because the marginal costs for guns and butter are not equated. E) No, because the marginal value to consumers of the butter produced is greater than the marginal cost to producers. Economics 208A, November 13, page 21

22 55) W hen comparing a perfectly competitive firm and a monopolist, a major difference is that A) the perfect competitor produces where P = M C, but the monopolist does not. B) the perfect competitor achieves productive efficiency, but the monopolist does not. C) the monopolist produces where MR = M C, but the perfect competitor does not. D) the monopolist achieves allocative efficiency but the perfect competitor does not. E) none of the above A nswer: A The diagram below shows supply, demand, and quantity exchanged of Monday matinee movie tickets. Assume it is a perfectly competitive market. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure W hat is the total economic surplus generated in this market at the allocatively efficient level of output? A) $250 B) $5 C) $125 D) $500 E) $10 A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 22

23 The diagram below shows the demand and supply curves in a perfectly competitive market. FI G URE ) Refer to Figure In the free- market equilibrium, producer surplus is shown by the area A) P3P2E. B) P1P3E. C) D) E) P1P2E. 58) T he "informal defense" of free markets includes the argument that competitive markets A) lead to allocative efficiency. B) provide automatic coordination of the actions of decentralized decision makers. C) provide a stimulus to innovation and economic growth because of the pursuit of profits. D) permit a decentralization of economic power. E) B, C and D, but not A. 59) It may be said that the price system A) depends on planned coordination between firms and governments. B) is automatic and functions perfectly in reallocating economic resources. C) is the only feasible method of allocating resources. D) is automatic, although it does not function perfectly. E) operates only in a laissez- faire economy. A nswer: D Economics 208A, November 13, page 23

24 60) T he " informal defense" of free markets includes the argument that markets A) provide automatic coordination of the actions of decentralized decision makers. B) permit a centralization of economic power. C) lead to prod uctive efficiency. D) achieve the maximum feasible rate of economic growth. E) lead to allocative efficiency. A nswer: A Economics 208A, November 13, page 24