Ch. 6 ECON

If a supply curve is perfectly vertical, what is the value of the price elasticity of supply?

0

Refer to Figure 6-22. The price paid by buyers after the tax is imposed is a. $3.00. b. $3.50. c. $5.00. d. $6.00.

c. $5.00.

Refer to Figure 6-18. The price that buyers pay after the tax is imposed is a. $8. b. $10. c. $16. d. $24.

d. $24.

Refer to Figure 6-22. The effective price sellers receive after the tax is imposed is a. $2.00. b. $3.50. c. $5.00. d. $3.00.

d. $3.00.

If the income elasticity of demand for a good is 0.56, is the good a normal or inferior good?

The good is a normal good.

If the income elasticity of demand for a good is -1.40, is the good a normal or inferior good?

The good is an inferior good.

Using the midpoint method, what is the price elasticity of supply between $15 and $25?

The price elasticity of supply is 1.33.

Refer to Figure 6-22. Buyers pay how much of the tax per unit? a. $0.50. b. $1.50. c. $3.00. d. $5.00.

a. $0.50.

Refer to Figure 6-22. Sellers pay how much of the tax per unit? a. $0.50. b. $1.50. c. $3.00. d. $5.00.

a. $0.50.

Refer to Figure 6-22. The amount of the tax per unit is a. $2.00. b. $1.50. c. $3.00. d. $0.50.

a. $2.00.

Refer to Figure 6-22. The equilibrium price in the market before the tax is imposed is a. $3.50. b. $5.00. c. $2.00. d. $1.50.

a. $3.50.

35. A binding minimum wage a. alters both the quantity demanded and quantity supplied of labor. b. affects only the quantity of labor demanded; it does not affect the quantity of labor supplied. c. has no effect on the quantity of labor demanded or the quantity of labor supplied. d. causes only temporary unemployment because the market will adjust and eliminate any temporary surplus of workers.

a. alters both the quantity demanded and quantity supplied of labor.

Under rent control, bribery is a mechanism to a. bring the total price of an apartment (including the bribe) closer to the equilibrium price. b. allocate housing to the poorest individuals in the market. c. force the total price of an apartment (including the bribe) to be less than the market price. d. allocate housing to the most deserving tenants.

a. bring the total price of an apartment (including the bribe) closer to the equilibrium price.

54. If a tax is imposed on a market with inelastic demand and elastic supply, then a. buyers will bear most of the burden of the tax. b. sellers will bear most of the burden of the tax. c. the burden of the tax will be shared equally between buyers and sellers. d. it is impossible to determine how the burden of the tax will be shared.

a. buyers will bear most of the burden of the tax.

Suppose there is currently a tax of $50 per ticket on airline tickets. Buyers of airline tickets are required to pay the tax to the government. If the tax is reduced from $50 per ticket to $20 per ticket, then the a. demand curve will shift upward by $30, and the price paid by buyers will decrease by less than $30. b. demand curve will shift upward by $30, and the price paid by buyers will decrease by $30. c. supply curve will shift downward by $30, and the effective price received by sellers will increase by less than $30. d. supply curve will shift downward by $30, and the effective price received by sellers will increase by $30.

a. demand curve will shift upward by $30, and the price paid by buyers will decrease by less than $30.

If the government removes a binding price ceiling from a market, then the price paid by buyers will a. increase, and the quantity sold in the market will increase. b. increase, and the quantity sold in the market will decrease. c. decrease, and the quantity sold in the market will increase. d. decrease, and the quantity sold in the market will decrease.

a. increase, and the quantity sold in the market will increase.

If the government removes a tax on a good, then the quantity of the good sold will a. increase. b. decrease. c. not change. d. All of the above are possible.

a. increase.

Refer to Figure 6-1. The price ceiling shown in panel (a) a. is not binding. b. creates a surplus. c. creates a shortage. d. Both a) and b) are correct.

a. is not binding.

Refer to Figure 6-18. The amount of the tax per unit is a. $6. b. $8. c. $14. d. $18.

c. $14.

The tax burden will fall most heavily on buyers of the good when the demand curve a. is relatively steep, and the supply curve is relatively flat. b. is relatively flat, and the supply curve is relatively steep. c. and the supply curve are both relatively flat. d. and the supply curve are both relatively steep.

a. is relatively steep, and the supply curve is relatively flat.

Refer to Figure 6-12. When the price ceiling applies in this market, and the supply curve for gasoline shifts from S1 to S2, the resulting quantity of gasoline that is bought and sold is a. less than Q3. b. Q3. c. between Q1 and Q3. d. at least Q1.

a. less than Q3.

A tax imposed on the sellers of a good will raise the a. price paid by buyers and lower the equilibrium quantity. b. price paid by buyers and raise the equilibrium quantity. c. effective price received by sellers and lower the equilibrium quantity. d. effective price received by sellers and raise the equilibrium quantity.

a. price paid by buyers and lower the equilibrium quantity.

After a binding price floor becomes effective, a a. smaller quantity of the good is bought and sold. b. a larger quantity of the good is demanded. c. a smaller quantity of the good is supplied. d. All of the above are correct.

a. smaller quantity of the good is bought and sold.

. If a price floor is not binding, then a. the equilibrium price is above the price floor. b. the equilibrium price is below the price floor. c. there will be a surplus in the market. d. there will be a shortage in the market.

a. the equilibrium price is above the price floor.

Refer to Figure 6-7. Suppose a price ceiling of $5 is imposed on this market. As a result, a. the quantity of the good supplied decreases by 20 units. b. the demand curve shifts to the left; quantity sold is now 30 units and the price is $5. c. buyers' total expenditure on the good decreases by $80. d. the price of the good continues to serve as the rationing mechanism.

a. the quantity of the good supplied decreases by 20 units.

Refer to Figure 6-18. The effective price that sellers receive after the tax is imposed is a. $6. b. $10. c. $16. d. $24.

b. $10.

Refer to Figure 6-22. How much tax revenue does this tax generate for the government? a. $80. b. $60. c. $15. d. $45.

b. $60.

Refer to Figure 6-18. The per-unit burden of the tax on buyers is a. $6. b. $8. c. $14. d. $24.

b. $8.

How is the burden of a tax divided? (i) When the tax is levied on the sellers, the sellers bear a higher proportion of the tax burden. (ii) When the tax is levied on the buyers, the buyers bear a higher proportion of the tax burden. (iii) Regardless of whether the tax is levied on the buyers or the sellers, the buyers and sellers bear an equal proportion of the tax burden. (iv) Regardless of whether the tax is levied on the buyers or the sellers, the buyers and sellers bear some proportion of the tax burden. a. (i) and (ii) only b. (iv) only c. (i), (ii), and (iii) only d. (i), (ii), and (iv) only

b. (iv) only

Refer to Figure 6-22. As the figure is drawn, who sends the tax payment to the government? a. The buyers send the tax payment. b. The sellers send the tax payment. c. A portion of the tax payment is sent by the buyers, and the remaining portion is sent by the sellers. d. The question of who sends the tax payment cannot be determined from the graph.

b. The sellers send the tax payment.

13. Suppose that two supply curves pass through the same point. One is steep, and the other is flat. Which of the following statements is correct? a. The flatter supply curve represents a supply that is inelastic relative to the supply represented by the steeper supply curve. b. The steeper supply curve represents a supply that is inelastic relative to the supply represented by the flatter supply curve. c. Given two prices with which to calculate the price elasticity of supply, that elasticity would be the same for both curves. d. A decrease in demand will increase total revenue if the steeper supply curve is relevant, while a decrease in demand will decrease total revenue if the flatter supply cure is relevant.

b. The steeper supply curve represents a supply that is inelastic relative to the supply represented by the flatter supply curve.

Refer to Figure 6-4. Which of the following statements is not correct? a. When the price is $10, quantity supplied equals quantity demanded. b. When the price is $6, there is a surplus of 8 units. c. When the price is $12, there is a surplus of 4 units. d. When the price is $16, quantity supplied exceeds quantity demanded by 12 units.

b. When the price is $6, there is a surplus of 8 units.

A price floor is binding when it is set a. above the equilibrium price, causing a shortage. b. above the equilibrium price, causing a surplus. c. below the equilibrium price, causing a shortage. d. below the equilibrium price, causing a surplus.

b. above the equilibrium price, causing a surplus.

Refer to Figure 6-20. Suppose a tax of $5 per unit is imposed on this market. How much will sellers receive per unit after the tax is imposed? a. $5 b. between $5 and $10 c. between $10 and $14 d. $14

b. between $5 and $10

. Policymakers use taxes a. to raise revenue for public purposes but not to influence market outcomes. b. both to raise revenue for public purposes and to influence market outcomes. c. when they realize that price controls alone are insufficient to correct market inequities. d. only in those markets in which the burden of the tax falls clearly on the sellers.

b. both to raise revenue for public purposes and to influence market outcomes.

A tax on the buyers of cameras encourages a. sellers to supply a smaller quantity at every price. b. buyers to demand a smaller quantity at every price. c. sellers to supply a larger quantity at every price. d. Both a) and b) are correct.

b. buyers to demand a smaller quantity at every price.

Price ceilings and price floors that are binding a. are desirable because they make markets more efficient and more fair. b. cause surpluses and shortages to persist because price cannot adjust to the market equilibrium price. c. can have the effect of restoring a market to equilibrium. d. are imposed because they can make the poor in the economy better off without causing adverse effects.

b. cause surpluses and shortages to persist because price cannot adjust to the market equilibrium price.

A tax on the sellers of coffee mugs a. increases the size of the coffee mug market. b. decreases the size of the coffee mug market. c. has no effect on the size of the coffee mug market. d. may increase, decrease, or have no effect on the size of the coffee mug market.

b. decreases the size of the coffee mug market.

If a tax is levied on the buyers of a product, then there will be a(n) a. upward shift of the demand curve. b. downward shift of the demand curve. c. movement up and to the left along the demand curve. d. movement down and to the right along the demand curve.

b. downward shift of the demand curve.

A tax burden falls more heavily on the side of the market that a. has a fewer number of participants. b. is more inelastic. c. is closer to unit elastic. d. is less inelastic.

b. is more inelastic.

When a tax is placed on the buyers of a product, buyers pay a. more and sellers receive more than they did before the tax. b. more and sellers receive less than they did before the tax. c. less and sellers receive more than they did before the tax. d. less and sellers receive less than they did before the tax.

b. more and sellers receive less than they did before the tax.

Assume the demand for cigarettes is relatively inelastic, and the supply of cigarettes is relatively elastic. When cigarettes are taxed, we would expect a. most of the burden of the tax to fall on sellers of cigarettes, regardless of whether buyers or sellers of cigarettes are required to pay the tax to the government. b. most of the burden of the tax to fall on buyers of cigarettes, regardless of whether buyers or sellers of cigarettes are required to pay the tax to the government. c. the distribution of the tax burden between buyers and sellers of cigarettes to depend on whether buyers or sellers of cigarettes are required to pay the tax to the government. d. a large percentage of smokers to quit smoking in response to the tax.

b. most of the burden of the tax to fall on buyers of cigarettes, regardless of whether buyers or sellers of cigarettes are required to pay the tax to the government.

Refer to Figure 6-1. In which panel(s) of the figure would there be a shortage of the good at the price ceiling? a. panel (a) only b. panel (b) only c. both panel (a) and panel (b) d. neither panel (a) nor panel (b)

b. panel (b) only

Refer to Figure 6-1. A binding price ceiling is shown in a. panel (a) only. b. panel (b) only. c. both panel (a) and panel (b). d. neither panel (a) nor panel (b).

b. panel (b) only.

The minimum wage is an example of a a. price ceiling. b. price floor. c. wage subsidy. d. tax.

b. price floor.

If a tax is imposed on a market with inelastic supply and elastic demand, then a. buyers will bear most of the burden of the tax. b. sellers will bear most of the burden of the tax. c. the burden of the tax will be shared equally between buyers and sellers. d. it is impossible to determine how the burden of the tax will be shared.

b. sellers will bear most of the burden of the tax.

If the quantity supplied responds only slightly to changes in price, then a. supply is said to be elastic. b. supply is said to be inelastic. c. an increase in price will not shift the supply curve very much. d. even a large decrease in demand will change the equilibrium price only slightly.

b. supply is said to be inelastic.

If a price ceiling is not binding, then a. the equilibrium price is above the price ceiling. b. the equilibrium price is below the price ceiling. c. it has no legal enforcement mechanism. d. None of the above is correct because all price ceilings must be binding.

b. the equilibrium price is below the price ceiling.

If the minimum wage exceeds the equilibrium wage, then a. the quantity demanded of labor will exceed the quantity supplied. b. the quantity supplied of labor will exceed the quantity demanded. c. the minimum wage will not be binding. d. there will be no unemployment.

b. the quantity supplied of labor will exceed the quantity demanded.

10. The price elasticity of supply measures how much a. the quantity supplied responds to changes in input prices. b. the quantity supplied responds to changes in the price of the good. c. the price of the good responds to changes in supply. d. sellers respond to changes in technology.

b. the quantity supplied responds to changes in the price of the good

8. Generally, a firm is more willing and able to increase quantity supplied in response to a price change when a. the relevant time period is short rather than long. b. the relevant time period is long rather than short. c. supply is inelastic. d. the firm is experiencing capacity problems.

b. the relevant time period is long rather than short.

Refer to Figure 6-4. A government-imposed price of $6 in this market could be an example of a (i) binding price ceiling. (ii) non-binding price ceiling. (iii) binding price floor. (iv) non-binding price floor. a. (i) only b. (ii) only c. (i) and (iv) only d. (ii) and (iii) only

c. (i) and (iv) only

A key determinant of the price elasticity of supply is the time period under consideration. Which of the following statements best explains this fact? a. Supply curves are steeper over long periods of time than over short periods of time. b. Buyers of goods tend to be more responsive to price changes over long periods of time than over short periods of time. c. The number of firms in a market tends to be more variable over long periods of time than over short periods of time. d. Firms prefer to change their prices in the short run rather than in the long run.

c. The number of firms in a market tends to be more variable over long periods of time than over short periods of time.

14. Minimum-wage laws dictate a. the exact wage that firms must pay workers. b. a maximum wage that firms may pay workers. c. a minimum wage that firms may pay workers. d. both a minimum wage and a maximum wage that firms may pay workers.

c. a minimum wage that firms may pay workers.

A price ceiling will be binding only if it is set a. equal to the equilibrium price. b. above the equilibrium price. c. below the equilibrium price. d. either above or below the equilibrium price.

c. below the equilibrium price.

Refer to Figure 6-20. Suppose a tax of $5 per unit is imposed on this market. What will be the new equilibrium quantity in this market? a. less than 25 units b. 25 units c. between 25 units and 50 units d. greater than 50 units

c. between 25 units and 50 units

A shortage results when a a. nonbinding price ceiling is imposed on a market. b. nonbinding price ceiling is removed from a market. c. binding price ceiling is imposed on a market. d. binding price ceiling is removed from a market.

c. binding price ceiling is imposed on a market.

A surplus results when a a. nonbinding price floor is imposed on a market. b. nonbinding price floor is removed from a market. c. binding price floor is imposed on a market. d. binding price floor is removed from a market.

c. binding price floor is imposed on a market.

. A government-imposed price of $24 in this market is an example of a a. binding price ceiling that creates a shortage. b. non-binding price ceiling that creates a shortage. c. binding price floor that creates a surplus. d. non-binding price floor that creates a surplus.

c. binding price floor that creates a surplus.

Refer to Figure 6-1. The price ceiling shown in panel (b) a. is not binding. b. creates a surplus. c. creates a shortage. d. Both a) and b) are correct.

c. creates a shortage.

If the government removes a binding price floor from a market, then the price paid by buyers will a. increase, and the quantity sold in the market will increase. b. increase, and the quantity sold in the market will decrease. c. decrease, and the quantity sold in the market will increase. d. decrease, and the quantity sold in the market will decrease.

c. decrease, and the quantity sold in the market will increase.

A $1.50 tax levied on the buyers of pomegranate juice will shift the demand curve a. upward by exactly $1.50. b. upward by less than $1.50. c. downward by exactly $1.50. d. downward by less than $1.50.

c. downward by exactly $1.50.

9. A key determinant of the price elasticity of supply is the a. number of close substitutes for the good in question. b. extent to which buyers alter their quantities demanded in response to changes in prices. c. length of the time period. d. extent to which buyers alter their quantities demanded in response to changes in their incomes.

c. length of the time period.

15. The presence of a price control in a market for a good or service usually is an indication that a. an insufficient quantity of the good or service was being produced in that market to meet the public's need. b. the usual forces of supply and demand were not able to establish an equilibrium price in that market. c. policymakers believed that the price that prevailed in that market in the absence of price controls was unfair to buyers or sellers. d. policymakers correctly believed that price controls would generate no inequities of their own once imposed.

c. policymakers believed that the price that prevailed in that market in the absence of price controls was unfair to buyers or sellers.

The term tax incidence refers to a. whether buyers or sellers of a good are required to send tax payments to the government. b. whether the demand curve or the supply curve shifts when the tax is imposed. c. the distribution of the tax burden between buyers and sellers. d. widespread view that taxes (and death) are the only certainties in life.

c. the distribution of the tax burden between buyers and sellers.

Refer to Figure 6-22. Suppose the same supply and demand curves apply, and a tax of the same amount per unit as shown here is imposed. Now, however, the buyers of the good, rather than the sellers, are required to pay the tax to the government. After the buyers pay the tax, relative to the case depicted in the figure, the burden on buyers will be a. larger, and the burden on sellers will be smaller. b. smaller, and the burden on sellers will be larger. c. the same, and the burden on sellers will be the same. d. The relative burdens in the two cases cannot be determined without further information.

c. the same, and the burden on sellers will be the same.

A price floor set at a. $4 will be binding and will result in a shortage of 8 units. b. $4 will be binding and will result in a shortage of 16 units. c. $7 will be binding and will result in a surplus of 4 units. d. $7 will be binding and will result in a surplus of 8 units.

d. $7 will be binding and will result in a surplus of 8 units.

Refer to Figure 6-4. A government-imposed price of $16 in this market could be an example of a (i) binding price ceiling. (ii) non-binding price ceiling. (iii) binding price floor. (iv) non-binding price floor. a. (i) only b. (ii) only c. (i) and (iv) only d. (ii) and (iii) only

d. (ii) and (iii) only

A binding minimum wage tends to a. cause a labor surplus. b. cause unemployment. c. have the greatest impact in the market for teenage labor. d. All of the above are correct.

d. All of the above are correct.

A price floor is a. a legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold. b. often imposed when sellers of a good are successful in their attempts to convince the government that the market outcome is unfair without a price floor. c. a source of inefficiency in a market. d. All of the above are correct.

d. All of the above are correct.

The incidence of a tax falls more heavily on a. consumers than producers if demand is more inelastic than supply. b. producers than consumers if supply is more inelastic than demand. c. consumers than producers if supply is more elastic than demand. d. All of the above are correct.

d. All of the above are correct.

One economist has argued that rent control is "the best way to destroy a city, other than bombing." Why would an economist say this? a. He fears that low rents will cause low-income people to move into the city, reducing the quality of life for other people. b. He fears that rent control will benefit landlords at the expense of tenants, increasing inequality in the city. c. He fears that rent controls will cause a construction boom, which will make the city crowded and more polluted. d. He fears that rent control will eliminate the incentive to maintain buildings, leading to a deterioration of the city.

d. He fears that rent control will eliminate the incentive to maintain buildings, leading to a deterioration of the city.

Which of the following is not a function of prices in a market system? a. Prices have the crucial job of balancing supply and demand. b. Prices send signals to buyers and sellers to help them make rational economic decisions. c. Prices coordinate economic activity. d. Prices ensure an equal distribution of goods and services among consumers.

d. Prices ensure an equal distribution of goods and services among consumers.

Refer to Figure 6-12. When the price ceiling applies in this market & the supply curve for gas shifts from S1 to S2, a. the market price will increase to P3. b. a surplus will occur at the new market price of P2. c. the market price will stay at P1. d. a shortage will occur at the new market price of P2.

d. a shortage will occur at the new market price of P2.

If the government imposes a price floor of $7 on this market, then there will be a. no surplus. b. a surplus of 10 units. c. a surplus of 15 units. d. a surplus of 20 units.

d. a surplus of 20 units.

If marijuana were legalized, it is likely that there would be an increase in the supply of marijuana. Advocates of marijuana legalization argue that this would significantly reduce the amount of revenue going to the criminal organizations that currently supply marijuana. These advocates believe that the a. supply for marijuana is elastic. b. demand for marijuana is elastic. c. supply for marijuana is inelastic. d. demand for marijuana is inelastic.

d. demand for marijuana is inelastic.

The goal of rent control is to a. facilitate controlled economic experiments in urban areas. b. help landlords by assuring them a low vacancy rate for their apartments. c. help the poor by assuring them an adequate supply of apartments. d. help the poor by making housing more affordable.

d. help the poor by making housing more affordable.

The supply of oil is likely to be a. inelastic in both the short run and long run. b. elastic in both the short run and long run. c. elastic in the short run and inelastic in the long run. d. inelastic in the short run and elastic in the long run.

d. inelastic in the short run and elastic in the long run.

If the government removes a $1 tax on sellers of gasoline and imposes the same $1 tax on buyers of gasoline, then the price paid by buyers will a. increase, and the price received by sellers will increase. b. increase, and the price received by sellers will not change. c. not change, and the price received by sellers will increase. d. not change, and the price received by sellers will not change.

d. not change, and the price received by sellers will not change.

If a tax is levied on the sellers of a product, then the demand curve will a. shift down. b. shift up. c. become flatter. d. not shift.

d. not shift.

Unlike minimum wage laws, wage subsidies a. discourage firms from hiring the working poor. b. cause unemployment. c. help only wealthy workers. d. raise the living standards of the working poor without creating unemployment.

d. raise the living standards of the working poor without creating unemployment.

. A drug interdiction program that successfully reduces the supply of illegal drugs in the United States likely will a. raise the price, reduce the quantity, decrease total revenues, and decrease crime. b. lower the price, increase the quantity, increase total revenues, and increase crime. c. raise the price, increase the quantity, decrease total revenues, and increase crime. d. raise the price, reduce the quantity, increase total revenues, and increase crime.

d. raise the price, reduce the quantity, increase total revenues, and increase crime.