Eco 102-51 Macroeconomics Chapter 2

Why is there scarcity?

Because our unlimited wants exceed our limited resources

Refer to Figure 2-1. An economy is operating at full employment, and then workers in the bread industry are laid off. This change is portrayed in the movement from:

C to F

Which of the following would most likely shift the production possibilities curve inward?

a decrease in the average number of hours worked per week as the labor force chooses to enjoy more leisure time

The leader of a federal political party made the following campaign promise: "My administration will increase national defense without requiring sacrifices elsewhere in the economy." The promise can be kept if:

either b) or c) occurs, but not as a result of a). B. the economy moves from a point inside the production possibilities curve toward a point on the production possibilities curve. C.the production possibilities frontier shifts outward due to an improvement in technology.

The opportunity cost of an action:

is a subjective valuation that can be determined only by the individual who chooses the action.

"If I didn't have class tonight, I would save the $4 campus parking fee and spend four hours at work where I earn $10 per hour." The opportunity cost of attending class this evening is:

$44

Referring to Table 2-1: A student has only a few hours to prepare for two different exams this afternoon. The above table shows alternative possible exam scores with three alternative uses of the student's time. The opportunity cost of scoring a 94 on the economics exam rather than a 77 is:

15 points on the history exam.

Refer to Figure 2-2. At Point A in the production possibilities graph shown above, the economy:

is not using its resources efficiently.

Scarcity implies that:

it is impossible to completely fulfill the unlimited human desire for goods and services with the limited resources available.

Attending college is a case where the ________________ exceeds the monetary cost.

opportunity cost

In many cases, it is reasonable to refer to the ________________ as the price.

opportunity cost

The model that economists use for illustrating the process of individual choice in a situation of scarcity is the budget constraint, sometimes also called the _______________, a diagram which shows what choices are possible.

opportunity set

Philosophers draw a distinction between ___________________, which describe the world as it is, and normative statements, which describe how the world should be.

positive statements

The lesson of __________ is to forget about the money that's irretrievably gone and instead to focus on the marginal costs and benefits of future options.

sunk costs

Gomer decides to spend an hour playing basketball rather than studying. His opportunity cost is:

the benefit to his grades from studying for an hour

The opportunity cost of attending university is likely to include all except which of the following?

the cost of haircuts received during the school term

Scarcity exists because of:

unlimited wants and limited resources.

In deciding how many hours to work, Beulah will make a choice that maximizes her _______; that is, she will choose according to her preferences for leisure time and income.

utility

The general pattern that consumption of the first few units of any good tends to bring a higher level of _______ to a person than consumption of later units is a common pattern.

utility

Refer to Figure 2-2. When the economy moves from Point A to Point B in the diagram above:

A.the economy begins using its resources efficiently to produce both food and clothing. B.the economy operates at its productive capacity once it reaches Point B. C.the economy increases production of both clothing and food. D.All of the above occur.

Refer to Figure 2-1. Along the production possibilities frontier, the most efficient point of production depicted is:

All points on the production possibilities frontier are equally efficient.

Refer to Figure 2-1. The most inefficient point depicted is:

Point G

The choice on a production possibilities set that is socially preferred, or the choice on an individual's budget constraint that is personally preferred, will display _____________________.

allocative efficiency

The model that economists use for illustrating the process of individual choice in a situation of scarcity is the _________________, sometimes also called the opportunity set, a diagram which shows what choices are possible.

budget constraint

The slope of the _________________ is determined by the relative price of the two goods, which is calculated by taking the price of one good and dividing it by the price of the other good.

budget constraint

Economists refer to this pattern, the ___________________________________, which means that as a person receives more of a good, the additional or marginal utility from each additional unit of the good declines.

law of diminishing marginal utility

Most choices involve _________________, which involves comparing the benefits and costs of choosing a little more or a little less of a good.

marginal analysis

The marginal benefit of a slice of pizza is the:

maximum amount that a consumer is willing to pay for the slice.

Philosophers draw a distinction between positive statements, which describe the world as it is, and ___________________s, which describe how the world should be.

normative statement