AP Micro Economics Exam Multiple Choice 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
. Assume that the marginal social benefit of the last unit of vaccination provided is greater than the marginal social cost. Which of the following can be used to achieve efficiency in the market for vaccination? (A) A per-unit subsidy for vaccinations (B) A lump-sum tax for vaccinations (C) A limit on the quantity of vaccinations (D) A price floor for vaccinations (E) A price ceiling for vaccinations
(A) A per-unit subsidy for vaccinations
Which of the following government actions can correct the inefficiency caused by the existence of a monopoly? (A) Granting a per-unit subsidy on the monopolist's output (B) Granting an annual lump-sum subsidy to the monopolist (C) Imposing a per-unit tax on the monopolist's output (D) Imposing a price floor on the monopolist (E) Limiting the monopolist's production through regulation
(A) Granting a per-unit subsidy on the monopolist's output
Assume that under new environmental regulations, tire companies have to pay taxes based on how much pollution is created when producing each tire. The price paid by consumers and the quantity of tires sold will most likely change in which of the following ways? Price, Quantity (A) Increase, Decrease (B) Increase, Increase (C) Decrease, Increase (D) Decrease, Decrease (E) No change, No change
(A) Increase, Decrease
Which of the following will tend to make the demand for a product more elastic? (A) New firms which produce similar products enter the industry. (B) A change in taste and preferences makes the product more desirable. (C) The product is necessary for use with a complement. (D) Production of the product is protected by a patent. (E) Production cost of the product decreases.
(A) New firms which produce similar products enter the industry.
Which of the following taxes contributes most to decreasing inequality in the distribution of income? (A) Progressive income taxes (B) Sales taxes (C) Proportional income taxes (D) Excise taxes (E) Import tariffs on necessities
(A) Progressive income taxes
In order for a firm to engage in price discrimi-nation, it must be (A) able to separate consumers into different groups based on demand elasticities (B) producing in the inelastic portion of its demand curve to raise its price and increase total revenue (C) a price taker (D) experiencing economies of scale in the relevant range of production (E) experiencing constant marginal cost
(A) able to separate consumers into different groups based on demand elasticities
The quantity of peanuts supplied increased from 40 tons per week to 60 tons per week when the price of peanuts increased from $4 per ton to $5 per ton. The price elasticity of supply for peanuts over this price range is (A) elastic (B) inelastic (C) unit elastic (D) perfectly elastic (E) perfectly inelastic
(A) elastic
For an unregulated monopolist, the profit-maximizing quantity will always be (A) in the elastic region of the demand curve (B) where marginal revenue equals price (C) where price equals average total cost (D) where price equals marginal cost (E) where the marginal cost curve intersects the demand curve
(A) in the elastic region of the demand curve
A profit-maximizing firm will continue to hire workers until the (A) marginal factor cost of labor is equal to the marginal revenue product of labor (B) marginal factor cost of labor is equal to the price of the good produced using labor (C) marginal product of labor is equal to the marginal revenue product of labor (D) marginal product of labor is equal to the marginal factor cost of labor (E) marginal product of labor is equal to the price of labor
(A) marginal factor cost of labor is equal to the marginal revenue product of labor
Which of the following MUST be true of the long run? (A) It is at least one year in duration. (B) All factors of production are variable. (C) At least one factor of production is fixed. (D) Marginal costs are constant. (E) Average total costs are constant.
(B) All factors of production are variable.
A city transit authority increases the price of sub- way and bus tickets from $1.25 to $1.50. If the demand for these tickets is price inelastic, the number of people riding buses and subways and the city's revenues will most likely change in which of the following ways? Number of People Riding, City' s Revenues (A) Increase, Increase (B) Decrease, Increase (C) Decrease, Decrease (D) Decrease, Remain constant (E) Remain constant, Increase
(B) Decrease, Increase
An entrepreneur has earned enough total revenue to cover her accounting costs, but economic losses are being incurred. What must be true? (A) Her accounting costs are larger than her economic costs. (B) Her accounting profits are less than her implicit costs. (C) Her accounting profits are greater than her economic costs. (D) Her economic losses are less than her total fixed costs. (E) Her implicit costs are less than her accounting costs.
(B) Her accounting profits are less than her implicit costs.
Monopolistically competitive firms are considered inefficient in allocating society's resources for which of the following reasons? (A) In equilibrium, the marginal benefit exceeds the price charged by the firms. (B) In equilibrium, the marginal benefit exceeds the marginal cost of production. (C) In equilibrium, the marginal revenue of the firm is not equal to its marginal cost. (D) In long-run equilibrium, the firm is earning economic profits. (E) Firms exhibit significant market power and therefore the number of firms in the industry is strictly limited.
(B) In equilibrium, the marginal benefit exceeds the marginal cost of production.
4. Assume that ice cream is a normal good. If the price of ice cream decreases, the substitution effect and the income effect will lead to which of the following changes in ice cream consumption? Substitution Effect, Income Effect (A) Increase, Decrease (B) Increase, Increase (C) Increase, No Change (D) Decrease, Increase (E) Decrease, No Change
(B) Increase, Increase
Which of the following must be true if a firm is experiencing economies of scale? (A) All costs are explicit. (B) Long-run average total cost decreases as the firm's output increases. (C) Economic profits decrease as the firm's output increases. (D) Long-run average total cost remains constant as the firm's output decreases. (E) Proportionate increases in inputs result in less-than-proportionate increases in output.
(B) Long-run average total cost decreases as the firm's output increases.
Which of the following is true of a monopolisti-cally competitive firm in long-run equilibrium? (A) Price equals marginal cost and average total cost. (B) Price equals average total cost but is greater than marginal cost. (C) Price equals marginal cost and is greater than average total cost. (D) The firm makes no attempt to differentiate its products. (E) The firm earns positive economic profits by producing at minimum average cost.
(B) Price equals average total cost but is greater than marginal cost.
For the firm shown in the graph above, the short- run, profit-maximizing strategy would be to set output at (A) Q1, price at P1, and suffer a loss (B) Q1, price at P3, and earn an economic profit (C) Q1, price at P3, and earn only a normal profit (D) Q2, price at P2, and earn an economic profit (E) Q2, price at P2, and earn only a normal profit
(B) Q1, price at P3, and earn an economic profit
Given an increase in the price of material K— which is an input used to produce good X—and an increase in the price of good Y—which is a substitute for good X—which of the following will definitely occur? (A) The equilibrium price of good X will decrease. (B) The equilibrium price of good X will increase. (C) The equilibrium quantity of good X will be unaffected. (D) The equilibrium quantity of good X will increase. (E) The equilibrium quantity of good X will decrease.
(B) The equilibrium price of good X will increase.
Improvements in technology for producing all goods must result in (A) an inward shift in the production possibilities curve (B) an outward shift in the production possibilities curve (C) a flatter production possibilities curve (D) a steeper production possibilities curve (E) greater unemployment of labor
(B) an outward shift in the production possibilities curve
Productive efficiency occurs when a firm produces output at a level at which (A) average total cost equals average revenue (B) average total cost is at a minimum (C) price exceeds average total cost (D) price equals marginal cost (E) marginal revenue exceeds average revenue
(B) average total cost is at a minimum
The characteristic of oligopolistic firms that makes them different from all other types of firms is that oligopolistic firms (A) are regulated by a state agency or federal agency (B) consider each other's decisions (C) advertise their products (D) produce differentiated products (E) produce identical products
(B) consider each other's decisions
If nations specialize according to their comparative advantage and engage in international trade with each other, each nation can (A) produce outside its production possibilities curve (B) consume outside its production possibilities curve (C) shift its production possibilities curve to the right (D) become more self-sufficient (E) produce more of all goods
(B) consume outside its production possibilities curve
Short-run marginal costs eventually increase because of the effects of (A) increasing marginal product (B) diminishing marginal product (C) diseconomies of scale (D) economies of scale (E) increasing fixed costs
(B) diminishing marginal product
The most profitable level of output for any firm operating in the short run is the level of output at which (A) marginal revenue exceeds marginal cost by the highest amount (B) marginal revenue equals marginal cost (C) price exceeds average cost by the highest amount (D) price equals average cost (E) price equals marginal cost
(B) marginal revenue equals marginal cost
At 100 units of output, a firm's total cost is $10,000. If the firm's total fixed cost is $4,000, its average variable cost is equal to (A) $140 (B) $100 (C) $60 (D) $40 (E) $0
(C) $60
If a new tax on capital increases a firm's fixed cost of production, which of the following will occur in the short run? (A) Marginal cost will increase. (B) Average variable cost will increase. (C) Average total cost will increase. (D) The profit-maximizing level of output will increase. (E) The profit-maximizing level of output will decrease.
(C) Average total cost will increase.
Compared to a perfectly competitive industry with the same demand and cost curves, a monopoly's price and output will be which of the following? Price, Output (A) The same, Higher (B) Higher, The same (C) Higher, Lower (D) Lower, The same (E) Lower, Higher
(C) Higher, Lower
Which of the following statements correctly identifies a difference between perfect competition and monopolistic competition? (A) In perfect competition there are no barriers to entry, but there are strong barriers in monopolistic competition. (B) In perfect competition there are many firms, but in monopolistic competition there are only a few firms. (C) In perfect competition the firms all sell products that are exactly the same, but in monopolistic competition each firm sells a slightly differentiated product. (D) In perfect competition firms maximize profit by selling the quantity where marginal revenue equals marginal cost, but in monopolistic competition firms maximize profit by selling the quantity where marginal revenue exceeds marginal cost. (E) In perfect competition there are few consumers, but in monopolistic competition there are many consumers.
(C) In perfect competition the firms all sell products that are exactly the same, but in monopolistic competition each firm sells a slightly differentiated product.
A perfectly competitive manufacturing industry pollutes public water in its production process, leaving the water unsuitable for use by the surrounding communities. At the market equilibrium output level, which of the following is true? (A) Marginal private cost exceeds marginal social cost. (B) Marginal private cost exceeds marginal private benefit. (C) Marginal social cost exceeds marginal social benefit. (D) The market equilibrium output is equal to the socially efficient output. (E) The market equilibrium output is less than the socially efficient output.
(C) Marginal social cost exceeds marginal social benefit.
Which of the following will occur in a perfectly competitive labor market if Firm X's demand for labor decreases? Equilibrium Market Wage Rate, Employment by Firm X (A) Increase, Increase (B) No change, No change (C) No change, Decrease (D) Decrease, Decrease (E) Decrease, No change
(C) No change, Decrease
Which of the following market structures results in allocative efficiency? (A) Monopoly (B) Monopolistic competition (C) Perfect competition (D) Natural monopoly (E) Oligopoly
(C) Perfect competition
In a perfectly competitive market, a change in which of the following could cause a shift in the supply curve? (A) The incomes of consumers (B) The number of buyers (C) Technology (D) The price of the product (E) Tastes and preferences
(C) Technology
Assume that firms sell their output in a perfectly competitive product market and hire labor in a perfectly competitive labor market. If all other factors remain constant, an increase in the demand for the firms' product will result in which of the following changes in the labor market? (A) Firms will move down along the demand curve for labor and hire more workers. (B) The supply curve for labor will shift to the right. (C) The demand curve for labor will shift to the right. (D) The supply curve for labor will shift to the left. (E) The demand curve for labor will shift to the left.
(C) The demand curve for labor will shift to the right.
The market for goldfish is perfectly competitive. From year 1 to year 2, both the price and the quantity of goldfish sold increase. This is most likely caused by (A) an increase in the supply (B) a decrease in the supply (C) an increase in the demand (D) a decrease in the demand (E) a decrease in both the demand and the supply
(C) an increase in the demand
As output of a firm increases, the difference between the firm's average total cost and its average variable cost gets smaller because the firm' s (A) total cost is increasing (B) marginal cost is increasing (C) average fixed cost is decreasing (D) marginal product of labor is decreasing (E) long-run average total cost is decreasing
(C) average fixed cost is decreasing
The difference between what consumers are willing to pay for units of a good and the price consumers actually pay for units of the good is called (A) marginal utility (B) producer surplus (C) consumer surplus (D) economic rent (E) a positive externality
(C) consumer surplus
When total physical product is at its maximum, marginal physical product must be (A) greater than one (B) equal to one (C) equal to zero (D) less than zero (E) constant
(C) equal to zero
A free-rider problem arises when a good is (A) nonrival (B) nondepletable (C) nonexcludable (D) produced in a competitive market (E) produced in a monopolistic market
(C) nonexcludable
The following table shows the profits associated with the pricing strategies of two oligopolistic firms, Agronomia and Farmingdale. Each firm has two possible strategies: to charge a low price or a high price. The first entry in each cell shows the profits to Agronomia and the second the profits to Farmingdale. If the two firms do not cooperate, as a result of the firms' pricing decisions the profits of each firm will be which of the following? Argonomia's Profit, Farmingdale's Profit (A) $50, $100 (B) $150, $150 (C) $300, $50 (D) $100, $100 (E) $300, $300
(D) $100, $100
Number of Workers, Parts Per Week 0, 0 1, 100 2, 190 3, 270, 4, 340, 5, 400 6, 450 7, 480 The table above describes the production function of an auto parts manufacturer. Assume that the firm can hire as many workers as it wants at the market wage rate of $600 per week per worker and sell as many auto parts as it wants at the price of $10 per part. To maximize profits, the firm should hire (A) 0 workers (B) 1 worker (C) 3 workers (D) 5 workers (E) 7workers
(D) 5 workers
. Which of the following best defines a pure public good? (A) A good that is provided free of charge to the public (B) A good that is provided by the government, whether or not a fee is charged (C) A good that is efficiently produced only by a monopoly (D) A good whose benefits can be enjoyed by many consumers at the same time and from which consumers cannot be excluded (E) A good that by law must be available to all consumers without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or religion
(D) A good whose benefits can be enjoyed by many consumers at the same time and from which consumers cannot be excluded
Which of the following will cause the supply curve for shoes to shift to the right? (A) An increase in the price of socks, assuming that shoes and socks are complements (B) A decrease in the price of sandals, assuming that shoes and sandals are substitutes (C) An increase in the wages of shoe workers (D) An increase in the number of firms producing shoes (E) A decrease in the income of consumers, assuming that shoes are normal goods
(D) An increase in the number of firms producing shoes
Which of the following MUST be true in the long run? (A) The equilibrium price will be P2, since that is where marginal cost equals minimum average variable cost. (B) The equilibrium price will be above P3, since firms must make an economic profit to stay in business. (C) If the price is above P2, new firms will enter the industry. (D) If the price is above P3, new firms will enter the industry. (E) If the price is above P4, firms will exit the industry.
(D) If the price is above P3, new firms will enter the industry.
Using the same amount of time and resources, Jack can assemble either 10 bikes or 5 computers, whereas Sam can assemble either 5 bikes or 5 computers. Based on the data, which of the following statements is correct? (A) Sam has an absolute advantage in assembling bikes. (B) Sam has an absolute advantage in assembling computers. (C) Sam has a comparative advantage in assembling bikes. (D) Jack has a comparative advantage in assembling bikes. (E) Jack has a comparative advantage in assembling both bikes and computers.
(D) Jack has a comparative advantage in assembling bikes.
If a per-unit tax is imposed on a monopolist, how will the monopolist's marginal cost curve, output, and the price paid by consumers be affected? Marginal Cost, Output, Price (A) Shift down, Increase, Decrease (B) Shift down, Decrease, Decrease (C) No shift, Decrease, Decrease (D) Shift up, Decrease, Increase (E) Shift up, Increase, Increase
(D) Shift up, Decrease, Increase
Which of the following is true if consuming one unit of a good yields 100 utils and consuming the second unit of the good increases satisfaction by 20 utils? (A) The marginal utility of the first unit is 20. (B) The marginal utility of the second unit is 80. (C) The marginal utility of the second unit is 120. (D) The total utility of consuming two units is 120. (E) The total utility of consuming one unit is greater than the total utility of consuming two units.
(D) The total utility of consuming two units is 120.
Which of the following best describes the law of demand? (A) The price of a good increases when the demand for the good increases. (B) The price of a good decreases when the supply of the good decreases. (C) When the price of a good increases, its demand decreases. (D) When the price of a good decreases, its quantity demanded increases. (E) Demand creates its own supply.
(D) When the price of a good decreases, its quantity demanded increases.
See Picture In the short run, the firm will realize an economic loss but will continue to produce if the price is (A) below P1 (B) between P1 and P2 (C) below P2 (D) between P2 and P3 (E) between P3 and P4
(D) between P2 and P3
Garcia is currently spending his entire lunch budget on 3 sodas and 4 hot dogs. At his current level of consumption, Garcia's marginal utility for sodas is 5 utils and his marginal utility for hot dogs is 10 utils. In order to maximize his total utility, Garcia should (A) consume more sodas and fewer hot dogs regardless of the prices (B) consume more hot dogs and fewer sodas regardless of the prices (C) maintain his current level of consumption of sodas and hot dogs regardless of the prices (D) maintain his current level of consumption if the price of a soda is $1 and the price of a hot dog is $2 (E) maintain his current level of consumption if the price of a soda is $2 and the price of a hot dog is $1
(D) maintain his current level of consumption if the price of a soda is $1 and the price of a hot dog is $2
The demand curve for labor for a monopolist that faces a perfectly competitive factor market is called the (A) average product curve (B) marginal product curve (C) marginal revenue curve (D) marginal revenue product curve (E) value of the average product curve
(D) marginal revenue product curve
If the demand for a good is perfectly price inelastic in the short run and the supply curve is upward sloping, imposing a sales tax on the good will (A) leave the price paid by consumers unchanged (B) decrease the after-tax revenues received by suppliers (C) increase the after-tax revenues received by suppliers (D) not change the after-tax revenues received by suppliers (E) not change the total expenditures by consumers on the good
(D) not change the after-tax revenues received by suppliers
42. The graph above shows the marginal revenue product (MRP) and the market wage rate for a profit-maximizing firm. Which of the following is true of the firm's hiring of labor? (A) It should hire 15 workers. (B) It should hire between 15 and 40 workers. (C) It should hire 40 workers. (D) It should hire between 40 and 90 workers. (E) It should hire 90 workers.
(E) It should hire 90 workers.
Which of the following is true in a capitalist economy? (A) The factors of production are collectively owned. (B) The factors of production are distributed according to needs. (C) The prices of goods and services are usually determined by the government. (D) The prices of goods and services are set so that an equitable distribution of private property is achieved. (E) Prices serve as incentives for factors of production to move to the markets where they are most valued.
(E) Prices serve as incentives for factors of production to move to the markets where they are most valued.
The marginal product of labor equals 250 units of output. The marginal product of capital equals 750 units of output. The price of labor is $50 per person. The price of capital is $100 per unit. Given the information above, which of the following is true for a firm buying its labor and capital inputs in a perfectly competitive market? (A) The firm is producing its current level of output with the least-cost combination of labor and capital. (B) The firm is maximizing profits with its current combination of inputs. (C) The firm's level of output will remain the same if 1 unit of capital is substituted for 2 units of labor. (D) The firm's input costs will decrease if 2 units of labor are substituted for 1 unit of capital. (E) The firm can reduce the cost of its current level of output by laying off workers and employing more capital.
(E) The firm can reduce the cost of its current level of output by laying off workers and employing more capital.
According to the production possibilities curve above, which of the following is true? (A) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of good Y in terms of good X increases as more of good Y is produced. (B) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of good Y in terms of good X decreases as more of good Y is produced. (C) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of good X in terms of good Y increases as more of good X is produced. (D) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of good X in terms of good Y decreases as more of good X is produced. (E) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of either good remains constant as the production of the other good increases.
(E) The opportunity cost of producing another unit of either good remains constant as the production of the other good increases.
The diagram above depicts demand and supply curves in a city's rental housing market. If a price ceiling of $1,000 is imposed on the market, which of the following will occur? (A) There will be a surplus of rental housing in the city. (B) The demand curve for housing will shift to the right. (C) The supply curve for housing will shift to the right. (D) The quantity of rental housing supplied will decrease. (E) The quantity of rental housing demanded will increase.
(E) The quantity of rental housing demanded will increase.
If a government eliminated an effective price floor in a market, all of the following would occur EXCEPT: (A) The surplus would be eliminated. (B) The price would decrease. (C) The quantity supplied would decrease. (D) The quantity demanded would increase. (E) The supply of the good would increase.
(E) The supply of the good would increase.
In a perfectly competitive labor market, an increase in an effective minimum wage will result in (A) an increase in the supply of workers (B) a decrease in the supply of workers (C) a decrease in the demand for workers (D) more workers being hired (E) fewer workers being hired
(E) fewer workers being hired
As a factor of production, capital refers to the (A) money available to start a business (B) stocks and bonds issued by businesses to raise funds (C) financial investment of businesses (D) currency in circulation and deposits in financial institutions (E) tools and machinery used to produce goods and services
(E) tools and machinery used to produce goods and services
For consumers, assume that fish sticks and tacos are substitutes. Which of the following graphs illustrates the effect on the taco market if the price of fish sticks increases? A B C D E
A
