Deck 7: Producers in the Short Run

Question 1

Economists use the notation Q = f(L,K)to describe

A)the flow of labour (L)and capital (K)services that are available when output is (Q).
B)the financial relationship between the inputs that a firm uses and the outputs that it produces.
C)the arithmetic relationship between the outputs that a firm uses and the inputs that it produces.
D)the technological relationship between the inputs that a firm uses and the outputs that it produces.
E)the level of output (Q)required to fully employ labour (L)and capital (K).

Answer 1

the technological relationship between the inputs that a firm uses and the outputs that it produces.

Question 2

Which of the following items is part of a firmʹs financial capital as distinct from its real capital?

A)a new bulldozer
B)a $500 000 balance in a bank account
C)a network of personal computers
D)a fleet of delivery trucks
E)inventory of goods valued at $1 000 000

Answer 2

a $500 000 balance in a bank account

Question 3

Which of the following is the best example of an input to production that is an intermediate product?

A)40 acres of farmland
B)the skills and training of a web designer
C)computer circuit boards
D)a textile factory
E)a sewing machine

Answer 3

computer circuit boards

Question 4

An example of ʺrealʺ capital is

A)shares in a corporation.
B)corporate bonds.
C)a firmʹs balance in a bank account.
D)a firmʹs computer systems.
E)a firmʹs retained earnings.

Question 5

Which of the following statements describes an advantage to the owner of a single proprietorship?

A)The ownerʹs liability is limited to the amount he or she actually invests in the firm.
B)He or she has limited liability.
C)The owner can readily maintain full and complete control over every aspect of the firmʹs operation.
D)The firm has a legal existence separate from its owner.
E)Shares of the firm can be traded on any stock exchange.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the organization of firms is true?

A)Partnerships are the most common form of business organization in Canada.
B)Owners of a corporation have unlimited liability.
C)Corporations have limited access to money markets.
D)Owners of a corporation are not personally liable for the firmʹs actions,though its directors may be.
E)Crown corporations are never interested in increasing profits because they have other goals.

Question 7

A firm can raise financial capital without incurring debt by

A)issuing bonds.
B)making extra dividend payments.
C)issuing new shares.
D)increasing its bank loans.
E)investing in new capital equipment.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is NOT true of a corporation?

A)It can enter into contracts.
B)It is an entity separate from the individuals who own it.
C)It can incur debt that is an obligation of the corporation but not of its individual owners.
D)It has the right to sue and be sued.
E)It is legally obliged to distribute all profits to shareholders.

Question 9

The theory of the firm is based on the following two key assumptions:

A)Firms seek to become as large as possible,and they seek to maximize total revenue.
B)Each firm has a highly diversified product,and this leads to profit maximization.
C)Firms seek to maximize profit,and to distribute the maximum value in dividends.
D)Firms seek to maximize profits,and the firm is a single,consistent decision-making unit.
E)Firms seek to maximize revenues,and to maximize undistributed profits.

Question 10

Churches,the YMCA,the Salvation Army,and the Nature Conservancy are examples of

A)single proprietorship.
B)partnership.
C)non-profit organizations.
D)limited partnership.
E)corporations.

Question 11

A firm that has two or more owners who share decision-making power as well as the firmʹs profits is called

A)a single proprietorship.
B)a partnership.
C)a corporation.
D)a non-profit organization.
E)a joint-stock company.

Question 12

Real capital includes

A)a firmʹs physical assets.
B)corporate bonds.
C)corporate stock.
D)a firmʹs balance in its bank account.
E)ownerʹs equity.

Question 13

Undistributed profits of a firm are

A)earnings that are used to pay dividends to shareholders.
B)earnings that are used to cover the costs of production.
C)earnings that are used to cover interest expenses of the firm.
D)profits that are paid out to owners of the firm.
E)profits that are available to be reinvested in the firmʹs operations.

Question 14

It is assumed in standard economic theory that a firm makes decisions in an effort to

A)become as large as possible.
B)have a highly diversified product.
C)be favoured politically.
D)maximize its revenue.
E)maximize its profits.

Question 15

An example of debt financing for any form of business organization is

A)issuing new stock.
B)buying back bonds.
C)borrowing from a bank.
D)using undistributed profits.
E)buying back previously issued stock.

Question 16

A limited partnership differs from an ordinary partnership by

A)having a limited number of partners.
B)having a limited number of partners,each with limited liability.
C)including some partners whose liability is restricted to the amount that they invested in the firm.
D)having limited liability of all partners.
E)having unlimited liability for all partners.

Question 17

ʺAn objective of firms is to maximize profits.ʺ This statement

A)has been proven by empirical testing to be always true.
B)is an assumption used by economists to predict the behaviour of firms.
C)is a normative statement and thus cannot be tested.
D)applies only to corporations.
E)is an unrealistic assumption,and therefore of little use to economists.

Question 18

A single proprietorship is a form of business organization which

A)has one owner-manager who is personally responsible for the firmʹs actions and debts.
B)has a single owner but has directors who are responsible for the firmʹs debts.
C)has limited liability.
D)has unlimited access to money capital.
E)allows easy transferability of ownership by the trading of shares.

Question 19

The relationship between factors of production used in the production process and the resulting output is called a(n)

A)consumption possibilities boundary.
B)economic function.
C)production boundary.
D)cost function.
E)production function.

Question 20

When a corporation issues a bond

A)the purchaser of the bond assumes ownership rights in the corporation.
B)it is making a promise to pay interest each year and to repay the principal at a stated time in the future.
C)it is called equity capital.
D)it is called financing through the stock market.
E)it is making a promise to pay interest each year but not repay the principal.

Question 21

The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family-owned firm producing catered meals. TABLE 7-1
Refer to Table 7-1.The explicit costs for this family-owned firm are

A)$115 000.
B)$490 000.
C)$500 000.
D)$505 000.
E)$605 000.

Question 22

Suppose a production function for a firm takes the following algebraic form: Q = 2KL - (0.2)L²,where Q is the output of sweaters per day.Now suppose the firm is operating with 8 units of capital (K =8)and 10 units of labour (L=10).What is the output of sweaters?

A)30 sweaters per day
B)60 sweaters per day
C)80 sweaters per day
D)140 sweaters per day
E)155 sweaters per day

Question 23

Economic profits are less than accounting profits because the calculation of economic profit

A)includes an amount for depreciation.
B)includes an explicit charge for risk taking.
C)includes the implicit charges for the use of capital owned by the firm and for risk taking.
D)includes the implicit charges for the use of capital owned by the firm and for income taxes.
E)is stipulated in regulations set forth by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Question 24

Suppose a production function for a firm takes the following algebraic form: Q = (0.25)K × (1.5)L²,where Q is the output of garage doors produced per month.Now suppose the firm is operating with 10 units of capital (K = 10)and 8 units of labour (L = 8).What is the output of garage doors per month?

A)24
B)240
C)300
D)2400
E)3000

Question 25

The opportunity cost to a firm of using an asset is zero if

A)the asset is already owned by the firm.
B)no money was spent to acquire the asset.
C)the asset has no alternative uses.
D)the asset has zero sunk costs associated with it.
E)the asset was given to the firm for free.

Question 26

Suppose a production function for a firm takes the following algebraic form: Q = (0.5)KL - 40L,where Q is the output of paintbrushes per week.Now suppose the firm is operating with 100 units of capital (K = 100)and 30 000 units of labour (L = 30 000).What is the output of paintbrushes per week?

A)30 000
B)300 000
C)1 200 000
D)1 500 000
E)3 000 000

Question 27

The choices listed below involve costs to the firm.For which is the implicit cost potentially different than its explicit cost?

A)The use of firm-owned assets.
B)The services of hired workers.
C)The use of rented land.
D)The interest paid on borrowed money.
E)The purchase of raw materials used in production.

Question 28

The opportunity cost of money that a firmʹs owner has invested in the firm is an example of

A)direct production costs.
B)accounting costs.
C)sunk costs.
D)implicit costs.
E)explicit costs.

Question 29

Consider the production costs for a firm,one of which is the cost of depreciation.Depreciation costs are

A)payments to outside suppliers.
B)the cost of money borrowed to buy a durable asset.
C)an estimate of the loss of value of the firmʹs physical capital.
D)a measure of the depreciation of financial assets of the firm.
E)irrelevant to an accounting of the firmʹs total costs.

Question 30

If a firm uses factor inputs that are personally owned by the firmʹs owner,then economists refer to the opportunity cost of these inputs as

A)direct production costs.
B)accounting costs.
C)sunk costs.
D)implicit costs.
E)inverted costs.

Question 31

The opportunity cost of any factor of production is

A)its accounting cost.
B)the money actually paid to the factors of production.
C)the benefit forgone by not using it in its worst alternative.
D)the benefit forgone by not using it in its best alternative.
E)its explicit cost.

Question 32

The equation Q = 0.5KL - (0.4)L + 2L2 is an example of

A)a factor of production equation.
B)an economic input function.
C)a technological change equation.
D)an arithmetic expression of output quantities.
E)a production function.

Question 33

The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family-owned firm producing catered meals. TABLE 7-1
Refer to Table 7-1.The economic profits for this family-owned firm are

A)$115 000.
B)$10 000.
C)$0.
D)-$10 000.
E)-$105 000.

Question 34

If Michelle used $1000 from her savings account,which was paying 6% interest annually,to invest in her brotherʹs new sporting-goods store,the opportunity cost of her investment on an annual basis would be

A)$60.
B)$1000.
C)$1060.
D)her share of the storeʹs profits.
E)the dividend paid to her by her brother.

Question 35

The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family-owned firm producing catered meals. TABLE 7-1
Refer to Table 7-1.The implicit costs for this family-owned firm are

A)$35 000.
B)$80 000.
C)$100 000.
D)$115 000.
E)$490 000.

Question 36

The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family-owned firm producing catered meals. TABLE 7-1
Refer to Table 7-1.To an accountant,this family-owned catering companyis earning ________. To an economist, the same firm is earning ________.

A)zero profit; economic losses
B)zero profit; normal profits
C)positive profits; economic losses
D)economic profits; economic profits
E)economic profits; economic losses

Question 37

We can predict that resources will move into an industry whenever

A)accounting profits for firms in that industry are greater than zero.
B)accounting profits for firms in that industry are zero.
C)economic profits for firms in that industry are zero.
D)economic profits for firms in that industry are greater than zero.
E)economic losses for firms in that industry are minimized.

Question 38

The table below provides the annual revenues and costs for a family-owned firm producing catered meals. TABLE 7-1
Refer to Table 7-1.The accounting profits for this family-owned firm are

A)-$15 000.
B)$0.
C)$10 000.
D)$30 000.
E)$500 000.

Question 39

The table below provides the total revenues and costs for a small landscaping company in a recent year. TABLE 7-2
Refer to Table 7-2.The implicit costs for this firm are

A)$31 200.
B)$30 800.
C)$30 400.
D)$400.
E)$800.

Question 40

The table below provides the total revenues and costs for a small landscaping company in a recent year. TABLE 7-2
Refer to Table 7-2.The explicit costs for this firm are

A)$178 500.
B)$186 500.
C)$186 900.
D)$217 300.
E)$217 700.

Question 41

What information is provided by average,marginal,and total product curves?

A)They demonstrate that each of these measures of output increase as more inputs are applied.
B)They demonstrate that,in the short run,all inputs are variable.
C)They relate the prices of inputs (factors of production)to the prices of products.
D)They relate the price of output to the quantity supplied.
E)They express relationships between physical inputs and physical outputs.

Question 42

Which of the following factors of production is most likely to be variable in the short run?

A)capital equipment
B)land
C)labour
D)entrepreneurship
E)technology

Question 43

In the short run,the firmʹs product curves show

A)AP is at its minimum when MP = AP.
B)TP is at its maximum when MP is at its maximum.
C)TP begins to decrease when AP begins to decrease.
D)when MP < AP,AP is increasing.
E)when the MP curve cuts the AP curve from above,the AP curve begins to fall.

Question 44

With regard to economic decision making for firms,the long run is a period in which

A)all factors of production are variable but technology is fixed.
B)technology is variable.
C)only some of the factors of production are variable.
D)technology may be variable,but some factors of production are fixed.
E)only capital is variable.

Question 45

The table below provides the total revenues and costs for a small landscaping company in a recent year. TABLE 7-2
Refer to Table 7-2.The accounting profits for this firm are

A)$32 300.
B)$32 700.
C)$63 100.
D)$63 500.
E)$71 500.

Question 46

The table below provides the total revenues and costs for a small landscaping company in a recent year. TABLE 7-2
Refer to Table 7-2.The economic profits for this firm are

A)$63 500.
B)$32 700.
C)$33 500.
D)$31 200.
E)$32 300.

Question 47

The period of time over which the firm can vary any of its inputs for a given production technology is called the

A)very-short run.
B)short run.
C)long run.
D)very-long run.
E)immediate run.

Question 48

Consider a firm in the short run.If the AP curve is rising,then the MP curve

A)must lie above the average-product curve over this range and must also be rising.
B)must lie above the average-product curve over this range.
C)can be either above or below the average-product curve,although it must be rising over the entire range.
D)must lie below the average-product curve over this range.
E)must be falling.

Question 49

Consider a firm in the short run.If total product is at its maximum,then

A)average product must equal marginal product.
B)average product must be rising and must lie above marginal product.
C)marginal product must be greater than zero and must be falling.
D)marginal product must be falling and be equal to zero.
E)average product must be falling and be equal to zero.

Question 50

In the short run,the firmʹs product curves show

A)AP is at its minimum when MP = AP.
B)TP is at its maximum when MP = O.
C)TP begins to decrease when AP begins to decrease.
D)when MP > AP,AP is decreasing.
E)when the MP curve cuts the AP curve from below,the AP curve begins to fall.

Question 51

Consider a firm in the short run.When the total-product curve is increasing at an increasing rate

A)average product is zero.
B)marginal product is positive but declining.
C)the marginal-product curve lies below the average-product curve.
D)marginal product is positive and increasing.
E)average product is falling.

Question 52

Consider a firm in the short run.Average product is at its maximum when

A)total product is maximized.
B)marginal product is maximized.
C)the maximum quantity of the variable input is employed.
D)diminishing returns cease to operate.
E)average product equals marginal product and marginal product is falling.

Question 53

Consider a firm in the short run.If AP = MP and both are positive,then total product

A)is at a maximum.
B)is decreasing as extra units of the variable factor are employed.
C)is increasing as extra units of the variable factor are employed.
D)may be either increasing or decreasing as extra units of the variable factor are employed.
E)is at its minimum.

Question 54

Suppose that when a firm hires one additional unit of labour,total product increases from 100 to 110 units of output per month.Marginal product must therefore be

A)increasing.
B)positive.
C)decreasing.
D)constant.
E)zero.

Question 55

Which of the following statements about the relationship between marginal product and average product is correct?

A)When average product exceeds marginal product,marginal product must be rising.
B)When marginal product is falling,average product is falling.
C)When marginal product exceeds average product,average product must be rising.
D)Average product equals marginal product at marginal productʹs lowest point.
E)Average product equals marginal product when marginal product is at its maximum.

Question 56

Which of the following is most likely a long-run decision for a firm?

A)The hours a store should stay open.
B)How many warehouses to build.
C)The number of workers to hire.
D)The amount of inventory to stock.
E)The price at which to sell the product.

Question 57

With regard to economic decision making for firms,the short run is

A)a definite number of months.
B)a period over which the quantities of all factors of production and technology are variable.
C)a period over which the quantity of at least one significant factor of production is fixed.
D)a period over which the quantities of all factors of production are variable but technology is fixed.
E)less than one year.

Question 58

The period of time over which the firm can vary its technology of production is the

A)very-short run.
B)short run.
C)long run.
D)very-long run.
E)none of the above; technology cannot be varied.

Question 59

The period of time over which all factors of production and technology are variable is known as the

A)very-short run.
B)short run.
C)long run.
D)very-long run.

Question 60

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)immediate run.

Question 61

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.The marginal product of labour is at its maximum when the firm changes the amount of labour hired from

A)0 to 1 unit.
B)1 to 2 units.
C)2 to 3 units.
D)3 to 4 units.
E)4 to 5 units.

Question 62

The following data show the total output for a firm when specified amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.When answering the questions,you are to assume that the wage per unit of labour is $25 and the cost of the capital is $100. TABLE 7-4
Refer to Table 7-4.The marginal product of labour curve intersects the average product of labour curve from above when the firm changes the amount of labour per unit of time from

A)0 to 1 units.
B)1 to 2 units.
C)2 to 3 units.
D)3 to 4 units.
E)4 to 5 units.

Question 63

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 and the average product of the variable factor will eventually decrease.
B)the marginal product will eventually decrease with constant average product.
C)the average product will eventually decrease with constant marginal product.
D)the average product will eventually decrease,but only if total product is held constant.
E)total product will eventually begin to fall.

Question 64

When a firmʹs total-product curve is increasing at a decreasing rate

A)average product is zero.
B)marginal product is positive but declining.
C)the marginal-product curve lies below the average-product curve.
D)marginal product is negative and decreasing.
E)average product is falling.

Question 65

Consider a basket-producing firm with fixed capital.If the firm can produce 24 baskets per day with 3 workers and then increases production to 36 baskets per day with 4 workers,then which of the following statements is definitely true?

A)The firm has passed the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
B)The marginal productivity of the fourth worker is 9.
C)The firm has passed the point of diminishing average productivity.
D)With 4 workers,the average product is greater than the marginal product.
E)With 4 workers,the marginal product is greater than the average product.

Question 66

The following data show the total output for a firm when specified amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.When answering the questions,you are to assume that the wage per unit of labour is $25 and the cost of the capital is $100. TABLE 7-4
Refer to Table 7-4.Diminishing marginal productivity of labour is first observed when the firm changes the amount of labour hired from

A)0 to 1 unit.
B)1 to 2 units.
C)2 to 3 units.
D)3 to 4 units.
E)4 to 5 units.

Question 67

Consider a basket-producing firm with fixed capital.If the firm can produce 36 baskets per day with 3 workers and then increases production to 44 baskets per day with 4 workers,then which of the following statements is true?

A)The marginal product of the fourth worker is 11.
B)With 4 workers,the marginal product is above the average product.
C)The firm has not yet reached the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
D)The firm has passed the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
E)With 4 workers,the firmʹs average product of labour is 8.

Question 68

Diminishing marginal product of labour is said to exist when there is

A)an increase in the amount of capital available for each unit of labour.
B)a reduction in the level of labour input that causes output to increase.
C)an increase in the division and specialization of labour.
D)technological advancement.
E)a successively smaller increase in output with each successive unit increase in labour input.

Question 69

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.What is the marginal product of the 4th unit of labour hired by the firm?

A)42
B)60
C)132
D)900
E)1320

Question 70

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3. The average product of labour when the firm hires 3 units of labour is ________. The average product of labour when the firm hires 4 units of labour is ________.

A)30; 33
B)90; 132
C)60; 42
D)90; 222
E)30; 90

Question 71

The following data show the total output for a firm when specified amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.When answering the questions,you are to assume that the wage per unit of labour is $25 and the cost of the capital is $100. TABLE 7-4
Refer to Table 7-4. Marginal product of labour begins decreasing with the ________ unit of labour hired.Average product of labour begins decreasing with the ________ unit of labour hired.

A)4th; 3rd
B)3rd; 2nd
C)2nd; 3rd
D)3rd; 4th
E)4th; 5th

Question 72

The following data show the total output for a firm when specified amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.When answering the questions,you are to assume that the wage per unit of labour is $25 and the cost of the capital is $100. TABLE 7-4
Refer to Table 7-4.The marginal product of labour is at its maximum when the firm changes the amount of labour hired from

A)0 to 1 unit.
B)1 to 2 units.
C)2 to 3 units.
D)3 to 4 units.
E)4 to 5 units.

Question 73

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.The average product of labour is highest when the firm hires

A)1 unit of labour.
B)2 units of labour.
C)3 units of labour.
D)4 units of labour.
E)5 units of labour.

Question 74

Consider a basket-producing firm with fixed capital.If the firm can produce 36 baskets per day with 3 workers and then increases productivity to 44 baskets per day with 4 workers,then which of the following statements is true?

A)The marginal product of the fourth worker is 11.
B)The firm has passed the point of diminishing average productivity.
C)The marginal product is above the average product.
D)The firm has not yet reached the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
E)With 4 workers,the firmʹs average product of labour is 13.

Question 75

Consider a basket-producing firm with fixed capital.If the firm can produce 24 baskets per day with 3 workers and then increases production to 36 baskets per day with 4 workers,then which of the following statements is definitely true?

A)Marginal product for this firm is rising.
B)The marginal product of the fourth worker is 9.
C)Average product for this firm is rising.
D)The firm has passed the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
E)With 4 workers,the average product is greater than the marginal product.

Question 76

The following data show the total output for a firm when specified amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.When answering the questions,you are to assume that the wage per unit of labour is $25 and the cost of the capital is $100. TABLE 7-4
Refer to Table 7-4.The average product of labour is highest when the firm hires ________ units of labour.

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4
E)5

Question 77

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.Diminishing marginal product of labour is first observed when the firm changes the amount of labour hired from

A)0 to 1 units.
B)1 to 2 units.
C)2 to 3 units.
D)3 to 4 units.
E)4 to 5 units.

Question 78

Consider a house-construction firm with fixed capital.The firm can build 8 houses per year with 16 workers and 8.8 houses per year with 17 workers.If it is currently building 8.8 houses per year,which of the following is true?

A)Average product is at a maximum with 16 workers.
B)Average product is at a maximum with 17 workers.
C)The marginal product is below the average product.
D)The firm has already passed the point of diminishing marginal productivity.
E)The firm has not yet reached the point of diminishing average productivity.

Question 79

Suppose NHL hockey player Jarome Iginla is averaging three points per game going into the last game of the season in which he collects four points,thereby changing his average for the season.To use an analogy in economics,it could be said that average product increases

A)when total product increases.
B)when marginal product exceeds average product.
C)when average product exceeds marginal product.
D)when marginal product increases.
E)whenever marginal product is positive.

Question 80

The following data show the total output for a firm when different amounts of labour are combined with a fixed amount of capital.Assume that the wage per unit of labour is $10 and the cost of the capital is $50. TABLE 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.What is the total output per period when this firm is employing labour such that the marginal product of labour is at its maximum?

A)30
B)60
C)90
D)132
E)150