Deck 1: Economic Models

Question 1

For the function ,the equation represents

A) the X-intercept.
B) the Y-intercept.
C) a contour line.
D) a tangent line.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The Y-intercept of Y = 3X + 8 is

A) 3/8.
B) 3.
C) 8.
D) −8/3.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In the equation Y = 13X + 38 where Y is a function of X

A) Y is the independent variable.
B) 38 is a variable.
C) the slope of the line is 38.
D) None of these.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

If Y = X² + Z²,the contour lines

A) are concentric circles.
B) are parabolas.
C) are hyperbolas.
D) intersect whenever either X or Z is zero.

Question 5

Given Y = f(X,Z),which of the following are necessarily true?

A) Y is a linear function.
B) X, Z are dependent variables.
C) A contour line of this function would keep Y constant.
D) An increase in X would increase Y.

Question 6

A major problem that may occur with models that predict the values of economic variables in the future is that

A) researchers are pessimistic about the future.
B) the model may fail to acknowledge that economic actors will change their behavior in response to changing situations.
C) the model may make predictions that conflict with widely held opinions.
D) no one cares about these predictions.

Question 7

The slope of a nonlinear function at some particular point

A) is the slope of the straight line that is tangent to the function at that point.
B) is the slope of the straight line connecting the origin and the point.
C) cannot be determined.
D) is constant for the entire function.

Question 8

Graphically,the solution to a system of two independent linear equations is usually

A) the average of the slopes.
B) the average of the intercepts.
C) a single point.
D) None of these.

Question 9

Positive economic analysis

A) involves the study of firms with positive profits.
B) involves how resources are actually used in an economy.
C) involves judgments on how resources should be used in an economy.
D) is usually thought to be a waste of time.

Question 10

Normative economic analysis

A) involves the study of what comprises a normal firm.
B) involves how resources are actually used in an economy.
C) involves judgments on how resources should be used in an economy.
D) is usually thought to be a waste of time.

Question 11

If society is producing a combination of goods on its production possibilities frontier

A) it must be employing all available resources.
B) it must be growing.
C) it is using all the available natural resources but may not be using all available labor resources.
D) Both a and b.

Question 12

The solution to the simultaneous equations 5X - Y = 10 and 10X + Y = 35 is

A) X = 15, Y = 0.
B) X = 3, Y = 5.
C) X = 5, Y = 3.
D) None of these.

Question 13

The X-intercept of Y = 4X + 12 is

A) -3.
B) 3.
C) −1/3.
D) 12.

Question 14

The problem of scarcity

A) arises only in poor countries.
B) exists because the price of goods is too high.
C) exists because of limited resources.
D) will eventually be solved by better planning.

Question 15

The slope of the production possibility frontier shows

A) how inputs must be changed to keep them fully employed.
B) the technically efficient combinations of the two goods.
C) how demanders are willing to trade one good for another.
D) the opportunity cost of one good in terms of the other.

Question 16

If the prevailing price of shirts is $10 and at this price demanders demand 100 shirts while suppliers are willing to supply 110 shirts,there is a(n)

A) shortage at the $10 price.
B) surplus at the $10 price.
C) equilibrium in this market.
D) shortage if price were to rise above $10.

Question 17

If the Y-intercept of a linear function increases while the slope remains unchanged

A) the graph must shift down.
B) the graph must rotate to the left about the X intercept.
C) the graph must shift up.
D) the graph remains unchanged.

Question 18

For the equation the point X = 20,Z = 5

A) yields a value of Y = 10.
B) lies below the contour line that includes the point X = 15, Z = 7.
C) lies on the same contour line as the point X = 12, Z = 6.
D) Both a and b.

Question 19

If the slope of a linear function changes with no change in the Y-intercept

A) the graph shifts either up or down.
B) the graph remains unchanged.
C) the graph rotates about its X-intercept.
D) the graph rotates about its Y-intercept.

Question 20

For the equation Y = X² + Z²,which of the following points lie on the Y = 25 contour line?

A) X = 2, Z = 4.
B) X = 3. Z = 5.
C) X = 4, Z = 3.
D) Both a and c.

Question 21

If the production possibilities frontier can be expressed as 4X² + Y² = 16 then the point X = ; Y = 2 is

A) outside the production possibilities frontier
B) on the production possibilities frontier
C) inside the production possibilities frontier
D) in the wrong quadrant to be on the graph

Question 22

Suppose a production possibilities frontier can be expressed as 9X² + Y² = 81 what is the opportunity cost of going from 2 units of X to 3 units of X (in terms of units of Y)?

A)
B)
C) 1
D) 0

Question 23

Let Q_D = -5P + 54 and Q_S = P - 6.Equilibrium can be found at

A) Q = 4; P = 10
B) Q = 6; P = 10
C) P = 6; Q = 0
D) Q = ; P = 2

Question 24

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.If consumers demand less as price rises,C must be

A) positive
B) negative
C) 0

Question 25

Suppose a production possibilities frontier can be expressed as .The opportunity cost of going from 0 units of to 1 unit of is approximately

A) .17
B) .59
C) 2.24
D) 3

Question 26

Suppose a production possibilities frontier can be expressed as .The opportunity cost of going from 1 units of to 2 unit of is approximately

A) .17
B) .59
C) 2.24
D) 3

Question 27

Suppose a production possibilities frontier can be expressed as .The opportunity cost of going from 2 units of to 3 unit of is approximately

A) .17
B) .59
C) 2.24
D) 3

Question 28

Suppose and .The equilibrium price is

A) 7
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10

Question 29

Suppose T = .02 ^$\alpha$ .If taxes are regressive which of the following is true?

A) $\alpha$ > 1
B) 0 < $\alpha$ < 1
C) $\alpha$ = 1
D) $\alpha$ = 0

Question 30

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.If firms produce more when price rises,B must be

A) positive
B) negative
C) 0

Question 31

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.

A)
B)
C)
D) B

Question 32

Suppose T = .02 ^$\alpha$ .If taxes are proportional which of the following is true?

A) $\alpha$ > 1
B) 0 < $\alpha$ < 1
C) $\alpha$ = 1
D) $\alpha$ = 0

Question 33

If the production possibilities frontier can be expressed as 4X² + Y² = 16 then the point X = 1; Y = 4 is

A) outside the production possibilities frontier
B) on the production possibilities frontier
C) inside the production possibilities frontier
D) in the wrong quadrant to be on the graph

Question 34

An increase in the technology used in the production of only one of the two goods in a society will

A) eliminate scarcity
B) move the production possibilities frontier out in all directions
C) move the production possibilities frontier in all directions
D) leave one corner of the production possibilities frontier fixed and swing out from the other

Question 35

Suppose a production possibilities frontier can be expressed as 9X² + Y² = 81 what is the opportunity cost of going from 1 unit of X to 2 units of X (in terms of units of Y)?

A) 45
B)
C) -
D) 1

Question 36

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.If price must reach a certain level before firms supply anything,,A must be

A) positive
B) negative
C) 0

Question 37

Suppose right (R)and left (L)shoes are only useful if produced in equal proportion and societal happiness is expressed as min(R,L).The contour lines would be

A) downward sloping lines
B) upward sloping lines
C) L-shaped
D) backward L-shaped

Question 38

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.Equilibrium price is given by

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 39

Suppose and .The equilibrium quantity is

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

Question 40

Suppose T = .02S1 ^$\alpha$ .If taxes are progressive which of the following is true?

A) $\alpha$ > 1
B) 0 < $\alpha$ < 1
C) $\alpha$ = 1
D) $\alpha$ = 0

Question 41

The Ricardian notion that of diminishing returns implies that

A) as more input is used more output will be made.
B) as more input is used less output will be made.
C) as more input is used the increase in output will increase.
D) as more input is used the increase in output will decrease.

Question 42

Suppose you can write generic supply and demand curves such that Q_S = A + BP and Q_D = D + CP.In the usual supply-demand configuration,D must be

A) positive
B) negative
C) 0

Question 43

Economists typically use ____ analysis,whereas clergy members typically use ____ analysis.

A) positive; positive
B) normative; normative
C) positive; normative
D) normative; positive

Question 44

The underlying reason early economists believed a (short-run)supply curve would be upward sloping is because of

A) decreasing average costs
B) increasing average cost
C) decreasing marginal costs
D) increasing marginal costs