Deck 2: Production Possibilities Frontier Framework

Question 1

Consider two straight-line PPFs.They have the same vertical intercept,but curve I is flatter than curve II.The opportunity cost of producing the good on the vertical axis

A) is greater along curve I.
B) is greater along curve II.
C) is the same along both curves.
D) cannot be compared for the two curves without more information.

Answer 1

is greater along curve I.

Question 2

A PPF can

A) shift outward but not inward.
B) shift inward but not outward.
C) shift inward or outward.
D) shift neither inward nor outward.

Answer 2

shift inward or outward.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true?

A) The concept of opportunity costs cannot be illustrated within a PPF framework.
B) If scarcity did not exist,neither would a PPF.
C) All PPFs are downward-sloping straight lines.
D) There are more attainable points than unattainable points in every PPF diagram.

Answer 3

If scarcity did not exist,neither would a PPF.

Question 4

Points inside (or below)the PPF are

A) unattainable.
B) attainable and productive efficient.
C) attainable but productive inefficient.
D) attainable and neither productive efficient nor productive inefficient.

Question 5

The point where the PPF intersects the vertical axis is

A) unattainable.
B) attainable and productive efficient.
C) attainable but productive inefficient.
D) attainable and neither productive efficient nor productive inefficient.

Question 6

An increase in the quantity of resources

A) shifts the PPF leftward.
B) shifts the PPF rightward.
C) moves the economy to a new point up along a given PPF.
D) moves the economy to a new point down along a given PPF.

Question 7

The economy moves from point A,where it produces 100X and 200Y,to point B,where it produces 200X and 150Y.It follows that

A) point A is a productive inefficient point.
B) point A may be a productive inefficient point.
C) point A may be a productive efficient point.
D) point B is a productive efficient point.
E) b and c

Question 8

Both country 1 and country 2 are located on their respective production possibilities frontiers (PPFs),but country 1 produces twice the output that country 2 produces.It follows that

A) country 1's PPF lies further to the right than country 2's PPF.
B) country 1 has a smaller population than country 2.
C) country 1 has a bigger population than country 2.
D) country 1 is efficient and country 2 is inefficient.
E) none of the above

Question 9

The point where the PPF intersects the horizontal axis is

A) unattainable.
B) attainable and productive efficient.
C) attainable but productive inefficient.
D) attainable and neither productive efficient nor productive inefficient.

Question 10

Suppose the economy goes from a point on its production possibilities frontier (PPF)to a point below that PPF.Assuming that the PPF has not shifted,this could be due to

A) a gain of resources.
B) a loss of resources.
C) technological improvement in the production of both goods.
D) an increase in unemployment of some resources.

Question 11

Consider the following combinations of guns and butter that can be produced: 0 guns,20,000 units of butter;5,000 guns,15,000 units of butter;10,000 guns,10,000 units of butter;15,000 guns,5,000 units of butter;20,000 guns,0 units of butter.The PPF between guns and butter is

A) a downward-sloping bowed-out curve.
B) a downward-sloping straight line.
C) an upward-sloping straight line.
D) It is impossible to answer this question without knowing which good would be plotted on the vertical axis.

Question 12

If there is always a three-for-one tradeoff between goods X and Y,then the PPF between X and Y is

A) a downward-sloping curve that is bowed outward.
B) a downward-sloping curve that is bowed inward.
C) a downward-sloping straight line.
D) an upward-sloping straight line.

Question 13

Suppose the economy goes from a point on its production possibilities frontier (PPF)to a point below that PPF.Assuming that the PPF has not shifted,this could be due to

A) a gain of resources.
B) a loss of resources.
C) technological improvement in the production of both goods.
D) a new law that interferes with economic efficiency.

Question 14

Consider two points on the PPF: point A,at which there are 10 apples and 20 pears,and point B,at which there are 7 apples and 21 pears.If the economy is currently at point A,the opportunity cost of moving to point B is

A) 1 pear.
B) 7 apples.
C) 3 apples.
D) 21 pears.

Question 15

Points outside (or beyond)the PPF are

A) attainable.
B) unattainable.
C) efficient.
D) inefficient.

Question 16

Consider two points on the PPF: point A,at which there are 50 oranges and 100 apricots,and point B,at which there are 51 oranges and 98 apricots.If the economy is currently at point B,the opportunity cost of moving to point A is

A) 2 apricots.
B) 1 orange.
C) 98 apricots.
D) 3 oranges.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true?

A) In a world of efficiently used scarce resources,more of one good necessarily means less of some other good.
B) The law of increasing opportunity costs assumes that all people have the same ability to produce goods.
C) Efficiency implies that it is impossible to get more of one good without getting less of another.
D) Even if a country has unemployed resources,it can still be operating on its production possibilities frontier (PPF).
E) a and c

Question 18

Through war,many of the factories in country 1 are destroyed and many of its people are killed.As a result,the country's

A) production possibilities frontier (PPF)after the war has probably shifted to the right compared to its PPF prior to the war.
B) PPF after the war has probably shifted to the left compared to its PPF prior to the war.
C) PPF after the war is probably the same PPF as before the war.
D) ability to produce goods and services has increased.
E) b and d

Question 19

If increasingly more units of good Y must be given up as each successive unit of good X is produced,then the PPF for these two goods is

A) a downward-sloping straight line.
B) circular.
C) an upward-sloping curve.
D) a downward-sloping curve that is bowed outward.
E) a downward-sloping curve that is bowed inward.

Question 20

Consider two straight-line PPFs.They have the same vertical intercept,but curve I is flatter than curve II.The opportunity cost of producing the good on the horizontal axis

A) is greater along curve I.
B) is greater along curve II.
C) is the same along both curves.
D) cannot be compared for the two curves without more information.

Question 21

A PPF is more likely to be a downward-sloping curve that is bowed outward than a downward-sloping straight line because most resources are

A) better suited for the production of some goods than others.
B) used efficiently.
C) relatively cheap at low levels of output.
D) used to produce consumption goods.

Question 22

Which of the following statements is false?

A) If there are only two goods,guns and butter,it is possible to produce more of both goods through economic growth.
B) If there are only two goods,guns and butter,it is possible to produce more of both goods if the economy is currently operating at a productive inefficient point.
C) If there are only two goods,guns and butter,it is possible to produce more of both goods if the economy is currently operating at a productive efficient point.
D) If there are only two goods,guns and butter,producing more of one means producing less of the other if the economy is currently operating at a productive efficient point.

Question 23

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The movement from point A to point B is a movement from

A) a productive efficient point to a productive inefficient point.
B) a point with more guns and less butter to a point with more butter and even more guns.
C) a productive efficient point to another productive efficient point.
D) a productive inefficient point to a productive efficient point.

Question 24

Productive efficiency implies that

A) it is impossible to obtain gains in one area without losses in another.
B) it is possible to obtain gains in one area without losses in another.
C) there are too many resources.
D) there are too few resources.
E) none of the above

Question 25

The increased production of lamps comes at constant opportunity costs in terms of bookshelves.This means

A) that it takes more resources to produce a lamp than a bookshelf.
B) that it takes fewer resources to produce a lamp than a bookshelf.
C) that for every lamp produced,a constant number of bookshelves is forfeited.
D) that for every lamp produced,a different number of bookshelves is forfeited.

Question 26

A decrease in the quantity of resources

A) shifts the PPF leftward.
B) shifts the PPF rightward.
C) moves the economy up a given PPF.
D) moves the economy down a given PPF.

Question 27

An economy is productive efficient if it produces

A) more than enough food to feed everyone.
B) more goods and services in each successive year.
C) maximum output with given resources and technology.
D) enough output so that no one lives in poverty.

Question 28

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The opportunity cost of moving from point A to B is

A) 10,000 units of butter.
B) 20,000 units of butter.
C) 20,000 units of guns.
D) 10,000 units of guns.

Question 29

Suppose the economy goes from a point on its production possibilities frontier (PPF)to a point directly to the left of it.Assuming that the PPF has not shifted,this could be due to

A) a gain of resources.
B) a loss of resources.
C) technological improvement in the production of both goods.
D) a new law that interferes with productive efficiency.

Question 30

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The opportunity cost of moving from point B to A is

A) 10,000 units of butter.
B) 20,000 units of butter.
C) 50,000 units of guns.
D) the maximum amount of butter that can be produced with available resources.

Question 31

Economic growth causes the PPF to

A) shift leftward.
B) shift rightward.
C) remain constant.
D) go from a straight line to a curve.

Question 32

The PPF between goods X and Y will be a downward-sloping

A) straight line if increasing opportunity costs exist.
B) straight line if decreasing opportunity costs exist.
C) curve that is bowed outward if increasing opportunity costs exist.
D) curve that is bowed outward if constant opportunity costs exist.

Question 33

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.A movement from point B to point D

A) could only happen through economic growth.
B) is necessarily a movement from a productive efficient point to a productive inefficient point.
C) is a movement from a productive efficient point to another productive efficient point.
D) is necessarily a movement from a productive inefficient point to another productive inefficient point.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Productive inefficiency implies that it is possible to produce more of one good and no less of another,but only if additional resources are made available.
B) Productive efficiency implies that it is possible to produce more of one good and no less of another,even without additional resources.
C) Productive inefficiency implies that it is impossible to produce more of one good and no less of another.
D) Productive inefficiency implies that it is possible to produce more of one good and no less of another,even without additional resources.

Question 35

Which of the following is an illustration of the law of increasing opportunity costs?

A) As more cars are produced,the opportunity cost of each additional car is greater than for the preceding unit.
B) As more cars are produced,the opportunity cost of each additional car is less than for the preceding unit.
C) As more cars are produced,the opportunity cost of each additional car is the same as for the preceding unit.
D) People pay lower prices for cars the higher the costs of producing cars.

Question 36

According to the text,farming today in the U.S.is __________ productive compared to a century ago,resulting in there being __________ farmers today than at the turn of the previous century.

A) about as;fewer
B) about as;more
C) much more;fewer
D) much more;more

Question 37

Productive inefficiency implies that

A) it is possible to obtain gains in one area without losses in another.
B) it is impossible to obtain gains in one area without losses in another.
C) there are too many resources.
D) there are too few resources.
E) none of the above

Question 38

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The PPF illustrates

A) constant opportunity costs between guns and butter.
B) that guns are more important than butter.
C) increasing opportunity costs between guns and butter.
D) the opportunity cost of one unit of guns is four units of butter.
E) none of the above

Question 39

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.If the economy is at point C,it follows that

A) more guns and more butter could be produced with available resources than are currently being produced.
B) only more guns could be produced with available resources than are currently being produced.
C) only more butter can be produced with available resources than are currently being produced.
D) C is an unattainable point.

Question 40

Exhibit 2-1
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Scarcity exists

A) at point C but not at point A.
B) neither at point C nor at point A.
C) at both point C and at point A.
D) at point A but not at point C.

Question 41

Exhibit 2-2
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.If PPF₂ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,then point __________ is productive efficient.

A) B
B) D
C) I
D) F
E) both b and d

Question 42

Exhibit 2-3
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.If PPF₁ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,society can choose points that lie only

A) below PPF₁.
B) below or on PPF₁.
C) on PPF₂.
D) none of the above

Question 43

A PPF is a straight line as a result of

A) constant opportunity costs.
B) increasing opportunity costs.
C) decreasing opportunity costs.
D) scarcity.
E) choice.

Question 44

In the production possibilities framework,economic growth is depicted by the PPF

A) shifting leftward (toward the origin).
B) shifting rightward (away from the origin).
C) becoming a straight line rather than a bowed outward curve.
D) becoming bowed outward rather than a straight line.

Question 45

With a constant opportunity cost between goods A and B,the PPF for goods A and B would

A) be a straight line.
B) be a bowed-outward line.
C) be a bowed-inward line.
D) not exist.

Question 46

A PPF is bowed outward as a result of

A) constant opportunity costs.
B) increasing opportunity costs.
C) decreasing opportunity costs.
D) scarcity.
E) choice.

Question 47

Exhibit 2-2
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.If PPF₂ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,a significant loss of resources will

A) move this society from point D to point G on PPF.
B) move this society to PPF.
C) move this society to PPF
D) not affect this society.

Question 48

If resources are better suited toward the production of one good than toward the other good,then the PPF for those two goods is

A) a straight line.
B) bowed outward.
C) upward sloping.
D) any of the above

Question 49

A productive efficient society

A) produces at a point on its PPF.
B) can produce more of one good only by giving up some of another good.
C) cannot produce unlimited amounts of a good.
D) still has to make choices.
E) all of the above

Question 50

An advance in technology commonly refers to the ability to produce

A) the same output with a smaller quantity of resources.
B) more output with a fixed quantity of resources.
C) more output with a greater quantity of resources.
D) both a and b
E) both b and c

Question 51

Exhibit 2-2
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.If PPF₂ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,then point __________ is unattainable.

A) A
B) G
C) D
D) J

Question 52

Within the production possibilities frontier (PPF)framework,choice is depicted by the

A) PPF itself.
B) PPF being bowed outward.
C) need to select among the points making up the PPF.
D) straight-line PPF.

Question 53

In an eight-hour day,Andy can produce either 24 loaves of bread or 8 pounds of butter.In an eight-hour day,John can produce either 8 loaves of bread or 8 pounds of butter.The opportunity cost of producing 1 pound of butter is

A) 1/3 hour for Andy and 1 hour for John.
B) 1 hour for Andy and 1 hour for John.
C) 3 loaves of bread for Andy and 1 loaf of bread for John.
D) 1/3 loaves of bread for Andy and 1 loaf of bread for John.
E) none of the above

Question 54

Exhibit 2-2
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.If PPF₂ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,then point __________ illustrates productive inefficiency.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) J
E) a,b,or c

Question 55

Exhibit 2-2
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The production possibilities frontiers shown in this exhibit depict _______________ opportunity costs.

A) constant
B) increasing
C) decreasing
D) There is not enough information provided to answer this question.

Question 56

Exhibit 2-3
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.If PPF₁ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,society may move to PPF₂ as a result of

A) an increase in resources.
B) a decrease in resources.
C) an increase in technology.
D) both a and c
E) both b and c

Question 57

Exhibit 2-3
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.If PPF₁ is the relevant production possibilities frontier,PPF₂ may depict

A) economic growth.
B) an increase in resources.
C) an increase in technology.
D) both b and c
E) all of the above

Question 58

Technological __________ in American agriculture has __________ other types of employment.

A) improvement;drawn labor away from
B) improvement;released labor to go to
C) stagnation;drawn labor away from
D) stagnation;released labor to go to

Question 59

If there is an increase in the amount of good B foregone as every additional unit of good A is produced,the PPF between goods A and B would

A) be a straight line.
B) be a bowed-outward curve.
C) be a bowed-inward curve.
D) not exist.

Question 60

A society is productive inefficient when

A) it produces at a point inside or below its PPF.
B) it does not produce the maximum output with its given resources and technology.
C) it can produce more of one good without giving up some of another good.
D) both a and b
E) all of the above

Question 61

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.The opportunity cost of moving from point D to point C is

A) 5,000 televisions.
B) 5,000 fax machines.
C) 10,000 televisions.
D) 10,000 fax machines.

Question 62

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph depicts the result of a decrease in the unemployment rate?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 63

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Which of the following labeled points are productive efficient?

A) A,B,C,D,and E
B) B,C and D only
C) C only
D) All of the points are productive efficient.
E) None of the points are productive efficient.

Question 64

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph depicts a technological breakthrough in the production of good X only?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 65

Some of our farm fields are being left unused.Does this have any implications for the economy's PPF diagram (with agricultural products on one axis and all other products on the other axis)?

A) No implications,because the PPF deals only with resources in use.
B) The PPF cannot be drawn if some resources are idle.
C) With unemployed resources,we are at a point below the PPF.
D) The PPF would be upward sloping.

Question 66

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph best depicts the consequence of a large-scale natural disaster?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 67

Exhibit 2-4
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.The line joining points A and D is called the

A) production function frontier.
B) utility function.
C) production possibilities frontier.
D) demand curve.

Question 68

Exhibit 2-4
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.The opportunity cost of moving from point A to point B is

A) 60,000 copiers.
B) 40,000 copiers.
C) 20,000 copiers.
D) 20,000 fax machines.
E) 40,000 fax machines.

Question 69

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.As more fax machines are produced,the opportunity cost of producing them

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains constant.
D) first decreases and then increases.

Question 70

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph depicts a technological breakthrough in the production of good Y only?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 71

Exhibit 2-4
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.As more fax machines are produced,the opportunity cost of producing them

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains constant.
D) first decreases and then increases.

Question 72

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph depicts society's choice to produce more of good X and less of good Y?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 73

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Given available resources and technology,this economy can produce 50,000 television sets and 50,000 fax machines only if it chooses to

A) have an equal distribution of goods.
B) operate at both points C and D.
C) combine points C and D.
D) none of the above

Question 74

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.The opportunity cost of moving from point A to point B is approximately

A) 5,000 televisions.
B) 5,000 fax machines.
C) 10,000 televisions.
D) 10,000 fax machines.

Question 75

Exhibit 2-6
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.Which graph depicts a discovery of a new cheap source of energy that assists in the production of both good X and good Y?

A) (1)
B) (2)
C) (3)
D) (4)
E) none of the above

Question 76

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.The opportunity cost of moving from point C to point B is

A) 15,000 televisions.
B) 15,000 fax machines.
C) 10,000 televisions.
D) 20,000 fax machines.

Question 77

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.The economy is currently operating at point F.The opportunity cost of moving to point E is approximately

A) 35 fax machines.
B) 55 fax machines.
C) zero fax machines.
D) 40 fax machines.

Question 78

Exhibit 2-4
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.This economy is productive

A) efficient,if it operates at point B or C.
B) efficient,if it operates at point A or D.
C) inefficient,if it operates at point A or D.
D) inefficient regardless of the particular point.
E) both a and b

Question 79

Productive efficiency implies that

A) all consumers' wants are satisfied.
B) no advance in technology will occur in the future.
C) the attainable region is greater than the unattainable region.
D) gains are impossible in one area without losses in another.
E) all of the above

Question 80

Exhibit 2-5
Refer to Exhibit 2-5."In order to produce one more television set,we must forfeit the production of one fax machine." This statement describes a movement from

A) point C to point D.
B) point D to point E.
C) point E to point F.
D) point E to point D.
E) point D to point C.