Question 1

During what period did members of labor unions comprise the largest share of the labor force?

Accepted Answer

The period from 1950 to 1970 is recognized as the peak era for labor union membership in the United States. During these decades, unions were at their strongest in terms of membership numbers and influence on wages, working conditions, and labor laws.

Question 2

What most accurately describes the trend in the Gross Domestic Product of the US between 1870 and 2007?

Accepted Answer

The trend in the Gross Domestic Product of the US between 1870 and 2007 was that Real GDP increased by about two percent per year.

Question 3

Which statement is best describes changes in infant mortality in the US from 1940-2005?

Accepted Answer

The infant mortality rate in the US significantly decreased from 1940 to 2005, reaching about 15% of its 1940 level by 2005.

Question 4

With respect to real per capita incomes,the United States' position

Accepted Answer

The United States' position as leader in real per capita incomes has not changed much since 1980.

Question 5

What best describes changes in sectors in the US?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture was indeed the dominant sector in the United States until the late 19th century, when industrialization began to take a more central role in the economy.

Question 6

Over the long run,per capita incomes in different regions of the United States have

Accepted Answer

Over time, per capita incomes in different regions of the United States have gradually converged. While there may be temporary fluctuations or differences between regions, overall the trend has been towards convergence.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best describes the changes in life expectancy between 1940-2000 in the US?

Accepted Answer

Between 1940 and 2000, there were significant increases in life expectancy across different demographics in the US. The life expectancy of people with Down's Syndrome and African Americans, in particular, saw notable improvements, outpacing the growth in life expectancy of whites. This reflects advancements in healthcare, social conditions, and targeted interventions to address specific health disparities.

Question 8

After the Civil War,per capita income in the South was relatively low compared with other regions of the United States.Which of the following statements best describes how long it took the South to (almost but not quite.catch up with the rest of the country).

Accepted Answer

The South faced significant economic challenges and infrastructure damage after the Civil War. It took several generations for the region to recover and for per capita income to approach levels similar to other regions of the country. This was due to a combination of factors such as limited investment in new industries, dependence on cash crops like cotton, and discrimination against African Americans, which hindered progress and development in the region.

Question 9

Economists often examine GNP to estimate changes in the well being of people.If one only studied GNP,which of the following would lead to one to overestimate the true increases in peoples' well being?

Accepted Answer

GNP only measures market transactions and production, so a decrease in production in the home (i.e. more goods and services being purchased instead of produced at home) would lead to an overestimate of well being as it would be reflected in higher expenditures and thus higher GNP. Decreasing average hours of work, increasing life expectancy, decreasing levels of pollution, and increases in product quality would all lead to a more accurate estimation of well being as they directly improve people's quality of life.

Question 10

If you based your estimate on how long it took poor regions of the United States to catch up to the per capita incomes of the rest of the nation,how long do you believe it would take Eastern Europe to obtain per capita incomes comparable to those of Western Europe?

Accepted Answer

Poor regions of the United States took several generations to catch up to the per capita incomes of the rest of the nation, and Eastern Europe is starting from a much lower base. Therefore, it is likely that it will take several generations for Eastern Europe to obtain per capita incomes comparable to those of Western Europe.

Question 11

Which statement is most accurate about social indicators in the US between 1950 and 1980?

Accepted Answer

According to social indicators data, the divorce rate in the US between 1950 and 1980 roughly doubled. The suicide rate did increase over this time period, but not as sharply as the rise in the divorce rate. The murder rate did not remain constant, but instead fluctuated during this time period. The birth rate for unmarried women did not remain constant, but instead increased significantly. Therefore, none of the options other than A accurately reflect social indicators in the US between 1950 and 1980.

Question 12

During the second half of the nineteenth century and first half of the twentieth century,per capita incomes on the West Coast of the US were ___ than the national average,and per capita incomes in the South were ___ than the national average.

Accepted Answer

The West Coast experienced significant economic growth during the late 1800s and early 1900s due to factors such as the Gold Rush, the development of agriculture and industry, and the growth of cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. This resulted in higher per capita incomes on the West Coast compared to the national average. In contrast, the South was still recovering from the devastation of the Civil War and struggling with economic issues such as sharecropping and low-paying jobs. This led to lower per capita incomes in the South compared to the national average.

Question 13

Which statement most accurately describes the distribution of income among US families?

Accepted Answer

The increase in demand for highly trained labor has contributed to income inequality in the US as the wages for highly skilled workers have increased at a faster rate than those of low-skilled workers. A and B are incorrect as poor people working more hours than high-income people and median real family income remaining the same are not accurate statements. D is also incorrect as the earnings of married-couple families have actually grown faster than those of households with no spouse.

Question 14

What is not an accurate description of US immigration?

Accepted Answer

This description is not entirely accurate. While it is true that there was significant immigration from NW Europe initially and that there have been waves of immigration from different regions, the idea that immigrants from Asian nations replaced those from NW Europe and were in turn replaced by SE European immigrants is too simplistic and does not accurately reflect the complex patterns of immigration to the US.

Answer: C
 This statement is also not accurate. While there has been significant immigration from Latin America to the US in recent decades, immigration from Latin America to the US actually predates the Depression period. For example, there was significant migration from Mexico to the US in the early 20th century, driven in part by labor demands.

Question 15

Economists often examine GNP to estimate changes in the well being of people.If one only studied GNP,which of the following would lead to one to underestimate the true increases in peoples' well being?

Accepted Answer

Increasing amounts of production in the home, such as cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing, are typically not included in GNP calculations. However, these activities contribute to the well-being of people and their families. Therefore, only studying GNP would underestimate the true increases in people's well-being. Increasing average hours of work, decreasing life expectancy, and increasing levels of pollution would all have negative impacts on people's well-being and would be reflected in GNP.

Question 16

Which of the following most accurately describes the changes in the heights of adult,white males?

Accepted Answer

There were small cyclical changes in height until about 1900, and since then, heights have increased very rapidly due to improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and living conditions.

Question 17

Between 1880 and 1980,which region had the highest per capita income?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Between 1880 and 1980,which region had the...

Question 18

In which period did women make the least significant strides in the labor market?

Accepted Answer

Between 1790 and 1800, women made the least significant strides in the labor market compared to the other periods listed. This era predates the major labor movements and industrial changes that later provided more opportunities for women in the workforce.

Question 19

Which statement is most accurate about the real GDP per capita of different nations between 1980 and 2006?

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, the statement that the US had the highest real per capita GDP throughout the period and, on average, the other major industrialized nations did not significantly close the gap is the most accurate. The other statements are either partially correct or incorrect based on the data given.

Question 20

What variable has been shown to be highly correlated with nutrition,disease,and income,and is increasingly being used by economists to measure the well being of people?

Accepted Answer

Height has been shown to be highly correlated with nutrition, disease, and income. It is increasingly being used by economists to measure the well-being of people. Taller individuals tend to have better health outcomes, higher incomes, and fewer incidences of disease. Thus, height can be used as an indicator of overall well-being and quality of life.

Quiz 29: Achievements of the Past, Challenges for the Future