Midterm 1 Review Flashcards
The fact that human wants cannot be fully satisfied with available resources is called the problem of:
Scarcity
When a market price allocates a scarce resource:
Only those who are willing and able to pay get the resource
A positive statement is always what?
Always true
The concept of opportunity cost implies what?
It implies that when a person is more efficient in the production of one good, they should produce that good and exchange it for some good that they are relatively less efficient at producing.
The branch of economics that studies the choices of individuals and businesses is:
Microeconomics
The maximum price a consumer is willing to pay for a good is the:
Marginal cost (of the good)
“There can be too much of a good thing.” This statement suggests that:
A good may be produced to the point where its marginal cost exceeds its marginal benefit
Opportunity cost of an action is:
The highest-valued alternative forgone
The demand curve for a good is the same as the _________ curve of that good.
Marginal benefit
In a world characterized by scarcity, people must:
Make choices among alternatives
Model A is superior to model B if:
Its predictions correspond more closely to the facts than the predictions of model B
Which of the following is true regarding marginal benefit?
a) The marginal benefit curve shows the benefit firms receive by producing another unit of a good.
b) Marginal benefit increases as more and more of a good is consumed.
c) Marginal benefit is the maximum amount a person is willing to pay to obtain one more unit of a good.
c) only
A price elasticity of demand of 2 means that a 10 percent increase in price will result in a ___ precent _________ in quantity demanded.
20; decrease
Statements about “what ought to be” are called:
Normative statements
Marginal benefit from a good or service is the benefit received from consuming ________. It is measured by the most that people are willing to pay for ________.
One more unit of it; an additional unit of it
Sally has to decide whether to study for her economics test or her accounting test. If she chooses to study for accounting, her opportunity cost of studying accounting is:
Studying economics
What is the definition of marginal benefit?
The benefit that arises from an increase in an activity
“The rich face higher income tax rates than the poor, which is not good since it is the rich who provide jobs for the poor.” This is an example of a ________ statement.
Normative
What is the saying that best describes opportunity cost?
“No such thing as a free lunch”
Which of the following statements are positive?
1. The federal government should increase production of biofuels
2. Air travel has increased since September 11
3. The greatest number of accidents are caused by drunk drivers
4. We ought to have a cure for cancer
2 and 3
True or False: the main functions of markets include enabling buyers and sellers to get information about each other.
True
The price of oranges rises by 3 percent and quantity of oranges demanded decreases by 3 percent. We conclude that the demand for oranges is __________.
Unit elastic
True or False: the problem of scarcity exists only in economies that lack incentives.
False, the problem of scarcity exists in ALL economies
Marginal cost is:
The opportunity cost of producing one more unit of a good or service
True or False: an economic model is useful if it predicts well, even if it’s assumptions are unrealistic.
True
Complete the following sentence. As you consume more and more of a good, ____________ decreases.
Marginal benefit
The inescapable economic fact is that there are ___________ wants and ___________ resources.
Unlimited; limited
Which point is unattainable?
E
What is marginal utility?
The change in total utility that results from a one-unit increase in the quantity of a good consumed
In consumer equilibrium, a consumer equates the _______________ per dollar on each good.
Marginal utility
True or False: The budget line is based on fixed quantities
False
Which statement is true for a normal good?
a) The income effect reinforces the substitution effect.
b) As price falls, we cannot tell whether consumption increases or decreases.
c) As income increases, consumption decreases.
d)The income effect dominates the substitution effect.
e) As income increases, consumption remains constant.
a)
What is an indifference curve?
A line that shows combinations of goods among which a consumer is indifferent
If the price of the good measured on the vertical axis increases, the budget line becomes ________.
Flatter
Marie-Louise has an income of $10 to buy peanuts and popcorn. The price of a bag of peanuts is $1 and the price of a bag of popcorn is $2. What is Marie-Louise’s real income in terms of popcorn?
5 bags of popcorn
Real income in terms of a good is defined as:
Income divided by the price of a good
If the price of the good measured on the horizontal axis increases, the budget line becomes ________.
Steeper
What is a preference map?
A series of indifference curves
What is a distinguishing characteristic of an inferior good?
A negative income effect
Utility is: (Econ definition)
The benefit or satisfaction from consuming goods and services
True or False: the substitution effect is always ‘negative’
True
Figure 9.2.2 shows three indifference curves for Brenda. Which one of the following is not true?
a) The marginal rate of substitution is higher at point C than at point B.
b) Brenda prefers consuming at point B to consuming at point A.
c) Brenda prefers consuming at point D to consuming at point A.
d) Brenda would be equally happy consuming at either point B or point C.
e) Brenda prefers consuming at point D to consuming at either point B or point C.
a)
Chuck and Barry have identical total utility schedules but Chuck has a much higher income. If each is maximizing his total utility, then:
Chuck will have lower marginal utility than Barry for each normal good consumed
If a consumer’s income increases and if all goods are normal goods:
The quantity bought of each good increases