Deck 2: Scarcity, Choice, and Economic Systems

Question 1

If the economy is producing a combination of goods inside its production possibilities frontier,then

A) workers are on vacation
B) a significant number of workers have little education
C) some resources are being wasted
D) technology must improve before output can increase
E) the opportunity cost of producing more output is greater than the value of the additional output that could be produced

Answer 1

some resources are being wasted

Question 2

Combinations of goods on the production possibilities frontier

A) are unattainable without additional resources
B) can be produced using currently available resources and technology
C) reflect minimum normative value allocations
D) will meet society's needs but not its wants
E) are attainable only through international trade

Answer 2

can be produced using currently available resources and technology

Question 3

Figure 2-2

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cattle for beef or to grow wheat.Figure 2-2 represents the production possibility frontier for beef and wheat.What is assumed constant as the economy moves from point F to point G?

A) both d and e
B) the money supply
C) consumer tastes and preferences
D) the level of currently available technology
E) the amount of available resources

Answer 3

both d and e

Question 4

Figure 2-1

Figure 2-1 illustrates the trade-off for a particular student between time spent studying per week and income per week from working part-time.What is the opportunity cost for this person of moving from point b to point a?

A) $5 of income per week
B) $10 of income per week
C) two hours of studying per week
D) $10 per hour of studying per week
E) $20 of income per week

Question 5

Figure 2-2

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cattle for beef or to grow wheat.Figure 2-2 represents the production possibility frontier for beef and wheat.Production at point H is

A) unattainable given currently available technology and resources
B) attainable by more fully employing already available resources
C) attainable by using better technology which is already available
D) attainable if beef production drops to zero
E) attainable if all available resources are used to produce wheat

Question 6

When there is an improvement in technology,holding all else constant,

A) the production possibilities frontier will shift inward
B) society faces larger opportunity costs from shifting productive resources from one use to another
C) goods and services will increase in price
D) the economy must have some idle resources
E) the production possibilities frontier will shift outward

Question 7

By better utilizing existing resources,an economy can produce at a point outside of its current production possibilities frontier.

Question 8

Figure 2-2

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cattle for beef or to grow wheat.Figure 2-2 represents the production possibility frontier for beef and wheat.The opportunity cost of moving from point G to point F equals

A) 0.25 million bushels of wheat
B) 1.75 million bushels of wheat
C) 0.125 bushels of wheat
D) 8 bushels of wheat
E) 2 bushels of wheat

Question 9

An economy's production possibilities frontier is fixed in the long run.

Question 10

One of the concepts that is illustrated by a downward sloping production possibilities frontier is that

A) technology must change in order to produce more of a particular good
B) to produce more of one good,some of the alternative goods must be given up
C) opportunity cost generally declines as more of a good is produced
D) specialization leads to gains in overall utility for society
E) opportunity cost generally does not vary as more of a good is produced

Question 11

When opportunity costs rise as more of a good is consumed,the production possibilities frontier will be concave (bowed out)with respect to the origin.

Question 12

Figure 2-3

Figure 2-3 shows the production possibilities frontier for a music processing plant that can produce both compact disks and cassettes.The opportunity cost of moving from point B to C is

A) 20 cassettes
B) 120 compact disks
C) 100 cassettes
D) 60 compact disks
E) 180 compact disks

Question 13

Figure 2-1

Figure 2-1 illustrates the trade-off for a particular student between time spent studying per week and income per week from working part-time.What is the opportunity cost for this person of moving from point a to point b?

A) $5 of income per week
B) $10 of income per week
C) two hours of studying per week
D) $10 per hour of studying per week
E) $20 of income per week

Question 14

Production possibilities frontiers are typically concave (bowed out)from the origin because

A) of the law of supply
B) there is usually a one-for-one trade-off in resources used in production
C) economies of scale enable firms to reduce the average costs of production as output rises
D) the opportunity cost of a good rises as the quantity of the good produced increases
E) resources are often left idle in the firm

Question 15

Combinations of goods outside the production possibilities curve

A) are unattainable given society's technology and resources
B) are combinations that have already been consumed
C) go beyond basic necessities
D) result from involuntary unemployment
E) are the result of economic recessions

Question 16

Figure 2-2

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cattle for beef or to grow wheat.Figure 2-2 represents the production possibility frontier for beef and wheat.Between points F and G,the opportunity cost increasing wheat by two bushels equals

A) 0.25 million pounds of beef
B) 1.75 million pounds of beef
C) 0.125 pounds of beef
D) 8.0 pounds of beef
E) 0.5 pounds of beef

Question 17

The production possibilities frontier is useful for demonstrating both scarcity and productive inefficiency.

Question 18

The production possibilities frontier illustrates

A) the combinations of goods that could be produced with resources and technology constant
B) how technology influences opportunity costs
C) the law of diminishing returns
D) how price changes affect decision making of individuals
E) the law of demand

Question 19

Which of the following could lead to an inward shift of the production possibilities frontier?

A) an increase in the cost of one good
B) an increase in the utilization of resources
C) a rise in the level of technology
D) a law is passed whereby a mandatory retirement age of 60 is imposed
E) a decrease in the utilization of resources

Question 20

If capital is not being used efficiently,an economy cannot be operating at a point along its production possibilities frontier.

Question 21

When all resources used in production are not perfectly substitutable,

A) specialization does not lead to greater production
B) the economy or firm is producing at a point outside of its production possibilities frontier
C) there will be constant opportunity costs
D) the production possibilities frontier will be concave (bowed outward)
E) the economy or firm will only produce one good in equilibrium

Question 22

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cotton for clothing or to grow wheat.Agricultural researchers develop a new wheat hybrid that is more resistant to drought and insects.What effect will this have on the production possibilities frontier for cotton and wheat?

A) maximum possible production of both cotton and wheat will rise
B) maximum possible production of cotton will rise;maximum possible production of wheat will not change
C) maximum possible production of wheat will rise;maximum possible production of cotton will not change
D) maximum possible production of cotton will rise;maximum possible production of wheat will fall
E) maximum possible production of wheat will rise;maximum possible production of cotton will fall

Question 23

Along a society's production possibilities frontier,

A) the level of technology is changing
B) more of one good can be produced without giving up some of the other good
C) resources are not being fully utilized
D) available resources are being used efficiently
E) there is productive inefficiency in the economy

Question 24

Figure 2-3

Figure 2-3 shows the production possibilities frontier for a music processing plant that can produce both compact disks and cassettes.The opportunity cost of moving from point A to point E is

A) zero
B) 30 cassettes
C) 180 compact disks
D) cannot be determined because point E is unattainable under current technology and resources
E) 80 cassettes

Question 25

According to the law of increasing opportunity cost,

A) production points outside the production possibility frontier are unattainable
B) the production possibility frontier becomes flatter as production increases along the horizontal axis
C) the opportunity cost of producing a good rises as production of that good falls
D) production points inside the production possibility frontier are unattainable
E) the opportunity cost of producing a good rises as production of that good rises

Question 26

Figure 2-8

Assume that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cotton for clothing or to grow wheat.Curve FG in Figure 2-8 represents the current production possibilities frontier for cotton and wheat.What could cause the production possibilities frontier to shift from FG to FH?

A) a change in government subsidies that favors wheat production over cotton production
B) development of a new fertilizer that improves production of wheat,but has no impact on cotton production
C) development of a new fertilizer that improves production of cotton,but has no impact on wheat production
D) newly reclaimed swampland that is equally suited to growing either crop
E) newly reclaimed swampland that can be used to grow either crop,but is better suited to growing wheat

Question 27

Suppose that the country of Utopia produces only steel and coffee.In 1998,Utopia produced 900 tons of steel and 500 pounds of coffee,while in 1999,it produced 1,000 tons of steel and 550 pounds of coffee.Assume that no technological changes occurred in the production of either good and the resource endowment of Utopia did not change.Which of the following is true?

A) Utopia's opportunity cost of producing additional steel is 50 pounds of coffee.
B) Utopia's production must have been productively inefficient in 1998.
C) Utopia's opportunity cost of producing additional steel is 1/2 pound of coffee per ton of steel.
D) Utopia's opportunity cost of producing additional coffee is 100 tons of steel.
E) The production point in 1998 was unattainable given then-current resources and technology.

Question 28

Figure 2-8

The production possibility frontier in Figure 2-8 assumes that U.S.agricultural land is used either to raise cotton for clothing or to grow wheat.This is an example of a(n)

A) critical assumption
B) optimizing assumption
C) assumption of scarcity
D) simplifying assumption
E) realistic assumption

Question 29

Two reasons why an economy might operate inside of its production possibilities frontier are

A) productive efficiency and technological change
B) depressions and inflation
C) recessions and productive inefficiency
D) opportunity costs and substitutability of resources used in production
E) productive inefficiency and a decrease in the state of technology

Question 30

If an economy's production possibilities frontier shifted to the right,this would illustrate

A) increasing opportunity cost
B) decreasing opportunity cost
C) a fall in resource utilization
D) economic growth
E) a rise in resource utilization

Question 31

The production possibilities frontier can be used to illustrate all of the following concepts,except one.Which is the exception?

A) productive inefficiency
B) opportunity cost
C) the law of demand
D) scarcity
E) the law of increasing opportunity costs

Question 32

Figure 2-7

Which of the following could explain the shift in the production possibilities frontier from AB to AC in Figure 2-7?

A) a productive improvement in petroleum production that has no effect on clothing production
B) a productive improvement in clothing production that has no effect on petroleum production
C) an increase in the size of the labor force that can produce either petroleum products or clothing
D) oil drilling in Alaska is ended in order to protect the environment
E) major oil reserves are discovered off the coast of Africa

Question 33

One explanation for the drop in the standard of living in the Soviet Union during World War II is that

A) the war led to a movement along its production possibilities frontier away from civilian goods and towards military goods
B) the war led to an outward shift in the production possibilities frontier due to a rise in the level of technology
C) prior to the war,there was much productive inefficiency in the Soviet Union
D) the opportunity cost of producing military goods was zero in their economic system
E) resources used to produce civilian goods were equally capable of producing military goods

Question 34

Figure 2-5 shows five different combinations of rockets and cruise ships that a country could manufacture.Suppose it decided to produce 18 rockets and 12 cruise ships.Which of the following would be true?

A) This combination could not be produced.
B) The country will be at point B.
C) The country will be at point C.
D) The country will not be fully utilizing its resources.
E) The country will be at the midpoint of points B and D.

Question 35

Figure 2-5 shows five different points along the production possibilities frontier for a country that produces rockets and cruise ships.If the country is currently operating at point C and decided to move to point B,

A) the opportunity cost would be four rockets
B) it could not do so,given the current state of technology and quantity of resources
C) the country would have to forego producing six cruise ships
D) the opportunity cost would be four cruise ships
E) the opportunity cost would be six rockets

Question 36

Figure 2-7

Which of the following could explain the shift in the production possibilities frontier shown in Figure 2-7 from AC to AB?

A) technical improvements in both petroleum and clothing production
B) a productive improvement in clothing production that has no effect on petroleum production
C) a decrease in the size of the labor force that can produce either petroleum products or clothing
D) major oil reserves in Alaska are declared off-limits to producers in order to protect the environment
E) major oil reserves are discovered off the coast of Africa

Question 37

Figure 2-6

A shift in the production possibilities frontier from DC to EC in Figure 2-6 could be due to a

A) technological improvement in the production of ice cream
B) reduction in the rate of unemployment
C) rise in the rate of unemployment
D) technological improvement in the production of frozen yogurt
E) fall in the demand for frozen yogurt

Question 38

Figure 2-3

Which point in Figure 2-3 is not possible for this society to produce?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 39

Figure 2-4

Which production possibilities frontier(s)in Figure 2-4 depict(s)a situation in which all resources are perfect substitutes in production?

A) both C and E
B) both D and E
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 40

Figure 2-3

Figure 2-3 shows the production possibilities frontier for a music processing plant that can produce both compact disks and cassettes.At which point would the plant be under-utilizing its resources?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 41

Figure 2-9

Assume that the publishing industry produces novels and textbooks,as shown in the production possibilities frontier in Figure 2-9.Between points F and G,the opportunity cost of ten more novels equals __________.Between points G and H,the opportunity cost of ten more novels equals __________.

A) 0.4 textbooks;0.5 textbooks
B) 4 textbooks;5 textbooks
C) 4 million textbooks;5 million textbooks
D) 2.5 textbooks;2 textbooks
E) 10 million textbooks;5 million textbooks

Question 42

If a society is on its production possibilities frontier,and decides to produce more health care,

A) the cost of producing an additional unit of health care will rise
B) it must employ some previously unemployed resources
C) its standard of living will rise
D) some kind of inefficiency will occur
E) the cost of producing an additional unit of some other good will rise

Question 43

Suppose that an economy produces civilian goods and military goods.If technological breakthroughs increase its ability to produce military goods,then

A) fewer military goods will be produced
B) more civilian goods will be produced
C) the opportunity cost of producing military goods will rise
D) there will be productive inefficiency in the economy
E) the production possibilities frontier will pivot outward around the axis for military goods

Question 44

The law of increasing opportunity cost says that

A) wages increase as employment increases
B) interest rates rise as inflation increases
C) the cost of increasing employment opportunities increases with specialization
D) the more of something we produce,the less expensive it becomes
E) the more of something we produce,the greater is the opportunity cost of producing an additional unit

Question 45

The concave shape of the production possibilities frontier reflects

A) the law of comparative advantage
B) the law of absolute advantage
C) the law of increasing opportunity cost
D) the simplifying assumption of scarce resources
E) productive inefficiency

Question 46

Figure 2-10

Movement from point K on the production possibilities curve for food and clothing in Figure 2-10,to point J inside the curve could be the result of

A) an increase in opportunity costs
B) supply and demand
C) greater efficiency
D) a decrease in the population
E) an increase in unemployment

Question 47

A country currently is using all its land to produce wheat and grapes.However,the land most suited to growing grapes is being used to produce wheat,and the land most suited to growing wheat is being used to produce grapes.Which of the following statements is true?

A) Production of both wheat and grapes can be increased by shifting tracts of land to their best uses.
B) Production of both wheat and grapes can be increased only if more land becomes available.
C) production of wheat can increase only if production of grapes decreases.
D) Production of grapes can increase only if more labor and machinery become available.
E) Production of neither wheat nor grapes is possible without more land becoming available.

Question 48

As a society produces more and more of one good,it must give up increasing amounts of the alternative good.This demonstrates the

A) law of demand
B) convexity of the production possibilities frontier
C) law of increasing opportunity cost
D) principle of productive inefficiency
E) effects of shifts in the level of technology

Question 49

Assume that society is operating on its concave production possibilities frontier.As more and more units of the good on the horizontal axis are produced,

A) more and more total resources are employed in the two industries combined
B) larger and larger amounts of the good on the vertical axis must be sacrificed
C) fewer and fewer total resources are employed in the two industries combined
D) more and more units of the good on the vertical axis will be produced
E) smaller and smaller amounts of the good on the vertical axis must be sacrificed

Question 50

Figure 2-9

Which of the following statements could explain the concave shape of the production possibilities curve in Figure 2-9?

A) The publishing industry develops improved printing presses.
B) Productive efficiency increases as the publishing industry moves from point F to point H
C) More editors and writers are employed as the publishing industry moves from point F to point H.
D) Some writers are better suited to writing novels;some are better suited to writing textbooks.
E) The prices of paper and ink fall as the publishing industry moves from point H to point F.

Question 51

According to the law of increasing opportunity cost,

A) opportunity cost rises as technology improves
B) the production possibilities frontier is a straight line
C) opportunity cost rises as society produces more of a good or service
D) the production possibilities frontier is convex with respect to the origin (that is bowed toward the origin)
E) monetary costs rise as opportunity cost rises

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of productive inefficiency?

A) Scientists discover a new substance that dramatically increases potential steel production.
B) A demographic boom leads to a rise in the number of workers in the labor force.
C) The rate of unemployment falls to zero.
D) Computer technicians are forced to answer telephones rather than perform their normal duties.
E) Due to economic growth,the economy reaches a new point along its production possibilities frontier.

Question 53

A country currently is using all its land to produce wheat and grapes.However,the land most suited to growing grapes is being used to produce wheat,and the land most suited to growing wheat is being used to produce grapes.This is an example of

A) increasing opportunity costs
B) involuntary unemployment
C) productive inefficiency
D) central planning
E) communal ownership

Question 54

Productive inefficiency could arise from

A) a waste of available labor
B) a lack of resources
C) an improvement in technology
D) a movement along the production possibilities frontier
E) too many goods being produced by the country or firm

Question 55

The law of increasing opportunity cost is based on the idea that

A) wages tend to increase with the level of employment
B) interest rates tend to rise with increasing inflation
C) labor costs for a typical firm are a large and growing proportion of total cost
D) most resources are better suited to producing some goods than others
E) the less of something we produce,the greater is the opportunity cost of producing still more

Question 56

Production is productively efficient when

A) the maximum possible output is being produced from a given collection of inputs
B) people are working their hardest
C) no more capital can be substituted for labor
D) technological innovation is no longer desirable
E) workers perform their duties at the expected level,even if they are physically capable of doing more

Question 57

If a society is operating on its production possibilities frontier,and then decides to produce less health care,

A) its standard of living will fall
B) its standard of living will improve
C) some of its resources will become unemployed
D) it will be able to produce more of some other good or service
E) the opportunity cost of producing health care will rise

Question 58

Figure 2-10

Consider the production possibilities frontier for food and clothing in Figure 2-10.A movement from point J to point K could be caused by

A) the development of new and better technology
B) increasing unemployment
C) the movement of society into a recession
D) the law of increasing opportunity costs
E) eliminating productive inefficiency

Question 59

Figure 2-9

Assume that the publishing industry produces novels and textbooks,as shown in the production possibilities frontier in Figure 2-9.Moving from point H to G,the opportunity cost of those five additional textbooks equals

A) 0.5 novels
B) 10 million novels
C) 3 novels
D) 8 novels
E) 2 novels

Question 60

A country currently is using all its land to produce wheat and grapes.However,the land most suited to growing grapes is being used to produce wheat,and the land most suited to growing wheat is being used to produce grapes.Which of the following statements is true?

A) The country is operating outside of its production possibilities frontier.
B) The country is operating along its production possibilities frontier.
C) Wheat production must be sacrificed if the country increases grape production.
D) Grape production must be sacrificed if the country increases wheat production.
E) The country is operating inside its production possibilities frontier.

Question 61

One kind of gain from specialization is that

A) most individuals gain at the expense of someone else
B) people develop expertise
C) people get to do only what they like
D) people cannot be bossed around
E) people gain political power

Question 62

All of the following,except one,help explain why specialization leads to greater production than is otherwise possible.Which is the exception?

A) It allows the organization of production in business firms.
B) Specialization reduces the time lost in moving from one activity to another.
C) As workers repeat an activity over and over,they hone their skills and become more expert.
D) Specialization allows workers to be assigned to the activities for which they have the greater natural ability.
E) The more often workers repeat an activity,the more stimulating and enjoyable they find it.

Question 63

Sven has a comparative advantage over Alice in cooking but not in doing the laundry.Which of the following must be true?

A) Sven must have an absolute advantage in both cooking and doing the laundry.
B) Sven has a lower opportunity cost in doing the laundry.
C) Sven has an absolute advantage in doing the laundry.
D) Alice must have an absolute advantage in cooking.
E) Sven must have a lower opportunity cost than Alice for cooking.

Question 64

Specialization of labor typically leads to higher levels of productive inefficiency in an economy.

Question 65

According to the law of comparative advantage,individuals and economies should specialize in producing those goods and services in which they have a comparative advantage.

Question 66

Economies organize according to the principle of specialization and exchange because doing so

A) enables the government to exercise greater control than would otherwise be possible
B) forces people to work longer hours than they would do normally
C) eliminates the "law of increasing opportunity costs"
D) enables workers to move up to management in the least amount of time
E) enables greater production and higher standards of living to be realized than would otherwise be possible

Question 67

If the labor force in an economy is not fully employed,then

A) the economy is operating outside of its production possibilities frontier
B) the economy is operating on its production possibilities frontier
C) there must have been an increase in technology to compensate for the labor shortage
D) the opportunity cost of producing more of one good is negative
E) the economy is operating inside its production possibilities frontier

Question 68

If Alicia limits the range of her productive activities rather than trying to be self-sufficient,she is engaging in

A) specialization
B) exchange
C) absolute advantage
D) increasing opportunity costs
E) reducing her standard of living

Question 69

If Indiana has an absolute advantage over Maine in producing both corn and ball bearings,then

A) Indiana should produce both corn and ball bearings
B) there are no benefits possible from specialization
C) Maine should produce ball bearings and Indiana should produce corn
D) Indiana should produce ball bearings and Maine should produce corn
E) they still may benefit from specialization,but more information is needed to determine which state should specialize in each

Question 70

The specialization of labor

A) leads to a reduction in unemployment
B) means that less equipment will be employed when labor and capital are substitutes in production
C) expands the output a society can produce
D) decreases the costs to the firm of coordinating activities
E) effectively separates labor from management

Question 71

Specialization and exchange

A) generally leads to increased production of some goods at the cost of decreased production of other goods
B) causes the production possibilities frontier to shift inward
C) increases total production of every good only if the total amount of resources also increases
D) alters the allocation of production among individuals or nations,but does not alter total production levels
E) allows greater total production of every good without an increase in the total amount of resources

Question 72

The principle of specialization and exchange implies that

A) total production is highest when individuals specialize according to their absolute advantages
B) productive inefficiency increases as producers in society specialize
C) exchange can only occur when there is specialization in the economy
D) gains from specialization will only occur when society is operating at a point along its production possibilities frontier
E) total production is highest when individuals specialize according to their comparative advantages

Question 73

Suppose that the United States has an absolute advantage over Mexico in producing both agricultural and manufactured goods.In the U.S. ,the opportunity cost of 1 unit of agricultural output is 2 units of manufactured goods.In Mexico,the opportunity cost of 1 unit of agricultural output is 1.5 units of manufactured goods.Total production in the U.S.and Mexico will be maximized if

A) the U.S.specializes in both types of output
B) Mexico specializes in both types of output
C) the U.S.specializes in agricultural goods and Mexico specializes in manufactured goods
D) the U.S.specializes in manufactured goods and Mexico specializes in agricultural goods
E) each country achieves self-sufficiency

Question 74

The world's total output will be greater the more self-sufficient each of the world's economies becomes.

Question 75

Which of the following best defines the specialization of resources?

A) Workers are compensated as individuals.
B) Special resources are needed to produce most goods.
C) Each resource is paid for in full.
D) Each resource is paid the most if it is specialized.
E) Each resource is focused on a limited number of productive activities.

Question 76

If Bob has an absolute advantage over Pete in both typing and woodworking,then Bob also has a comparative advantage over Pete in both activities.

Question 77

World War II led to a dramatic increase in economic growth in the United States because

A) the war caused the U.S.to move along its production possibilities frontier away from consumer goods and towards military goods
B) the economy was already at close to full employment
C) there were unemployed resources in the U.S.economy prior to the war
D) the economy shifted production towards more profitable consumer goods during the war
E) the opportunity cost of producing military goods increased considerably during the war years

Question 78

Specialization and exchange result in

A) lower production levels than would otherwise be possible
B) higher living standards than would otherwise be possible
C) more down-time as workers switch activities more frequently
D) the assignment of workers to activities according to their preferences
E) self-sufficiency

Question 79

Specialization leads to greater production than is otherwise possible

A) only if different workers have different natural abilities
B) only if production is organized within business firms
C) under capitalism,but not under communism
D) even if different workers have identical natural abilities
E) under communal ownership,but not under capitalism

Question 80

Molly needs 30 minutes to wash the car and 45 minutes to mow the lawn.Renee needs 1 hour to wash the car and 2 hours to mow the lawn.Which of the following statements is correct?

A) Molly should specialize in both tasks.
B) Renee should specialize in both tasks.
C) Each woman should specialize in the task in which she has the absolute advantage.
D) Absolute advantage is not an appropriate guide for determining specialization.
E) Neither woman should specialize.