Perfectly Competitive Markets

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AP Microeconomics › Perfectly Competitive Markets

Questions 1 - 10
1

If the United States trades computers in exchange for cars from Germany, what must be true?

The United States has comparative advantage in producing computers and Germany has comparative advantage in producing cars

The United States has comparative advantage in producing cars and Germany has comparative advantage in producing computers

The United States has absolute advantage in producing computers and Germany has comparative absolute in producing cars

The United States has absolute advantage in producing cars and Germany has absolute advantage in producing computers

None of the other answers

Explanation

Comparative advantage refers to the ability of a party to produce a particular good at a lower opportunity cost than another party. When trading, countries will always gain by trading the good in which they have comparative advantage in producing. Since the US is trading computers for cars from Germany, the US must have comparative advantage in computer production while Germany has comparative advantage in car production.

2

If the total product of labor increases at an increasing rate, _________ .

marginal product of labor is increasing.

marginal product of labor is decreasing.

marginal product of labor is constant.

marginal product of labor is at its minimum.

marginal product of labor is at its maximum.

Explanation

Marginal product of labor describes how the total product of labor changes when more labor is hired. If the total product of labor is rising as labor increases, then the marginal product of labor must be increasing.

3

If the total product of labor increases at an increasing rate, _________ .

marginal product of labor is increasing.

marginal product of labor is decreasing.

marginal product of labor is constant.

marginal product of labor is at its minimum.

marginal product of labor is at its maximum.

Explanation

Marginal product of labor describes how the total product of labor changes when more labor is hired. If the total product of labor is rising as labor increases, then the marginal product of labor must be increasing.

4

If the United States trades computers in exchange for cars from Germany, what must be true?

The United States has comparative advantage in producing computers and Germany has comparative advantage in producing cars

The United States has comparative advantage in producing cars and Germany has comparative advantage in producing computers

The United States has absolute advantage in producing computers and Germany has comparative absolute in producing cars

The United States has absolute advantage in producing cars and Germany has absolute advantage in producing computers

None of the other answers

Explanation

Comparative advantage refers to the ability of a party to produce a particular good at a lower opportunity cost than another party. When trading, countries will always gain by trading the good in which they have comparative advantage in producing. Since the US is trading computers for cars from Germany, the US must have comparative advantage in computer production while Germany has comparative advantage in car production.

5

The following question is based on this table:

Screen_shot_2014-01-30_at_10.24.12_am

What is the marginal cost of producing the fourth good?

Explanation

Marginal cost is the increase in the total cost of production to produce one additional unit. In this case, we want to determine the marginal cost of producing the fourth good. The total cost for producing three goods is 26 and the total cost for producing four goods is 29. Because total cost increases by 3, 3 is the fourth good's marginal cost.

6

The following question is based on this table:

Screen_shot_2014-01-30_at_10.24.12_am

What is the marginal cost of producing the fourth good?

Explanation

Marginal cost is the increase in the total cost of production to produce one additional unit. In this case, we want to determine the marginal cost of producing the fourth good. The total cost for producing three goods is 26 and the total cost for producing four goods is 29. Because total cost increases by 3, 3 is the fourth good's marginal cost.

7

The following question is based on this table:

Screen_shot_2014-01-30_at_10.24.12_am

What production level maximizes the firm's profits?

Impossible to determine from the given information.

Explanation

The profit maximizing quantity for the production of goods is the level at which marginal cost equals marginal revenue. This table allows us to easily determine the marginal cost of producing the _n_th good, but it does not give any information about the marginal revenue associated with selling th _n_th good (i.e. market price of the good).

8

If an increase in the price of pizza causes a decrease in the demand for soda, then the two goods are:

complementary goods

substitute goods

normal goods

luxury goods

giffen goods

Explanation

If an increase in the price of pizza causes a decrease in the demand for soda, then the two goods are complementary goods, or goods that are typically consumed together. Thus, the two goods' demand are affected by the demand of the other good. As the price of pizza increases, its demand will likely decrease. The decrease in demand for pizza causes a decrease in demand for soda because the two goods are complementary.

9

Energy can be generated using either coal or natural gas as an input. If the supply of coal is interrupted, what are the most likely effects on the price and quantity of natural gas traded on the open market? Assume a perfectly competitive market with no government policy intervention.

Price increases, Quantity increases

Price decreases, Quantity increases

Price decreases, Quantity decreases

Price increases, Quantity decreases

No change

Explanation

Coal and natural gas are substitutes for each other based on the description given in the question. Therefore, an interruption in the supply of coal will lead to an increase in the demand for natural gas. This will increase both the price and quantity of natural gas.

10

Energy can be generated using either coal or natural gas as an input. If the supply of coal is interrupted, what are the most likely effects on the price and quantity of natural gas traded on the open market? Assume a perfectly competitive market with no government policy intervention.

Price increases, Quantity increases

Price decreases, Quantity increases

Price decreases, Quantity decreases

Price increases, Quantity decreases

No change

Explanation

Coal and natural gas are substitutes for each other based on the description given in the question. Therefore, an interruption in the supply of coal will lead to an increase in the demand for natural gas. This will increase both the price and quantity of natural gas.

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