Sure, let's go through each question one by one.
Question 1
Question: Ceteris paribus (all other things being equal), if the rate of unemployment in an economy falls to 4.2% from 5.8%, it is most likely that:
- A. there will be a rise in imported goods.
- B. standards of living are falling.
- C. there will be weaker inflationary pressure.
- D. interest rates will fall in response.
Solution
a
Unemployment and Inflation: A fall in the unemployment rate typically indicates that more people are employed, leading to higher disposable income and increased demand for goods and services. This can create inflationary pressure
b
Interest Rates: To counteract inflationary pressure, central banks may increase interest rates, not decrease them
c
Imported Goods: With higher employment and income, people may spend more on both domestic and imported goods
d
Standards of Living: Higher employment generally improves standards of living, not the opposite
Answer
A. there will be a rise in imported goods.
Key Concept
Relationship between unemployment and inflation
Explanation
A decrease in unemployment typically leads to higher disposable income, which can increase demand for both domestic and imported goods.
Question 2
Question: The table below shows the private and external costs for two products. Looking at the table of data, the government should:
- A. ban the production of Y.
- B. tax both X and Y.
- C. subsidise Y and place a tax on X.
- D. subsidise X and place a tax on Y.
Solution
a
External Costs: Product X has a lower external cost per unit (£105) compared to product Y (£135) b
Private and External Benefits: Product X has higher private and external benefits compared to product Y c
Government Intervention: To correct market failures, the government should tax products with higher external costs and subsidize those with higher benefits
Answer
C. subsidise Y and place a tax on X. Key Concept
External costs and government intervention
Explanation
The government should tax products with higher external costs and subsidize those with higher benefits to correct market failures.
Question 3
Question: The table below shows the index value of an economy's rate of inflation over a 4-year period, where 2021 is the base year. It can be concluded from the data that:
- A. prices fell in 2020.
- B. living standards rose by the largest margin in 2022.
- C. the rate of inflation was lowest in 2023.
- D. the average prices level did not change in 2021.
Solution
a
Base Year: 2021 is the base year with an index value of 100
b
Price Levels: The index value for 2020 is 94, indicating prices were lower than in 2021
c
Inflation Rate: The rate of inflation is the change in the index value from one year to the next
d
2023 Inflation: The smallest increase in the index value is from 2022 to 2023 (104 to 106), indicating the lowest rate of inflation
Answer
C. the rate of inflation was lowest in 2023.
Key Concept
Inflation rate calculation
Explanation
The rate of inflation is determined by the change in the index value, and the smallest change occurred between 2022 and 2023.
Question 4
Question: The diagram below shows the demand and supply curves for a good, where X is the initial equilibrium. Following a fall in the rate of productivity growth and a fall in the price of a complementary good, what would be the new equilibrium point?
- A. A
- B. B
- C. C
- D. D
Solution
a
Productivity Growth: A fall in productivity growth shifts the supply curve to the left (from S2 to S1)
b
Complementary Goods: A fall in the price of a complementary good increases demand, shifting the demand curve to the right (from D2 to D3)
c
New Equilibrium: The new equilibrium is where the new supply and demand curves intersect (S1 and D3)
Answer
Key Concept
Shifts in supply and demand curves
Explanation
A fall in productivity growth shifts the supply curve left, and a fall in the price of a complementary good shifts the demand curve right, leading to a new equilibrium at point A.
Question 5
Question: Ceteris paribus (all other things being equal), a decrease in saving in an economy is most likely to lead to an increase in:
- A. the budget deficit.
- B. inflation.
- C. unemployment.
- D. government spending on healthcare.
Solution
a
Savings and Consumption: A decrease in savings typically leads to an increase in consumption
b
Demand-Pull Inflation: Increased consumption can lead to higher demand for goods and services, causing demand-pull inflation
c
Budget Deficit and Government Spending: These are not directly affected by changes in private savings
d
Unemployment: Increased consumption can reduce unemployment, not increase it
Answer
Key Concept
Relationship between savings and inflation
Explanation
A decrease in savings increases consumption, which can lead to demand-pull inflation.
◊Based on the information provided, a related question in MicroEconomics could be:
"What effect would a decrease in saving in an economy have on the budget deficit?"⍭ Generate me a similar question◊