QUESTION BANK COVERING MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES, AUSTRIAN
SCHOOL CRITIQUE OF EQUILIBRIUM, SCARCITY AND TRADE-OFFS,
POSITIVE VS. NORMATIVE ECONOMICS, AND EMPIRICAL HYPOTHESIS
TESTING - 200 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. When we refer to "individual" action in microeconomics, we are
referring to:
A) Only consumers making purchasing decisions
B) Only producers making supply decisions
C) A variety of actors including sellers (producers) and buyers
(consumers)
D) Only government regulators
Answer: C
Rationale: Individual action in microeconomics refers to a variety of
actors that can be referred to as sellers (producers) and buyers
(consumers). These actors influence the supply of and demand for
goods and services.
2. The means for achieving coordination in microeconomic individual
action are generally:
A) Government regulations and policies
B) Money and interest rates
C) Social norms and traditions
D) Barter systems and trade agreements
,Answer: B
Rationale: The means for achieving coordination in microeconomic
individual action are generally money and interest rates.
3. Microeconomics can be considered a:
A) Positive science that prescribes courses of action
B) Normative science that prescribes courses of action
C) Normative science that does not prescribe a course of action
D) Descriptive science that only describes historical events
Answer: C
Rationale: Microeconomics can be considered a normative science. It
does not prescribe a course of action. Rather, it tries to explain what
might happen as a result of certain changes.
4. If the supply of crude oil decreases, microeconomics suggests that:
A) The price of gasoline may decrease
B) The price of gasoline may increase
C) The demand for gasoline will increase
D) There will be no change in gasoline prices
Answer: B
Rationale: Microeconomics suggests that if the supply of crude oil
decreases, the price of gasoline may increase.
5. The general equilibrium theory was introduced by:
A) Alfred Marshall in 1890
,B) Adam Smith in 1776
C) Leon Walras in 1874
D) John Maynard Keynes in 1936
Answer: C
Rationale: The general equilibrium theory was introduced by Leon
Walras in 1874.
6. The partial equilibrium theory was introduced by:
A) Leon Walras in 1874
B) Alfred Marshall in 1890
C) Karl Marx in 1867
D) Milton Friedman in 1950
Answer: B
Rationale: The partial equilibrium theory was introduced by Alfred
Marshall in 1890.
7. The partial equilibrium theory believes in:
A) Developing measurable hypotheses related to economic events and
subjecting them to empirical testing
B) Relying solely on theoretical assumptions without testing
C) Only using historical data without hypothesis development
D) Ignoring empirical evidence in economic analysis
Answer: A
Rationale: The partial equilibrium theory believes in developing
measurable hypotheses related to economic events, and subjecting the
, hypotheses to empirical testing to determine which of the hypotheses
work best.
8. Economists make several assumptions to arrive at solutions
because:
A) It is easy to replicate tests in economics
B) It is difficult to replicate tests in economics
C) Economic data is always readily available
D) Economic experiments are always controlled
Answer: B
Rationale: Since it is difficult to replicate tests, economists make several
assumptions such as infinite sellers and buyers, perfect knowledge,
homogeneous goods and services, and static relationships to arrive at
solutions.
9. Which of the following is NOT an assumption economists make to
arrive at solutions?
A) Infinite sellers and buyers
B) Perfect knowledge
C) Heterogeneous goods and services
D) Static relationships
Answer: C
Rationale: Economists make assumptions such as infinite sellers and
buyers, perfect knowledge, homogeneous goods and services (not
heterogeneous), and static relationships to arrive at solutions.