Foundations of MicroEconomics, 9e (Global Edition) By Robin Bade,
Michael Parkin (Solutions Manual All Chapters, 100% Original Verified, A+
Grade) All Chapters Solutions Manual Supplement files download link at
the end of this file.
Chapter
Getting
Started
ANSWERS TO CHAPTER CHECKPOINTS
Problems and Applications
1. Provide three examples of scarcity that illustrate why even the 1,826
billionaires in the form world face scarcity.
The 1,826 billionaires might want to be able to eat unlimited meals
without gaining weight; live to be at least 140 years old and enjoy perfect
health everyday; be able to wake up in San Francisco and go to sleep in
Paris after spending no more than 3 hours on a plane. None of these
wants can be fulfilled given the present state of technology and resources
available.
2. Label each entry in the list as dealing with a microeconomic topic or a
macroeconomic topic. Explain your answer.
Motor vehicles production in China is growing by 10 percent a year.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and businesses
make decisions whether to buy or sell cars.
Coffee prices rocket.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and businesses
make decisions whether to buy or sell coffee.
Globalization has reduced African poverty.
This entry is a macroeconomic topic because globalization is the result
of choices made by billions of people rather than an individual or
business.
The government must cut its budget deficit.
This entry is a macroeconomic topic because neither an individual nor a
business makes decision to cut expenditures.
Apple sells 20 million iPhone 6 smartphones a month.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and Apple
make decision whether to buy or sell iPhones.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,2 Part 1 . INTRODUCTION
Use the following information to work Problems 3 to 6.
Jurassic World had world-wide box office receipts of $1.66 billion. The
movie’s production budget was $150 million with additional marketing costs.
A successful movie brings pleasure to millions, creates work for thousands,
and makes a few people rich.
3. What contribution does a movie like Jurassic World make to coping with
scarcity? When you buy a movie ticket, are you buying a good or a
service?
Scarcity still exists but the amount of entertainment available in the
economy increases. Buying a ticket to watch a movie is buying a service.
4. Who decides whether a movie is going to be a blockbuster? How do you
think the creation of a blockbuster movie influences what, how, and for
whom goods and services are produced?
The audience decides whether a movie will be a blockbuster because the
audience decides whether to attend the movie.
The “what” question is affected in three ways: First, one good or service
that is produced is the blockbuster movie. Second, the people whose in-
comes are higher as a result of the blockbuster then buy an assortment of
goods and services and so this assortment of goods and services is
produced. Finally, the “what” question is influenced if the movie leads to
spinoff goods (such as toys) or creates a series of sequels or similar films.
The “how” question is affected to the extent that movies use different
production methods. Some movies, for instance, have a lot of special
effects while other movies have few or none. The “for whom” question is
influenced because those people who receive the profits of a blockbuster
movie have higher incomes and so more goods and services are produced
for them.
5. What are some of the components of marginal cost and marginal benefit
that the producer of a movie faces?
Some of the marginal costs the producer faces are the cost of an actor or
actress, the costs of the crew for a day, the costs of a location, and the
costs of advertising in a newspaper. The marginal benefits the producer
enjoys are his or her salary and/or profit participation from the movie,
royalties from the movie, the prestige resulting from a successful movie,
and any awards given to the producer of the movie.
6. Suppose that Chris Pratt had been offered a part in another movie and
that to hire him for Jurassic World, the producer had to double Chris
Pratt’s pay. What incentives would have changed? How might the
changed incentives have changed the choices that people made?
The higher pay would have increased Mr. Pratt’s incentive to make Juras-
sic World rather than the other movie and perhaps affected his choice to
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, Chapter 1 . Getting Started 3
make Jurassic World rather than the other movie. The higher pay would
have increased the incentive of the producer to decrease the expense of
other aspects of the movie so the producer might have chosen to reduce
the pay of the other stars in the movie.
7. What is the social interest? Distinguish it from self-interest. In your
answer give an example of self-interest and an example of social interest.
The social interest looks at what is best for society as a whole; choices that
are best for society as a whole are said to be in the social interest. The self-
interest looks at what is best for the individual; choices that are best for
the individual making the choice are said to be in the self-interest. An ex-
ample of a choice made in the self-interest is a student’s decision to take
an economics class. An example of a choice made in the social interest is a
firm’s decision to reduce its air pollution.
8. Dina, Mina, and Tina are deciding on the Birthday Party of their close
friend Gina. Dina hates balloons, is happy to get birthday cupcakes, but
prefers a big birthday cake. Mina prefers birthday cupcakes, has no
problem with a big birthday cake, she also likes to have balloons filling
the place. Cupcakes destroy the mood of Tina, she prefers to surprise
Gina with balloons, but she's equally satisfied to buy a big birthday cake
instead. They decide to buy a big birthday cake. Is this decision rational?
What is the opportunity cost of the cake for each of them? What is the
benefit that each gets?
Their decision was rational because all of them considered the costs and
benefits of getting the cake and none of them were opposed to it. Dina
was opposed to balloons, Mina was opposed to nothing, and Tina didn't
want cupcakes. The opportunity cost of the cake for both Dina and Mina
is buying cupcakes; for Tina, it is getting balloons.
The benefit each gets is the happiness in celebrating Gina's birthday, the
satisfaction from sharing the cake, and the strengthening of their
friendship.
9. Label each of the entries in List 2 as a positive or a normative statement.
Fixed-income receivers get hurt by inflation.
Fixed-income receivers get hurt by inflation. Positive.
World population is growing continuously.
World population is growing continuously. Positive.
Way too many companies are outsourcing production to China.
Way too many companies are outsourcing production to China.
Normative.
If tax on cigarettes is increased, smoking decreases.
If the tax on cigarettes is increased, smoking decreases. Positive.
Protecting the environment should be the number one concern of
world leaders.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, 4 Part 1 . INTRODUCTION
Protecting the environment should be the number one concern of world
leaders. Normative.
Use the following information to work Problems 10 to 12.
Italy is giving away over 100 castles for free – there’s only one catch
Under a new scheme backed by the Ministry of Tourism, Italy is giving away
castles, monasteries, and farmhouses for free to investors for 9 years, with the
option to extend for an additional 9 years. The catch is that investors should
transform these sites into tourist attractions.
Source: CNBC, May 18, 2017
10. With Italy giving away castles for free, explain what is free and what is
scarce.
As numerous potential investors start applying and submitting proposals
of their plans, the offered sites are scarce. The demand for them would be
higher than their actual number: 103 sites. Even though the word "free" is
used, the project is not free because investors will have to put in resources
and time to accomplish the objective of transforming these sites and
bringing in tourists.
11. What’s the Italian government’s incentive to give away these buildings
for free? Was this decision made in self-interest or in the social interest?
Explain.
The goal of the government was to breathe new life into these lifeless, off-
the-tourist-map places. The government's self-interest reverts to the social
interest of the country as a whole in driving in tourists and causing
economic activity in dormant parts of the country.
12. How do the potential investors benefit from this scheme?
Potential investors benefit from profits or at least a portion of profits
because they will have the rights to the property for 9 years, which can be
extended to 18. Even without the extension, it would be a huge
entrepreneurial leap in their record if their project is successful.
13. Read Eye on the Benefit and Cost of School on p. XX. When deciding
about the offered scholarship, if Clayton Kershaw was guaranteed that
he’d be made coach of the Dodgers once he graduates, a position that
would earn him $60 million a year, would he have accepted the
scholarship or would he have immediately signed with the Dodgers?
Given this new information, the right decision would be to accept the
scholarship. With this new offer, the benefit of pursuing his education
became bigger than the benefit of immediately signing with the Dodgers.
If he signs with the Dodgers, the opportunity cost would be huge, but he
would be giving up a much higher salary in the future, plus the education
he would earn.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Michael Parkin (Solutions Manual All Chapters, 100% Original Verified, A+
Grade) All Chapters Solutions Manual Supplement files download link at
the end of this file.
Chapter
Getting
Started
ANSWERS TO CHAPTER CHECKPOINTS
Problems and Applications
1. Provide three examples of scarcity that illustrate why even the 1,826
billionaires in the form world face scarcity.
The 1,826 billionaires might want to be able to eat unlimited meals
without gaining weight; live to be at least 140 years old and enjoy perfect
health everyday; be able to wake up in San Francisco and go to sleep in
Paris after spending no more than 3 hours on a plane. None of these
wants can be fulfilled given the present state of technology and resources
available.
2. Label each entry in the list as dealing with a microeconomic topic or a
macroeconomic topic. Explain your answer.
Motor vehicles production in China is growing by 10 percent a year.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and businesses
make decisions whether to buy or sell cars.
Coffee prices rocket.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and businesses
make decisions whether to buy or sell coffee.
Globalization has reduced African poverty.
This entry is a macroeconomic topic because globalization is the result
of choices made by billions of people rather than an individual or
business.
The government must cut its budget deficit.
This entry is a macroeconomic topic because neither an individual nor a
business makes decision to cut expenditures.
Apple sells 20 million iPhone 6 smartphones a month.
This entry is a microeconomic topic because individuals and Apple
make decision whether to buy or sell iPhones.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,2 Part 1 . INTRODUCTION
Use the following information to work Problems 3 to 6.
Jurassic World had world-wide box office receipts of $1.66 billion. The
movie’s production budget was $150 million with additional marketing costs.
A successful movie brings pleasure to millions, creates work for thousands,
and makes a few people rich.
3. What contribution does a movie like Jurassic World make to coping with
scarcity? When you buy a movie ticket, are you buying a good or a
service?
Scarcity still exists but the amount of entertainment available in the
economy increases. Buying a ticket to watch a movie is buying a service.
4. Who decides whether a movie is going to be a blockbuster? How do you
think the creation of a blockbuster movie influences what, how, and for
whom goods and services are produced?
The audience decides whether a movie will be a blockbuster because the
audience decides whether to attend the movie.
The “what” question is affected in three ways: First, one good or service
that is produced is the blockbuster movie. Second, the people whose in-
comes are higher as a result of the blockbuster then buy an assortment of
goods and services and so this assortment of goods and services is
produced. Finally, the “what” question is influenced if the movie leads to
spinoff goods (such as toys) or creates a series of sequels or similar films.
The “how” question is affected to the extent that movies use different
production methods. Some movies, for instance, have a lot of special
effects while other movies have few or none. The “for whom” question is
influenced because those people who receive the profits of a blockbuster
movie have higher incomes and so more goods and services are produced
for them.
5. What are some of the components of marginal cost and marginal benefit
that the producer of a movie faces?
Some of the marginal costs the producer faces are the cost of an actor or
actress, the costs of the crew for a day, the costs of a location, and the
costs of advertising in a newspaper. The marginal benefits the producer
enjoys are his or her salary and/or profit participation from the movie,
royalties from the movie, the prestige resulting from a successful movie,
and any awards given to the producer of the movie.
6. Suppose that Chris Pratt had been offered a part in another movie and
that to hire him for Jurassic World, the producer had to double Chris
Pratt’s pay. What incentives would have changed? How might the
changed incentives have changed the choices that people made?
The higher pay would have increased Mr. Pratt’s incentive to make Juras-
sic World rather than the other movie and perhaps affected his choice to
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, Chapter 1 . Getting Started 3
make Jurassic World rather than the other movie. The higher pay would
have increased the incentive of the producer to decrease the expense of
other aspects of the movie so the producer might have chosen to reduce
the pay of the other stars in the movie.
7. What is the social interest? Distinguish it from self-interest. In your
answer give an example of self-interest and an example of social interest.
The social interest looks at what is best for society as a whole; choices that
are best for society as a whole are said to be in the social interest. The self-
interest looks at what is best for the individual; choices that are best for
the individual making the choice are said to be in the self-interest. An ex-
ample of a choice made in the self-interest is a student’s decision to take
an economics class. An example of a choice made in the social interest is a
firm’s decision to reduce its air pollution.
8. Dina, Mina, and Tina are deciding on the Birthday Party of their close
friend Gina. Dina hates balloons, is happy to get birthday cupcakes, but
prefers a big birthday cake. Mina prefers birthday cupcakes, has no
problem with a big birthday cake, she also likes to have balloons filling
the place. Cupcakes destroy the mood of Tina, she prefers to surprise
Gina with balloons, but she's equally satisfied to buy a big birthday cake
instead. They decide to buy a big birthday cake. Is this decision rational?
What is the opportunity cost of the cake for each of them? What is the
benefit that each gets?
Their decision was rational because all of them considered the costs and
benefits of getting the cake and none of them were opposed to it. Dina
was opposed to balloons, Mina was opposed to nothing, and Tina didn't
want cupcakes. The opportunity cost of the cake for both Dina and Mina
is buying cupcakes; for Tina, it is getting balloons.
The benefit each gets is the happiness in celebrating Gina's birthday, the
satisfaction from sharing the cake, and the strengthening of their
friendship.
9. Label each of the entries in List 2 as a positive or a normative statement.
Fixed-income receivers get hurt by inflation.
Fixed-income receivers get hurt by inflation. Positive.
World population is growing continuously.
World population is growing continuously. Positive.
Way too many companies are outsourcing production to China.
Way too many companies are outsourcing production to China.
Normative.
If tax on cigarettes is increased, smoking decreases.
If the tax on cigarettes is increased, smoking decreases. Positive.
Protecting the environment should be the number one concern of
world leaders.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, 4 Part 1 . INTRODUCTION
Protecting the environment should be the number one concern of world
leaders. Normative.
Use the following information to work Problems 10 to 12.
Italy is giving away over 100 castles for free – there’s only one catch
Under a new scheme backed by the Ministry of Tourism, Italy is giving away
castles, monasteries, and farmhouses for free to investors for 9 years, with the
option to extend for an additional 9 years. The catch is that investors should
transform these sites into tourist attractions.
Source: CNBC, May 18, 2017
10. With Italy giving away castles for free, explain what is free and what is
scarce.
As numerous potential investors start applying and submitting proposals
of their plans, the offered sites are scarce. The demand for them would be
higher than their actual number: 103 sites. Even though the word "free" is
used, the project is not free because investors will have to put in resources
and time to accomplish the objective of transforming these sites and
bringing in tourists.
11. What’s the Italian government’s incentive to give away these buildings
for free? Was this decision made in self-interest or in the social interest?
Explain.
The goal of the government was to breathe new life into these lifeless, off-
the-tourist-map places. The government's self-interest reverts to the social
interest of the country as a whole in driving in tourists and causing
economic activity in dormant parts of the country.
12. How do the potential investors benefit from this scheme?
Potential investors benefit from profits or at least a portion of profits
because they will have the rights to the property for 9 years, which can be
extended to 18. Even without the extension, it would be a huge
entrepreneurial leap in their record if their project is successful.
13. Read Eye on the Benefit and Cost of School on p. XX. When deciding
about the offered scholarship, if Clayton Kershaw was guaranteed that
he’d be made coach of the Dodgers once he graduates, a position that
would earn him $60 million a year, would he have accepted the
scholarship or would he have immediately signed with the Dodgers?
Given this new information, the right decision would be to accept the
scholarship. With this new offer, the benefit of pursuing his education
became bigger than the benefit of immediately signing with the Dodgers.
If he signs with the Dodgers, the opportunity cost would be huge, but he
would be giving up a much higher salary in the future, plus the education
he would earn.
© 2023 Pearson Education, Ltd.
