Chapter 21a test bank

Chapter 21

The Theory of Consumer Choice

Test A

1.

2.

The theory of consumer choice examines

a.

The determination of output in competitive markets.

b.

The determination of prices in competitive markets.

c.

The tradeoffs inherent in decisions made by consumers.

d.

How consumers select inputs into manufacturing production processes.

A budget constraint

a.

shows the consumption bundles that a consumer can afford.

b.

reflects the desire by consumers to increase their income.

c.

represents the bundles of consumption that make a consumer equally happy.

d.

shows the prices that a consumer chooses to pay for products he consumes.

3.

a.

b.

c.

d.

Which of the points on the graph shown reflects the choice of a consumer that chooses not to spend

her entire income?

Point A

Point B

Point D

Point E

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Chapter 21/The Theory of Consumer Choice

4.

Which of the graphs shown reflects a decrease in the price of good X only?

a.

panel A

b.

panel B

c.

panel C

d.

panel D

5.

Which of the graphs shown reflects an increase in income?

a.

panel A

b.

panel B

c.

panel C

d.

panel D

ANSWER: d.

panel D

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6.

The slope of the budget constraint is determined by the

a.

level of income of the consumer.

b.

relative price of commodities represented on the axes.

c.

preferences of a consumer.

d.

endowment of productive resources.

ANSWER: b.

relative price of commodities represented on the axes.

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7.

Consumer preferences are typically represented by

a.

cost curves.

b.

supply curves.

c.

indifference curves.

d.

budget constraints.

ANSWER: c.

indifference curves.

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8.

Based on the figure shown which of the following statements is correct?

a.

Point A is valued the same as point C.

b.

Point B is valued the same as point E.

c.

The bundles along indifference curve I

1

are preferred to those along indifference curve I

2

.

d.

The bundle associated with point D contains more Ho-

Ho’s than that associate

d with point C.

ANSWER: a.

Point A is valued the same as point C.

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Chapter 21/The Theory of Consumer Choice

9.

Based on the figure shown, which of the following statements is true for a consumer that moves from

point C to point D?

a.

The consumer is indifferent between point C and point D.

b.

The consumer is definitely worse off.

c.

It is difficult to compare the level of consumer satisfaction between points D and C.

d.

The consumer is likely to place a higher relative value on Ho-

Ho’s at point C than at point D.

ANSWER: b.

The consumer is definitely worse-off.

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10.

The slope of an indifference curve is

a.

constant.

b.

positive, since indifference curves slope upward.

c.

equal to the marginal rate of substitution.

d.

the same as the slope of the budget constraint at every point.

ANSWER: c.

equal to the marginal rate of substitution.

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11.

The amount of a good an individual has

a.

is only affected by prices.

b.

is only affected by income.

c.

will not affect the marginal rate of substitution.

d.

affects the rate at which she is willing to trade.

ANSWER: d.

affects the rate at which she is willing to trade.

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12.

As long as a consumer is on the same indifference curve

a.

she is unable to decide which bundle of goods to choose.

b.

she is indifferent among the points on that indifference curve.

c.

her preferences will not affect the marginal rate of substitution.

d.

she is indifferent to all points which lie on any other indifference curves.

ANSWER: b.

she is indifferent among the points on that indifference curve.

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13.

When indifference curves are bowed inward toward the origin,

a.

it is unlikely that consumers will be willing to engage in trade.

b.

people can only increase satisfaction by consuming more of all commodities.

c.

people are less inclined to trade away goods that they have an abundance of.

d.

the marginal rate of substitution decreases as a consumer moves down an indifference curve.

ANSWER: d.

the marginal rate of substitution decreases as a consumer moves down an indifference

curve.

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14.

The highest indifference curve that a consumer can reach is the one

a.

farthest from the origin.

b.

that intersects the budget constraint in at least two places.

c.

that is tangent to the budget constraint.

d.

all of the above.

ANSWER: c.

that is tangent to the budget constraint.

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15.

Which of the following is NOT a property of indifference curves?

a.

Lower indifference curves are preferable to higher indifference curves.

b.

Indifference curves are bowed inward toward the origin.

c.

Indifference curves do not cross.

d.

Indifference curves are downward sloping.

ANSWER: a.

Lower indifference curves are preferable to higher indifference curves.

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16.

When two goods are perfect substitutes they will have

a.

linear indifference curves.

b.

indifference curves that cross.

c.

indifference curves that are right angles.

d.

indifference curves with a positive slope.

ANSWER: a.

linear indifference curves.

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17.

When economists describe preferences, they sometimes use the concept of

a.

income.

b.

utility.

c.

prices.

d.

markets.

ANSWER: b.

utility.

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18.

An optimizing consumer will select a consumption bundle in which the

a.

utility exceeds price.

b.

marginal rate of substitution is equal to income.

c.

ratio of expenditure shares equals the marginal rate of substitution.

d.

marginal rate of substitution is equal to the relative price.

ANSWER: d.

marginal rate of substitution is equal to the relative price.

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19.

At the optimum

a.

the budget constraint would have a slope of 1.

b.

it is still possible for the consumer to increase his consumption of both goods.

c.

the slope of the indifference curve is equal to the slope of the budget constraint.

d.

the indifference curve would intersect the budget constraint at its center.

ANSWER: c.

the slope of the indifference curve is equal to the slope of the budget constraint.

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20.

When a budget constraint shifts out

a.

the consumer is worse off.

b.

the consumer can now reach a higher indifference curve.

c.

it could only have been caused by an increase in income.

d.

it could only have been caused by an increase in the price of one of the goods.

ANSWER: b.

the consumer can now reach a higher indifference curve.

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