Introduction to Micro Economics: Assignment

CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION
TO MICRO
ECONOMICS
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Learning Objectives
At the end of this Chapter, you will be able to :
know what Economics is about.
know about the nature of Economics.
understand the various methods of studying Economics.
understand the basic problems of an economy.
understand how different economies solve their basic economic problems.
get an insight into the tool of Production Possibilities Curve.
1.0 WHAT IS ECONOMICS ABOUT?
Consider the following situation.
It is your birthday and your mother gives you ` 1000 as birthday gift. You are free to spend the
money as you like. What will you do? You have many options before you, like :
Option 1 : You can give a party to your friends and spend the whole money on them.
Option 2 : You can buy yourself a dress for ` 1000.
Option 3 : You can go for a movie and eat in some restaurant.
Option 4 : You can buy yourself a book and save some money.
What do you notice? You have so many options before you. You will have to go for one option
or a combination of one or more options. But why can’t you have everything? Given the choice
you would like to spend not only on your friends, but would also like to see movie, eat in the
restaurant, buy a dress and a book and save some money. But you cannot. Why? Because you
have only 1000 Rupees with you. Had your mother given you ` 2000, you might have satisfied
more of your demands. Thus you are in dilemma. Similar dilemma is faced by every individual,
every society and every country in this world. Life is like that. Because we cannot have every
thing all at once, we are forever forced to make choices. We can use our resources to satisfy
only some of our wants, leaving many others unsatisfied.
These two fundamental facts that
(i) Human beings have unlimited wants; and
(ii) The means of satisfying these wants are relatively scarce form the subject matter of
Economics.
The term ‘Economics’ owes its origin to the Greek word ‘Oikonomia’ meaning ‘household’.
Economics is, thus, the study of how we work together to transform scarce resources into
goods and services to satisfy the most pressing of our infinite wants and how we distribute
these goods and services among ourselves.
This definition of Economics, in terms of using scarce resources to satisfy human wants, is
correct but it is incomplete. It brings to our mind the picture of a society with fixed resources,
skills and productive capacity, deciding what specific kinds of goods it ought to produce and
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 3
how they ought to be distributed. Yet two of the most important concerns of modern economies
are not fully covered by this concept.’
On the one hand, the productive capacity of modern economies has grown tremendously.
Population and labour force have increased, new sources of raw materials have been discovered,
and new and better plant and equipments have been made available on farms and in factories
and mines. Not only has the quantity of available productive resources increased, their quality
has also been greatly improved. Education and newly acquired skills have raised the productivity
of labour force, and led to the discovery of completely new kinds of natural resources like
petroleum and atomic energy. On the other hand, the resulting growth in production and
income has not been smooth. There have been periods in which output not only failed to grow
but also actually declined sharply. During such periods, factories and workers remained idle
due to insufficient demand.
Economics, therefore, concerns itself not just with how a nation allocates to various uses its
scarce productive resources, important as that may be. It also deals with the process by which
the productive capacity of these resources is increased and with the factors which in the past
have led to sharp fluctuations in the rate of utilisation of resources.
In the day-to-day events, we come across several economic problems like changes in price of
individual commodities as well as general price level changes; economic prosperity and higher
standards of living of some people despite general poverty of the masses; problems of
unemployment of certain class of persons or in some areas. These are some of the matters
connected with economic analysis. The study of Economics will help in analysing the possible
causes contributing to these problems and might suggest a number of alternative courses, which
could be adopted for tackling these problems. However, it is necessary to remember that most
economic problems are of complex nature and are are affected by several forces, some of which
are rooted in Economics and some in political set up, social norms, etc. The study of Economics
cannot ensure that all the problems will be tackled but, surely, it would enable a student to
examine a problem in its right perspective and would help him in finding suitable measures to
tackle the same.
1.1 DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE OF ECONOMICS
Several definitions of Economics have been given by different writers. For the sake of
convenience, let us classify the various definitions into four groups :
1. Science of wealth
2. Science of material well-being
3. Science of choice making and
4. Science of dynamic growth and development
We shall examine each one of these briefly.
1. Science of wealth.
Although the activity of acquiring and increasing material wealth is as old as civilisation, a
disciplined study of the wealth producing activities commenced about 235 years back (in 1776)
when Adam Smith, the father of Economics, published “The Nature and Causes of Wealth of
Nations”. He defined Economics as:
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“An inquiry into the nature and causes of wealth of nations.”
Adam smith insisted that Economics deals with the acquisition, accumulation and expenditure
of wealth. Since his definition gives prominence to the wealth aspect, it is called ‘wealth
definition’.
Many other classical economists also defined Economics in terms of wealth. For example
according to J B Say, Economics is a
“Science which deals with wealth”
The definition of Economics, as a science of wealth, has some merits. The important ones are :
(i) Stress on Wealth : It highlighted an important problem faced by each and every nation of
the world, namely creation of wealth.
(ii) Addressing the Problems of Economic Growth : Since the problems of poverty,
unemployment etc. can be solved to a greater extent when wealth is produced and is
distributed equitably; it goes to the credit of Adam Smith and his followers to have
addressed to the problems of economic growth and increase in the production of wealth.
(iii) Attention to important Economic issues : By considering the problems of productio
distribution and exchange of wealth, classical economists focused attention on the
important issues with which Economics is concerned.
The study of Economics as a ‘Science of Wealth’ has been criticised on several grounds. The
main criticisms levelled against this definition are;
(i) It is too materialistic : Adam Smith and other classical economists concentrated only on
material wealth. They totally ignored creation of immaterial wealth like services of doctors,
chartered accountants etc.
(ii) Neglect of Welfare : The advocates of Economics as a ‘science of wealth’ concentrate
too much on the production of wealth and ignored social welfare. This makes their definition
incomplete and inadequate.
2. Science of material well-being. Under this group of definitions, the emphasis is on welfare
as compared with wealth in the earlier group. Alfred Marshall, the neo-classicist, raised
Economics from its ignoble position to a noble one. It was he who shifted the emphasis from
wealth to welfare. According to him,
“Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life. It examines that part of
individual and social action which is most closely connected with the attainment and with
use of the material requisites of well-being. Thus, it is on the one side a study of wealth an
the other and more important side a part of the study of man.”
Another definition:
“The range of our inquiry becomes restricted to that part of social welfare that can be bro
directly or indirectly into relation with the measuring rod of money” A.C. Pigou
In the first definition, Economics has been indicated to be a study of mankind in the ordinary
business of life. ‘By ordinary business’ we mean those activities which occupy a considerable
part of human effort. The fulfilment of economic needs is a very important business which
every man ordinarily does. Professor Marshall has clearly pointed out that Economics is the
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study of wealth, but more importantly it is the study of man. Thus, man gets precedence over
wealth. There is also emphasis on material requisites of well-being. Obviously, the material
things like food, clothing and shelter, are very important economic objectives.
The second definition by Pigou emphasises social welfare but restricts it to only that part of it
which can be related with the measuring rod of money. Money is a general measure of
purchasing power by the use of which the science of Economics can be rendered more precise.
Marshall’s and Pigou’s definitions of Economics are wider and more comprehensive as they
take into account the aspect of social welfare. However, their definitions are criticised on the
following grounds.
(i) Neglect of Immaterial things : Economics is concerned with not only material things but
also with immaterial things like services of singes, teachers, actors etc. Marshall and Pigou
chose to ignore them.
(ii) The concept of welfare is very vague : Robbins criticised the welfare definition on the
ground that it is very difficult to state which things would lead to welfare and which will
not. He is of the view that we would study in Economics all those goods and services
which carry a price, whether they promote welfare or not.
3. Science of choice making. Prof. Lionel Robbins of the London School of Economics gave
a new definition to Economics in his famous book “Nature and Significance of Economics”
which he brought out in 1931. According to Robbins, Economics studies the problems which
have arisen because of the scarcity of resources. Nature has not provided mankind sufficient
resources to satisfy all its wants. Therefore, people have to choose for which ends or for which
wants the resources are to be utilized. Robbins gave a more scientific definition of Economics.
His definition is as follows :
“Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends
scarce means which have alternative uses”.
The definition deals with the following four aspects :
(i) Economics is a science : Economics studies economic human behaviour scientifically. It
studies how humans try to optimise (maximize or minimize) certain objectives under given
constraints. For example, it studies how consumers, with given income and prices of the
commodities, try to maximize their satisfaction.
(ii) Unlimited ends : Ends refer to wants. Human wants are unlimited. When one want is
satisfied, other wants crop up. If man’s wants were limited, then there would be no
economic problem.
(iii) Scarce means : Means refer to resources. Since resources (natural productive resourc
man-made capital goods, consumer goods, money and time etc.) are limited, the economic
problem arises. If the resources were unlimited, people would be able to satisfy all their
wants and there would be no problem.
(iv) Alternative uses : Not only resources are scarce, they have alternative uses. For example,
coal can be used as a fuel for the production of industrial goods, it can be used for running
trains, it can also be used for domestic cooking purposes and for so many other purposes.
Similarly, financial resources can be used for many purposes. The man or society has,
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therefore, to choose the uses for which the resources would be used. If there was only a
single use of the resource, then the economic problem would not arise.
It follows from the definition of Robbins that Economics is a science of choice. An important
thing about Robbin’s definition is that it does not distinguish between material and non-material,
and between welfare and non-welfare. Anything which satisfies the wants of the people would
be studied in Economics. Even if a good is harmful to a person, it would be the subject matter
of Economics if it satisfies his wants.
No doubt, Robbins has made Economics a scientific study and his definition has become popular
among some economists. But his definition has also been criticised on several grounds. Important
ones are :
(i) Impersonal and colourless : Robbins has made Economics quite impersonal and colourless.
By making it a complete positive science and excluding normative aspects, he has narrowed
down its scope.
(ii) Ignored Macro-Economic concepts : Robbins’ definition is totally silent about certain
macro-economic aspects, such as determination of national income and employment.
(iii) No focus on Economic growth and development : His definition does not cover the theory
of economic growth and development. While Robbins takes resources as given and talks
about their allocation, it is totally silent about the measures to be taken to raise these
resources i.e. national income and wealth.
(iv) Problem of abundance : Some critics are of the opinion that economic problem can also
arise due to other reasons like abundance. For example, abundance of human resource
(i.e. over population) is a major problem for many economies.
4. Science of dynamic growth and development. Although the fundamental economic
problem of scarcity in relation to needs is undisputed, it would not be proper to think that
economic resources - physical, human, financial-are fixed and cannot be increased by human
ingenuity, exploration, exploitation and development. A modern and somewhat modified
definition is as follows :
“Economics is the study of how men and society choose, with or without the use of money,
employ scarce productive resources which could have alternative uses, to produce v
commodities over time and distribute them for consumption now and in the future among
various people and groups of society”.
Paul A. Samuelson
The above definition is very comprehensive because it does not restrict to material well-being
or money measure as a limiting factor. But it considers economic growth over time.
Prof Henry Smith also gave an all inclusive definition of Economics. According to him,
Economics, is the “the study of how in a civilized society one obtains the share of what oth
people have produced and of how the total product of society changes and is determined”.
civilized society it is meant that there are some legal institutions as well as rights of property
and other established norms in the society.
Jacob Viner has given a pragmatic definition of Economics.
According to him, “Economics is what Economists do”. In other words, Economics is wha
economists do and what they have been doing.
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Micro and Macro-Economics
The subject-matter of Economics has been divided into two parts - Micro-Economics and Macro
Economics.
Micro Economics
The term Micro Economics is derived from the Greek word ‘mikros’, meaning “small”. According
to Prof. Boulding, “Microeconomics is the study of particular firms, particular households
individual price, wages, income, individual industries and particular commodities”.
Micro-Economics we study the economic behaviour of an individual, firm or industry in the
national economy. It is thus a study of a particular unit rather than all the units combined. It is
basically concerned with the mechanism of allocation of given resources. Further, it is a partial
equilibrium analysis as it seeks to determine price and output in an industry independent of
those in other industries. We mainly study the following in Micro-Economics :
(i) product pricing;
(ii) consumer behaviour;
(iii) factor pricing;
(iv) economic conditions of a section of the people;
(v) study of firms; and
(vi) location of industry.
Thus, when we are studying how a producer fixes the prices of his products, we are studying
Micro-Economics. Similarly, when we are studying why an industry is located at a particular
place, we are studying Micro-Economics.
Macro Economics
The term Macro Economics is derived from the Greek word ‘makros’, meaning “large”.
It is the study of overall economic phenomena or the economy as a whole, rather than its
individual parts.
According to Mc Connel, “Macroeconomics examines the forest and not the trees.
analyses and establishes the functional relationship between large aggregates”.
Thus, in Macro-Economics, we study the economic behaviour of the large aggregates such as
the overall conditions of the economy such as total production, total consumption, total saving
and total investment. It includes :
(i) national income and output;
(ii) general price level;
(iii) balance of trade and payments;
(iv) external value of money;
(v) saving and investment; and
(vi) employment and economic growth.
Thus, when we study why we continue to have balance of payments deficits, or why the value
of rupee vis-à-vis dollar is falling or why saving rates are high or low in a particular country,
we are studying Macro-Economics.
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For better understanding of the two concepts, a columnar difference is given.
It may be noted that the classification of Economics into micro and macro-economics is purely
for analytical purpose.
In fact, there is really no opposition between micro and macro economics. Both are absolutely
vital and in most cases they play a complementary role, e.g. national income cannot grow
unless the production in individual firms and factories rises.
It is difficult to distinguish between the two terms as belonging to water-tight compartments.
What is macro from the national standpoint is micro from the world point of view. Similarly,
what is micro from a national angle becomes macro from a regional angle. Unless, we define
what is the whole we cannot say about a phenomenon whether it is micro or macro.
1.2 NATURE OF ECONOMICS
Under this, we generally discuss whether Economics is science or art or both and if it is a
science, whether it is a positive science or a normative science or both.
Economics – As a science and as an art :
Often a question arises whether Economics is a science or an art or both.
(a) Economics is a science : A science is commonly defined as a systematised body of
knowledge about a particular branch of the universe. A subject is considered science if:
- it is a systematised body of knowledge which studies the relationship between cause
and effect.
- it is capable of measurement.
- it has its own methodological apparatus, and
- has the ability to forecast.
Micro economics
1. It studies individual economic units
2. Micro-economics is basically concerned
with the mechanism of allocation of
“given” resources. Further, micro-
economics is a partial equilibrium
analysis as it seeks to determine price and
output in an industry independent of
those in other industries. Moreover,
micro-economics analysis looks into the
determination of relative prices.
3. Examples :
a) individual demand
b) price of a product
Macro economics
1. It studies aggregate economic units
2. Macro-economics is a general
equilibrium analysis as it takes into
account the disturbance in equilibrium
price and quantity in one market which
could lead to a disturbance in the
equilibrium prices and quantities in all
other markets. Macro-economics
analyses the determination of absolute
prices
3. Examples :
a) aggregate demand
b) general price level
c) national income
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If we analyse Economics, we find that it has all the features of science. Like science, i
studies cause and effect relationship between economic phenomena. To make it clear, let
us take the law of demand. It explains the cause and effect relationship between price and
demand for a commodity. It says, given other things constant, as price rises, the demand
for a commodity falls and vice versa. Here, the cause is price and the effect is fall in quantity
demanded. Similarly, like science, it is capable of being measured, the measurement is in
terms of money. It has its own methodology of study (induction and deduction) and it
forecasts the future market condition with the help of various statistical and non-statistical
tools.
However it is to be noted that Economics is not a perfect science. This is because
- Economists do not have uniform opinion about a particular event.
- The subject matter of Economics is the economic behaviour of man which is highly
unpredictable.
- Money, which is used to measure outcomes in Economics, is itself a dependent variable.
- It is not possible to make correct predictions about the behaviour of economic variables.
(b) Economics is an art : According to J.M. Keynes an art is “a system of rules for the
attainment of a given end”. Art is nothing but practice of knowledge. Whereas science
teaches us to know, art teaches us to do. Unlike science which is theoretical, art is practical.
If we analyse Economics, we find that it has the features of an art also. Its various branches,
consumption, production and public finance etc. provide practical solutions to various
economic problems. It helps in solving various economic problems which we face in our
day-to-day life.
Thus, Economics is both a science and an art. It is science in its methodology and art in
application. Study of unemployment problem is science but framing suitable policies for reducing
the extent of unemployment is an art. According to Cossa “Science requires art; art requires
science, each being complementary to the other.”
Economics as Positive Science and Economics as Normative Science
(i) Positive Science : As stated above, Economics is a science. But the question arises whether
it is a positive science or a normative science. A positive or pure science analyses cause
and effect relationship between variables, but it does not pass value judgment. In other
words, it states what is and not what ought to be. Professor Robbins emphasised the
positive aspects of science but Marshall and Pigou have considered the ethical aspects of
science which obviously are normative.
Positive Economics is the one that simply states facts and uses empirical evidence. An
example of positive statement is: “According to the law of demand, a lower price will
yield more quantity sold”.
According to Robbins, Economics is concerned only with the study of the economic
decisions of individuals and the society as positive facts but not with the ethics of these
decisions. Economics should be neutral between ends. It is not for economists to pass
value judgments and make pronouncements on the goodness or otherwise of human
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decisions. An individual with a limited amount of money may use it for buying liquor and
not milk, but that is entirely his business. A community may use its limited resources for
making guns rather than butter, but it is no concern of the economists to condemn or
appreciate this policy. Economics only studies facts and makes generalisations from them.
It is a pure and positive science, which excludes from its scope the normative aspects of
human behaviour.
Complete neutrality between ends is, however, neither feasible nor desirable. It is because
in many matters, the economist has to suggest measures for achieving certain socially
desirable ends. For example, when he suggests the adoption of certain policies for increasing
employment and raising the rates of wages, he is making value judgments. The same
would be the case when he states that exploitation of labour and the state of unemployment
are bad and steps should be taken to remove them. Similarly, when he states that the
limited resources of the economy should not be used in the way they are being used and
should be used in a different way; that the choice between ends is wrong and should be
altered, etc. he is making value judgments.
(ii) Normative Science : As a normative science, Economics involves value judgments. It is
prescriptive in nature and describes ‘what should be the things’. Normative Economics is
the one that takes values into account, and results in statements like: “This tax should be
reduced.” For example, the questions like what should be the level of national income,
what should be the wage rate, how the fruits of national product be distributed among
people - all fall within the scope of normative science. Thus, normative economics is
concerned with welfare propositions. Some economists are of the view that value judgments
by different individuals will be different and thus for deriving laws or theories, it should
not be used.
To conclude, we may say that while laying down laws or theories, Economics may be treated
as pure and positive Economics, but as a tool of practical application, it must have some
normative goals in view.
1.3 METHODS OF STUDY
In Economics, there are two methods of deriving generalisations or laws. These are deductive
method and inductive method.
Deductive method : This method is also called abstract, analytical and a priori method. Under
this method, laws are deduced logically. Conclusions and generalisations are drawn based on
certain fundamental assumptions or accepted axioms or truths which have been established
and handed down from generation to generation. The logic proceeds from general to particular.
This method is called abstract or a priori because it is based on abstract reasoning and not on
actual facts. However, the actual situation may differ from what deductive logic suggests For
example, it is assumed that man is rational and on the basis of this it is deduced that he will
buy cheap and sell dear. But, in actual situations this may not happen, say, because of absence
of proper knowledge and market conditions.
The principal steps in the process of deriving economic generalizations through deductive
logic are (a) perception of the problem (b) defining the technical terms and making appropriate
assumptions (c) deducing hypothesis and (d) testing of hypothesis deduced.
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Many theories and generalisation have been established in Economics with the help of deductive
method such as inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded, direct relationship
between price and quantity supplied etc. But this method also suffers from certain handicaps
such as (i) assumptions generally turn out to be untrue or partially true (ii) valid conclusions
cannot be drawn in the absence of proper knowledge of the whole situation and (iii) it is
dangerous to claim universal validity for the economic generalisations so deduced.
Inductive Method : Under this method conclusions are drawn on the basis of collection and
analysis of facts relevant to the inquiry. The logic in this case proceeds from the particular to
general. The generalisations are based on observation of individual examples.
The principal steps in this method are (i) perception of the problem (ii) collection, classification
and analysis of data by using appropriate statistical techniques (iii) finding out the reasons for
the relationship established through statistical analysis and to set rules for the verification of
the principles. Many researches in macro-economics have been obtained through inductive
method such as principle of acceleration describing the factors which determine investment in
an economy, the nature of consumption function describing the relationship between income
and consumption etc. Inductive method is increasingly being used because (i) statistical induction
leads to precise, exact and measurable conclusions (ii) it underlines the importance of relativity
of economic laws (iii) it shows that generalisations are valid only under certain conditions. But
this method suffers from (i) risk of hurried conclusions having being drawn from an insufficient
number of facts (ii) difficulties involved in the collection of facts (iii) the fact that observation
and experimentation have very limited application in a science that deals with human activities.
However, the two methods are not mutually exclusive and are used side by side in any scientific
inquiry. Conclusions drawn from the deductive method of reasoning and are verified by
inductive method of observing concrete facts of life. For example, the hypothesis of rationality
may be tested and verified by the observation of the behaviour of people.
Marshall rightly pointed out, “induction and deduction are both needed for scientific thou
as the right and left foot are both needed for walking”.
1.4 CENTRAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
As discussed before, human wants are unlimited and productive resources such as land and
other natural resources, raw materials, capital equipments etc. with which goods and services
are produced to satisfy those wants are scarce. The problem of scarcity of resources is felt not
only by individuals but also by the society as a whole. This gives rise to the problem of how to
use the scarce resources to attain maximum satisfaction. This is generally called ‘the economic
problem’. Every economic system, be it capitalist, socialist or mixed, has to deal with this central
problem of scarcity of resources relative to wants for them. The central economic problem is
further divided into four basic economic problems. These are :
(i) What to produce?
(ii) How to produce?
(iii) For whom to produce?
(iv) What provisions (if any) are to be made for economic growth?
(i) What to produce? : Every society has to decide which goods are to be produced and in
what quantities. Whether more guns should be produced or more butter should be produced;
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or whether more capital goods like machines, equipments, dams etc., will be produced or
more consumer goods such as bread will be produced. Not only the society has to decide
about what goods are to be produced, it has also to decide in what quantities these goods
would be produced. In a nutshell, a society must decide how much wheat, how many
hospitals, how many schools, how many machines, how many meters of cloths etc. have
to be produced.
(ii) How to produce? There are various alternative techniques of producing a commodity. For
example, cotton cloth can be produced with either handlooms or power looms or automatic
looms. Production with handlooms involves use of more labour and production with
automatic loom involves use of more machines and capital. A society has to decide whether
it will produce cotton cloth using labour intensive techniques or capital intensive techniques.
Likewise for all goods and services it has to decide whether to use labour intensive
techniques or capital intensive techniques. Obviously, the choice would depend on the
availability of different factors of production (i.e. labour and capital) and their relative
prices. It is in the society’s interest to use those techniques of production that make best
use of the available resources.
(iii) For whom to produce? Another important decision which a society has to take is for whom
to produce. The society cannot satisfy all wants of all the people. Therefore, it has to
decide who should get how much of the total output of goods and services. In other
words, it has to decide about the shares of different people in the national cake of goods
and services.
(iv) What provision should be made for economic growth? A society would not like to use all
its scarce resources for current consumption only. This is because if it uses all the resources
for current consumption and no provision is made for future production, the society’s
production capacity would not increase. This implies that incomes or standards of living
of the people would remain stagnant and in future, the levels of living may decline.
Therefore, a society has to decide how much saving and investment (i.e. how much sacrifice
of current consumption) should be made for future progress.
1.5 PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES CURVE
The nature of basic problems explained above can be better understood with the help of an
important tool of Economics known as Production Possibilities Curve (PPC) or Production
possibilities Frontier (PPF). Production possibilities curve graphically represents the alternative
production possibilities facing an economy.
In Economics, a production-possibility curve (PPC) or “transformation curve” is a g
that shows the different rates of production of two goods that an individual or group can
efficiently produce with limited productive resources. The PPF shows the maximum
obtainable amount of one commodity for any given amount of another commodity or composite
of all other commodities, given the society’s technology and the amount of factors of production
available.
In order to understand PPC, let us assume that there are two types of goods – wheat and cloth
which are to be produced. We also assume that (1) there is a given amount of productive
resources and they remain fixed; (2) resources are neither unemployed nor underemployed;
and (3) technology does not change. Now consider the following table :
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Table : 1
Alternative Production Possibilities
Production Cloth Wheat
possibilities (in thousand metres)(in thousand quintals)Opportunity cost
A 0 15
B 1 14 1
C 2 12 2
D 3 9 3
E 4 5 4
F 5 0 5
The above table shows various production possibilities between wheat and cloth. If all the
given resources are employed for the production of wheat, 15 thousand quintals of wheat are
produced. On the other hand, if all the resources are employed for the production of cloth, 5
thousand meters of cloth are made. But these two are extreme production possibilities. In
between these two there will be many other production possibilities such as B, C, D and E.
With production possibility B, the economy can produce with given resources, one thousand
meter of cloth and 14 thousand quintals of wheat and with production possibility C, it can
produce 2 thousand meters of cloth and 12 thousand quintals of wheat. Thus, as the economy
is moving from one possibility to another, it takes away some resources from wheat and puts
them in the production of cloth. Since resources are limited and we have assumed that they
are fully employed, the economy has to give up something of one good to obtain some more of
the other.
The production possibilities shown above can be illustrated diagrammatically also as is shown
in Figure 1.
Fig. 1 : Production Possibilities Curve
Y
WHEAT
CLOTH
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
4 5 X
F
E
D
C
B
A
3
3
2
2
1
O 1
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The curve AF is called Production Possibilities Curve (PPC) or Production Possibilities Frontier
(PPF). This curve shows the various combinations of two goods which the economy can produce
with a given amount of resources. Since the given resources are fully employed and utilized,
the combination of two goods produced can lie anywhere on the production possibilities curve
AF, but not inside or outside it. For example, the combined output of two goods can neither lie
at R nor at S (Figure 2). This is because at point R the economy would not be utilising it
resources fully and at point S, the economy would not have capability to produce with the
given technology.
CLOTH
P
Y
B S
C
R D
P
XO WHEAT
Fig. 2 : Production Possibilities Curve
Opportunity Cost and Production Possibilities Curve
Suppose after completing your chartered accountancy course, you have two options open to
you. One, to join a company which gives you ` 8 lakh annually and second, to start your
practice and earn ` 6 lakh. Now, if you join the company, you will earn ` 8 lakh annually but
you will not get ` 6 lakh. This ` 6 lakh is your opportunity cost of serving the company and not
starting your practice. Most generally, the opportunity cost of a given activity is defined as the
value of the next best activity.
In the context of PPC, since there are only two goods, the opportunity cost of producing one
good is in terms of sacrifice made of the other good. In table 1, we have found the opportunity
cost of producing additional units of cloth in terms of wheat. Thus, as the economy moves
from possibility A to possibility B, it has to give up one thousand quintal of wheat in order to
have one thousand meters of cloth. Thus, first thousand meters of cloth have the opportunity
cost of one thousand quintals of wheat to the economy. But, as we step up the production of
cloth and move further from B to C, an extra two thousand quintals of wheat have to be
foregone for producing extra one thousand meters of cloth. In other words, the opportunity
cost goes on increasing as we have more of cloth and less of wheat. It is this principle of
increasing opportunity cost that makes the PPC concave to the origin. If opportunity costs
were constant, PPC would be a straight line. But generally, we get increasing opportunity
costs. This is because a given resource is suitable more for the production of one good than
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 15
another. Thus, in our example, land is more suitable for the production of wheat than cloth.
As we increase the production of cloth, resources which are less productive in the production
of cloth would have to be pushed into it. Thus, more units of that resource would be required
to produce cloth. In other words, greater sacrifice would have to be made in terms of production
of wheat for every extra production of cloth. This law holds good if we move from A to F or
from F to A on the PPC.
Economic growth and shift in Production Possibility Curve
All points on the PPC show that goods and services are produced at least cost and no resource
is wasted i.e. an economy is productively efficient. But that does not mean that there is no
scope of progress. When the economy makes progress in technology, that is, when scientists
and engineers discover new and better ways of doing things, the production possibilities curve
will shift outward and to the right showing that more of both goods can be produced than
before (see Fig. 3)
Fig. 3 : Shift in PPC due to economic growth
Figure 3 shows that technological progress allows the society to produce more of both goods
with a given and fixed amount of resources. Thus, with P’ P’, more amount of wheat and cloth
can be produced than before with the given amount of inputs. It is to be noted that if the
economy is producing at point R (in Fig. 2), then it is not using its resources fully i.e. its resources
are unemployed. A shift from inside the PPC (Say R) to anywhere on the PPC (Say to B)
indicates that the resources which were lying unutilised are now being utilised fully. But a
movement from one PPC to another PPC on the right indicates economic growth of the economy.
This movement becomes possible because of an improvement in overall technology, greater
capital formation, an increase in population growth etc.
Y
P’
P
0 P P’ X
WHEAT
CLOTH
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COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST
1.6 HOW DO DIFFERENT ECONOMIES SOLVE THEIR CENTRAL
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS?
An economic system refers to sum total of arrangements for the production and distribution of
goods and services in a society. In short, it is defined as the sum of the total devices which give
effect to economic choice. It includes various individuals and economic institutions.
You must be wondering how different economies of the world would be solving their central
problems. In order to understand this, we divide all the economies into three broad classifications
based on their mode of production, exchange, distribution and the role which government
plays in economic activity. These are :
- Capitalist economy
- Socialist economy
- Mixed economy
Capitalist economy : Capitalism is an economic system in which all means of production are
owned and controlled by private individuals for profit. In short, private property is the mainstay
of capitalism and profit motive is its driving force. The government is not supposed to interfere
in the management of economic affairs under this system. An economy is called capitalist or a free
market economy or laissez-faire economy if it has the following characteristics :
(1) The right of private property : The right of private property means that productive factors
such as land, factories, machinery, mines etc. are under private ownership. The owners of
these factors are free to use them in the manner in which they like. The government may,
however, put some restrictions for the benefit of the society in general.
(2) Freedom of enterprise : This means that everybody engages in any economic activity he
likes. More specifically, he is free to set up any firm to produce goods and services
(3) Freedom to choice by the consumers : This means people in a capitalist economy are free to
spend their income as they like. This is known as consumer sovereignty. Consumers are
sovereigns in the sense that producers produce only those goods which consumers wish
to buy.
(4) Profit motive : In a capitalist economy, it is the profit motive which forces or induces
people to work and produce.
(5) Competition : Competition prevails among sellers to sell their goods and among buyers to
obtain goods to satisfy their wants. Advertisement, price-cutting, discounts etc. are very
common methods of competition in a capitalist economy.
(6) Inequalities of incomes : There is generally a wide gap of income between the rich and the
poor in a capitalist economy. This mainly arises due to unequal distribution of property in
such economies.
How do capitalist economies solve their central problems?
A capitalist economy has no central planning authority to decide what, how and for whom to
produce. In the absence of any central authority, it looks like a miracle as to how such an
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 17
economy functions. If the consumers want cars and producers choose to make cloth and workers
choose to work for the furniture industry, there will be total confusion and chaos in the country.
But this is not so. Such an economy uses the impersonal forces of market demand and supply
or the price mechanism to solve its central problems.
Deciding what to produce : The aim of an entrepreneur is to earn as much profits as possible.
This causes businessmen to compete with one another to produce those goods which consumers
wish to buy. Thus, if consumers want more cars, there will be an increase in the demand for
cars and as a result their prices will increase. A rise in the price of cars, cost remaining
same, will lead to more profits. This will induce producers to produce more cars. On the other
hand, if the consumers’ demand for cloth decreases, its price would fall and profits would go
down and hence its production would also go down. Thus, more of cars and less of cloth will
be produced in such an economy. In a capitalist economy (like the USA, UK, and Germany)
the question regarding what to produce is ultimately decided by consumers who show their
preferences by spending on the goods which they want.
Deciding how to produce : An entrepreneur will produce his goods with that technique o
production which renders his cost of production minimum. If labour is relatively cheap he will
use labour intensive method and if labour is relatively costlier he will use capital intensive
method. Thus, the relative prices of factors of production help in deciding how to produce.
Deciding for whom to produce : Goods and services in a capitalist economy will be produced
for those who have the buying capacity. The buying capacity of an individual depends upon
his income. How much income he will be able to make depends not only on the amount of
work he does and the prices of the factors he owns but also on how much property he owns.
Higher the income, higher will be his buying capacity and higher generally will be his demand
for goods in general.
Deciding about consumption, saving and investment : Consumption and savings are done by
consumers and investments are done by entrepreneurs. Consumers’ savings, among other
factors, are governed by the rate of interest prevailing in the market. Higher the interest rate,
higher are the savings. Investment decisions depend upon the rate of return on capital. The
greater the profit expectation (i.e. the return on capital), the greater will be the investment in a
capitalist economy. The rate of interest on savings and the rate of return on capital are nothing
but the prices of capital.
Thus, we see above that what goods are produced, by which methods they are produced, for
whom they are produced and what provisions should be made for economic growth are
decided by price mechanism or market mechanism.
Merits of Capitalist economy:
1. To attract the consumer, the producer will bring out newer and finer varieties of goods.
2. The existence of private property and the driving force of profit motive results in high
standard of living.
3. Capitalism works automatically through price mechanism.
4. The freedom of enterprise results in maximum efficiency in production.
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5. All activities under capitalism enjoy the maximum amount of liberty and freedom.
6. Under capitalism, freedom of choice brings maximum satisfaction to consumers
7. Capitalism preserves fundamental rights such as right to freedom and right to private
property.
8. It rewards men of initiative and enterprise.
9. The country as a whole benefits through growth of business talents, development of
research, etc.
Demerits of Capitalism
1. In capitalism, the enormous wealth produced is approtioned by a few. This causes rich to
become richer and poor to become poorer.
2. Welfare is not protected under capitalism, because, here, the aim is profit and not welfare
of the people.
3. Economic instability in terms of over production, economic depression, unemployment,
etc., is very common under capitalism.
4. The producer spends huge amounts of money on advertisement and sales promotion
activities like fair, exhibitions etc.
5. Class conflict arises between employer and employee. Workers will be paid low wages
and this leads to strikes and lock-outs.
6. Productive resources are misused under capitalism. They are used for the production of
luxuries as they will bring high profits.
7. Capitalism leads to the formation of monopolies.
8. There is no security of employment under capitalism.
Socialist economy : In this economy, the material means of production i.e. factories, capital,
mines etc. are owned by the whole community represented by the State. All members are
entitled to get benefit from the fruits of such socialised planned production on the basis of
equal rights. A socialist economy is also called as “Command Economy” or a “Centrally Planned
Economy”. Here, the resources are allocated according to the commands of a central planning
authority and therefore, market forces have no role in the allocation of resources. Some important
characteristics of this economy are :
Here, production and distribution of goods are aimed at maximizing the welfare of the
community as a whole.
(i) Collective Ownership : There is collective ownership of all means of production except
small farms, workshops and trading firms which may remain in private hands. As a result
of social ownership, profit-motive and self- interest are not the driving force of economic
activity as it is in the case of a market economy. The resources are used to achieve certain
socio-economic objectives.
(ii) Central Planning Authority : There is a central authority to set and accomplish socio
economic goals; that is why it is called a centrally planned economy. Major economic
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 19
decisions, such as what to produce, when and how much to produce, etc., are taken by
the central authority.
(iii) Absence of Consumer Choice : Freedom from hunger is guaranteed, but consumers’
sovereignty gets restricted by selective production of goods. The range of choice is limited
by planned production. However, within that range an individual is free to choose what
he likes most.
The right to work is guaranteed, but the choice of occupation gets restricted because these
are determined by some authority on the basis of certain socio-economic goals before the
nation.
(iv) Relatively Equal Income Distribution : A relative equality of income is an important
feature of Socialism. Among other things, differences are narrowed down by lack of
opportunities to accumulate private capital. Educational and other facilities are enjoyed
more or less equally; thus the basic causes of inequalities are removed.
(v) Minimum role of Price Mechanism or Market forces : Price mechanism exists in a socialis
economy but it has only a secondary role, e.g., to secure disposal of accumulated stocks.
Since allocation of productive resources is done according to a predetermined plan, the
price mechanism as such does not influence these decisions. In the absence of the profit
motive, price mechanism loses its predominant role in economic decisions. The erstwhile
U.S.S.R. is an example of socialist economy. In today’s world there is no country which is
purely socialist.
Merits of Socialism
1. Equitable distribution of wealth and income and provision of equal opportunities for all
help to maintain social justice.
2. Socialist economy is a planned economy. In a socialistic economy, there will be better
utilization of resources and it ensures maximum production.
3. Wastes of all kinds are avoided through strict economic planning.
4. In a planned economy, unemployment is minimised, business fluctuation are eliminated
and stability is brought about and maintained.
5. The absence of profit motive helps the community to develop a co-operative mentality
and avoids classwar.
6. Socialism ensures right to work and minimum standard of living to people.
7. Under socialism, the labourers and consumers are protected from the exploitation by the
employer and monopolies respectively.
Demerits of Socialism
1. Socialism involves the predominance of bureaucracy. Moreover, there may also be
corruption, redtapism, favouritism, etc.
2. It restricts the freedom of individuals as there is state ownership of the material means of
production and state direction and control of economic activity.
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3. Socialism takes away such right as the right of private property.
4. It will not provide necessary incentive to hard work in the form of profit.
5. There is no proper basis for cost calculation. In the absence of such practice, the most
economic and scientific allocation of resources and the efficient functioning of the economic
system are impossible.
6. State monopolies created by socialism will sometimes become uncontrollable. This will be
more dangerous than the private monopolies under capitalism.
7. Under socialism, the consumers have no freedom of choice. Therefore, what state produces
has to be accepted by the consumers
8. The extreme form of socialism is not at all practicable.
The Mixed Economy
In a mixed economy, the aim is to develop a system which tries to include the best features of
both the controlled economy and the market economy while excluding the demerits of both. It
appreciates the advantages of private enterprise and private property with their emphasis on
self-interest and profit motive. Vast economic development of England, the USA etc. is due to
private enterprise. At the same time, it is noticed that private property, profit motive and self-
interest of the market economy may not promote the interests of the community as a whole
and as such, the government should remove these defects of private enterprise. For this purpose,
the government itself must run important and selected industries and eliminate the free play of
profit motive and self-interest. Private enterprise which has its own significance is also allowed
to play the positive role in a mixed economy.
Features of mixed economy
(i) Co-existence of private and public sector : The first important feature of a mixed economy
is the co-existence of both private and public enterprise. In fact, in a mixed economy, there
are three sectors of industries:
(a) Private sector
Production and distribution in this sector are managed and controlled by private
individuals and groups. Industries in this sector are based on self-interest and profit
motive. The system of private property exists and personal initiative is given full scope.
However, private enterprise may be regulated by the government directly and/or
indirectly by a number of policy instruments.
(b) Public sector
Industries in this sector are not primarily profit-oriented, but are set up by the State
for the welfare of the community.
(c) Combined sector
A sector in which both the government and the private enterprises have equal access,
and join hands to produce a commodity, leading to the establishment of joint sectors.
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(ii) Existence of Economic Planning : A mixed economy is a planned economy, i.e. an economy
in which the government has a clear and definite economic plan. Public sector enterprises
have to work according to a plan and to achieve the objectives laid down. The government
has also to create necessary atmosphere for the private sector to develop on its own. Thus, it
must prepare plans of development for both the private and the public sector enterprises.
Allocation of resources in a mixed economy should be better since it attempts to combine the
productive efficiency of capitalism and distributive justice of socialism.
(iii) Positive role of the government : In a mixed economy, balanced regional development is
expected. Public sector enterprises may be located in the backward regions so as to ensure
their development. Further, by way of subsidies and other incentives private sector may
be lured to establish and develop industries in backward regions.
(iv) Administered Price : In a mixed economy, a dual system of pricing exists. In the private
sector, prices of goods and factors of production are determined through the free play of
market forces of demand and supply. In the public sector, the state determines the prices
of various products. The state reserves itself the right to keep different prices for public
sector units and private sector units. The state may also fix the prices of certain essential
commodities which are used by common man. For example, in India, the prices of essential
commodities like diesel, LPG, etc. are fixed by the government. Overall planning is done
by the State Authority called Planning Commission in countries like India who have
adopted mixed economy.
Merits of Mixed Economy
1. Mixed economy secures the merits of both capitalism and socialism while avoiding the
evils of both.
2. Mixed economy protects individual freedom. Under the system, individuals have the
freedom of consumption, choice of occupation, freedom of enterprise and freedom of
expression.
3. Price mechanism is allowed to operate under mixed economy.
4. Reducing the inequalities of wealth and class struggle is one of the aims of mixed economy.
5. Economic fluctuations can be avoided due to the presence of a centrally planned economy.
6. Mixed economy helps under-developed countries to have rapid and balanced economic
development.
Demerits of Mixed Economy
1. Mixed economy is difficult to operate. Balancing and adjusting the public and private
sectors is often difficult.
2. Excessive controls and heavy taxes are likely to prevail under mixed economy. These will
discourage production in the private sector.
3. Problems of red-tapism, nepotism, favouritism, officialdom, etc. are also found in this type
of economic system.
4. Mixed economy is described by Schumpeter as “Capitalism in the oxygen tent”. According
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COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST
to him it is only a trick of the capitalists to cheat the working class by offering them some
temporary advantages like social security, upliftment of the depressed classes, etc.
SUMMARY
An economy exists because of two facts, i.e. human wants are unlimited and the resources
are scarce.
The basic problem of scarcity gives rise to many of the economic problems
The subject-matter and scope of Economics are defined in terms of Wealth by Adam Smith,
Welfare by Alfred Marshall, Scarcity by Lionel Robinson and Growth by Paul Samuelson.
But, each definition is incomplete and inadequate and created confusion about the nature
and scope of economics.
The subject matter of economics is divided into two parts – Micro and Macro Economics
where micro means small and macro means aggregate.
Economics is a science as well an art. While laying down the laws or theories, Economics
may be treated as a positive science but as a tool of application it must have normative
goals in view.
In Economics, there are two methods of deriving generalizations or laws. These are
deductive method and inductive method. In deductive method, the logic proceeds from
general to particular. In inductive method, the logic proceeds from particular to general.
Unlimited human wants and scarcity of resources lead to the central economic problems
like what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce.
The problem of scarcity and choice-making can be depicted using the tool of production
possibilities curve.
The basic economic problems of what, how and for whom to produce are solved by different
economies in different ways. A capitalist economy uses the tool of price mechanism, a
socialist economy uses the tool of central planning and a mixed economy uses a mix of
both price mechanism and central planning to solve its basic economic problems.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Find the correct match :
(a) An enquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of the nation : A.C.Pigou.
(b) Science which deals with wealth : Alfred Marshall.
(c) Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between
ends and scarce means which have alternative uses : Robbins.
(d) The range of our enquiry becomes restricted to that part of social welfare that can be
brought directly or indirectly into relation with the measuring rod of money : Adam
Smith.
2. The law of scarcity :
(a) does not apply to rich, developed countries.
(b) applies only to the less developed countries.
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 23
(c) implies that consumers’ wants will be satisfied in a socialistic system.
(d) implies that consumers wants will never be completely satisfied.
3. Who expressed the view that “Economics is neutral between ends”?
(a) Robbins
(b) Marshall
(c) Pigou
(d) Adam Smith
4. Which of the following is the best general definition of the study of Economics?
(a) Inflation and unemployment in a growing economy.
(b) Business decision making under foreign competition.
(c) Individual and social choice in the face of scarcity.
(d) The best way to invest in the stock market.
5. What implication(s) does resource scarcity have for the satisfaction of wants?
(a) Not all wants can be satisfied.
(b) We will never be faced with the need to make choices.
(c) We must develop ways to decrease our individual wants.
(d) The discovery of new natural resources is necessary to increase our ability to satisfy
wants.
6. Rational decision making requires that :
(a) one’s choices be arrived at logically and without error.
(b) one’s choices be consistent with one’s goals.
(c) one’s choices never vary.
(d) one makes choices that do not involve trade-offs.
7. Economics, according to Lionel Robbins, is a
(a) normative science
(b) applied science
(c) positive science
(d) experimental science
8. Which of the following is a normative statement?
(a) Planned economies allocate resources via government departments.
(b) Most transitional economies have experienced problems of falling output and rising
prices over the past decade.
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(c) There is a greater degree of consumer sovereignty in market economies than planned
economies.
(d) Reducing inequality should be a major priority for mixed economies.
9. Macroeconomics is also called——— economics.
(a) applied
(b) aggregate
(c) experimental
(d) none of the above
10. An example of ‘positive’ economic analysis would be :
(a) an analysis of the relationship between the price of food and the quantity purchased.
(b) determining how much income each person should be guaranteed.
(c) determining the ‘fair’ price for food.
(d) deciding how to distribute the output of the economy.
11. Identify the correct statement :
(a) In deductive method, logic proceeds from particular to the general.
(b) Micro and Macro-Economics are interdependent.
(c) In a capitalist economy, the economic problems are solved by Planning Commission.
(d) Higher the prices, lower is the quantity demanded of a product is a normative
statement.
12. A study of how increases in the corporate income tax rate will affect the national
unemployment rate is an example of
(a) macro-economics.
(b) descriptive economics.
(c) micro-economics.
(d) normative economics.
13. Which of the following does not suggest a macro approach for India?
(a) Determining the GNP of India.
(b) Finding the causes of failure of X and co.
(c) Identifying the causes of inflation in India.
(d) Analyse the causes of failure of industry in providing large scale employment.
14. Economic goods are considered scarce resources because they
(a) cannot be increased in quantity.
(b) do not exist in adequate quantity to satisfy social requirements.
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 25
(c) are of primary importance in satisfying social requirements.
(d) are limited to man made goods.
15. From the national point of view which of the following indicates micro approach?
(a) Per capita income of India.
(b) Underemployment in agricultural sector.
(c) Lock out in TELCO.
(d) Total savings in India.
16. In a free market economy the allocation or resources is determined by
(a) votes taken by consumers
(b) a central planning authority.
(c) consumer preference.
(d) the level of profits of firms.
17. A capitalist economy uses ____________________ as the principal means of allocating
resources.
(a) demand
(b) supply
(c) efficiency
(d) prices
18. In a free market economy, when consumers increase their purchase of a good and the
level of ________________exceeds ______________ then prices tend to rise.
(a) demand, supply
(b) supply, demand
(c) prices, demand
(d) profits, supply.
19. Which of the following is considered as a disadvantage of allocating resources using the
market system?
(a) Income will tend to be unevenly distributed.
(b) People do not get goods of their choice.
(c) Men of Initiative and enterprise are not rewarded.
(d) Profits will tend to be low.
20. In a mixed economy,
(a) all economic decisions are taken by the central authority.
(b) all economic decisions are taken by private entrepreneurs.
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(c) economic decisions are partly taken by the state and partly by the private entrepreneurs
(d) none of the above.
21. The central problem in economics is that of
(a) comparing the success of command versus market economies.
(b) guaranteering that production occurs in the most efficient manner.
(c) guaranteering a minimum level of income for every citizen.
(d) allocating scarce resources in such a manner that society’s unlimited needs or wants
are satisfied in the best possible manner.
Use the figure below to answer question 22.
22. Which of the following bundles of goods cannot be produced with the resources the
economy currently has?
(a) a
(b) b
(c) c
(d) d
23. An economy achieves “productive efficiency” when :
(a) resources are employed in their most highly valued uses.
(b) the best resources are employed.
(c) the total number of goods produced is greatest.
(d) goods and services are produced at least cost and no resources are wasted.
87654321
1
2
3
4
5
6
7Guns a
b
u
d
c
e
PRODUCTION
POSSIBILITIES
CURVE
Butter
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 27
Use the figure below to answer questions 24-26.
24. Which point on the PPF shows a “productively efficient” level of output?
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) All of the above.
25. Which of the following clearly represents a movement toward greater productive efficiency?
(a) A movement from point A to point B.
(b) A movement from point C to point D.
(c) A movement from point F to point C.
(d) A movement from point E to point B.
26. Which of the following illustrates a decrease in unemployment using the PPF?
(a) A movement down along the PPF.
(b) A rightward shift of the PPF.
(c) A movement from a point on the PPF to a point inside the PPF.
(d) A movement from a point inside the PPF to a point on the PPF.
27. If the PPF is linear, i.e., a straight line, which of the following is true?
(a) As the production of a good increases, the opportunity cost of that good rises.
(b) As the production of a good increases, the opportunity cost of that good falls.
(c) Opportunity costs are constant.
(d) The economy is not at full employment when operating on the PPF.
87654321
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
CONSUMPTION GOODS
CAPITAL GOODS
A
B E
CF
D
PRODUCTION
POSSIBILITIES
CURVE
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28. Periods of less than full employment correspond to
(a) points outside the PPF.
(b) points inside the PPF.
(c) points on the PPF.
(d) either points inside or outside the PPF.
29. Which of the following would not result in an rightward shift of the PPF?
(a) an increase in investment in capital stock.
(b) a reduction in the labour unemployment rate.
(c) the discovery of new oil deposits in India.
(d) an increase in the number of people taking management training courses.
30. Choice is created by the
(a) abundance of resources
(b) urgency of needs
(c) non-availability of resources
(d) scarcity of resources
31. Which is one of the future consequences of an increase in the current level of consumption
in the India?
(a) Slower economic growth in the future.
(b) Greater economic growth in the future.
(c) No change in our economic growth rate.
(d) Greater capital accumulation in the future.
Use the figure at right to answer questions 32-38.
32. Which of the following represents the concept of trade-offs?
(a) A movement from point A
to point B.
(b) A movement from point U
to point C.
(c) Point W.
(d) Point U.
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 29
33. Which of the following would not move the PPF for this economy closer to point W?
(a) A decrease in the amount of unemployed labour resources.
(b) A shift in preferences toward greater capital formation.
(c) An improvement in the overall level of technology.
(d) An increase in the population growth rate.
34. Moving from point A to point D, what happens to the opportunity cost of producing each
additional unit of consumer goods?
(a) It increases.
(b) It decreases.
(c) It remains constant.
(d) It increase up to point B, then falls thereafter.
35. What is the opportunity cost of moving from point A to point B?
(a) 100 units of capital goods.
(b) 8 units of consumer goods.
(c) 90 units of capital goods.
(d) 10 units of capital goods.
36. Unemployment or underemployment of one or more resources is illustrated by production
at point :
(a) A.
(b) C.
(c) U.
(d) W.
A
100
90
40
0 8 80 90
B
W
CU
Capital
Goods
Consumer
Goods
D
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INTRODUCTION TO MICRO ECONOMICS
COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST
37. Which of the following is a reason for the curvature or bowed-out shape of the PPF?
(a) Falling unemployment as we move along the curve.
(b) The economy having to produce less of one good in order to produce more of another
good.
(c) Opportunity costs increase as more of a good is produced.
(d) None of the above.
38. Which of the following is a reason for the negative slope of the PPF?
(a) The inverse relationship between the use of technology and the use of natural resources.
(b) Scarcity at any point of time due to limited amounts of productive resources.
(c) Resource specialisation.
(d) Increasing opportunity costs.
39. Capital intensive technique would get chosen in a
(a) labour surplus economy.
(b) capital surplus economy.
(c) developed economy.
(d) developing economy.
40. Labour intensive technique would get chosen in a
(a) labour surplus economy.
(b) capital surplus economy.
(c) developed economy.
(d) developing economy.
41. Ram : My corn harvest this year is poor.
Krishan : Don’t worry. Price increases will compensate for the fall in quantity
supplied.
Vinod : Climate affects crop yields. Some years are bad, others are good.
Madhur : The Government ought to guarantee that our income will not fall.
In this conversation, the normative statement is made by
(a) Ram
(b) Krishan
(c) Vinod
(d) Madhur
42. Consider the following and decide which, if any, economy is without scarcity :
(a) The pre-independent Indian economy, where most people were farmers.
(b) A mythical economy where everybody is a billionaire.
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 31
(c) Any economy where income is distributed equally among its people.
(d) None of the above.
43. Which of the following is not a subject matter of micro-economies?
(a) The price of mangoes.
(b) The cost of producing a fire truck for the fire department of Delhi, India.
(c) The quantity of mangoes produced for the mangoes market.
(d) The national economy’s annual rate of growth.
44. Which of the following is not one of the four central questions that the study of economics
is supposed to answer?
(a) Who produces what?
(b) When are goods produced?
(c) Who consumes what?
(d) How are goods produced?
45. If the marginal (additional) opportunity cost is a constant, then the PPC would be
(a) convex.
(b) straight line.
(c) backward bending.
(d) concave.
46. Larger production of goods would lead to higher
production in future.
(a) consumer goods
(b) capital goods
(c) agricultural goods
(d) public goods
47. The branch of economic theory that deals with the problem of allocation of resources is
(a) micro-economic theory.
(b) macro-economic theory.
(c) econometrics.
(d) none of the above.
48. Which of the following is likely to cause an inward shift in a country’s PPC?
(a) Earthquake destroying resources of the country.
(b) Scientists discovering new machines.
(c) Workers getting jobs in the new metro – project.
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INTRODUCTION TO MICRO ECONOMICS
COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST
(d) The country finds new reserves of crude oil.
49. The various combinations of goods that can be produced in any economy when it uses its
available resources and technology efficiently are depicted by
(a) demand curve.
(b) production curve.
(c) supply curve.
(d) production possibilities curve.
50. In an economy people have the freedom to buy or not to buy the goods offered in the
market place, and this freedom to choose what they buy dictates what producers will
ultimately produce. The key term defining this condition is
(a) economic power of choice.
(b) consumer sovereignty.
(c) positive economy.
(d) producer sovereignty.
51. The term ‘Economics’ owes its origin to the Greek word
a. Aikonomia
b. Wikonomia
c. Oikonomia
d. None of the above
52. Oikonomia means
a. industry
b. Management of household
c. services
d. none of these
53. Adam smith published his masterpiece “An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth
of Nations” in the year
a. 1776
b. 1786
c. 1756
d. 1766
54. Adam Smith defined Economics in term of:
a. The science of welfare
b. The science of scarcity
c. The science of wealth
d. The science of wealth and welfare
55. Lionel Robbins Published his famous book “Nature and Significance of Economics” in the
year
a. 1935
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 33
b. 1933
c. 1931
d. 1937
56. According to ————————— Economics is the “the study of how in a civilized society
one obtains the share of what other people have produced and of how the total product of
society changes and is determined”
a. Jacob Viner
b. Henry Smith
c. Pigou
d. Paul A. Samuelson
57. ‘Economics is what Economists do’ is given by
a. Jacob Viner
b. Henry Smith
c. Pigou
d. Paul A. Samuelson
58. The economic system in which all the means of production are owned and controlled by
private individuals for profit.
a. socialism
b. capitalism
c. mixed economy
d. communism
59. Economics may be defined as the science that explains _____________.
a. the choices that we make as we cope with scarcity
b. the decisions made by politicians
c. the decisions made by households
d. all human behavior
60. Scarcity is a situation in which ______________________.
a. wants exceed the resources available to satisfy them
b. something is being wasted
c. people are poor
d. none of the above
61. Under inductive method, the logic proceeds from:
a. general to particular
b. positive to normative
c. normative to positive
d. particular to general
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INTRODUCTION TO MICRO ECONOMICS
COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST
62. When productivity increases _____________________.
a. prices rise
b. living standards improve
c. there are fewer good jobs
d. living standards deteriorate
63. Macro Economics is the study of ________________________.
a. all aspects of scarcity
b. the national economy and the global economy as a whole
c. big businesses
d. the decisions of individual businesses and people
64. The task of economic science is to _________________________.
a. save the earth from the overuse of natural resources
b. help us to understand how the economic world works
c. tell us what is good for us
d. make moral choices about things like drugs
65. Who among the following gave the definition of Economics as the “Science which deals
with wealth”?
a. J.M. Keynes
b. H.C. Dickinson
c. Henry Smith
d. J. B. Say
66. Production Possibilities curve is also known as
a. demand curve
b. supply curve
c. indifference curve
d. transformation curve
67. Socialist economy is a
a. planned economy
b. mixed economy
c. profit oriented economy
d. none of these
68. Freedom of choice is the advantage of
a. socialism
b. capitalism
c. mixed economy
d. communism
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GENERAL ECONOMICS 35
ANSWERS
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (b)
7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (a) 11. (b) 12. (a)
13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (c) 16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (a)
19. (a) 20. (c) 21. (d) 22. (d) 23. (d) 24. (d)
25. (c) 26. (d) 27. (c) 28. (b) 29. (b) 30. (d)
31. (a) 32. (a) 33. (a) 34. (a) 35. (d) 36. (c)
37. (c) 38. (b) 39. (b) 40. (a) 41. (d) 42. (d)
43. (d) 44. (b) 45. (b) 46. (b) 47. (a) 48. (a)
49. (d) 50. (b) 51. (c) 52. (b) 53. (a) 54. (c)
55. (c) 56. (b) 57. (a) 58. (b) 59. (a) 60. (a)
61. (d) 62. (b) 63. (b) 64. (b) 65. (d) 66. (d)
67. (a) 68. (b)
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