BA 4309 – Regulation of Business, Fall 2003– Test 2              Peter Lewin.

 

Please read the following carefully:

Multiple Choice – 25 questions.  Please use a 50 question scantron (882-ES) with a pencil.  Hand in only the scantron (you may keep this question paper). 

 

This is a closed book exam.  Cheating will result in a zero (among other possible sanctions).

 

Among the possibilities given in each question select the best alternative. 

 

Solution at end, grade distribution to follow.

 

1.       Which of the following has the effect of raising the earnings of those affected?

a.       licensing of professionals

b.       organizing a trade union with certain workers as members

c.       both of the above

d.       none of the above

 

2.       The existence of third party payer medical insurance companies most likely

a.       causes the demand for medical care to rise

b.       causes the demand for medical care to fall

c.       causes the supply for medical care to rise

d.       causes the supply for medical care to fall

 

3.       Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the rising price of health care?

a.       the supply is falling and the demand is rising

b.       the demand is falling but the supply is falling faster

c.       the demand is rising faster than the supply

d.       the demand is rising slower than the supply

 

4.       Which of the following is the most restrictive form of quality control for the professions?

a.       licensing

b.       certification

c.       registration

d.       pronunciation

 

5.       Under perfectly discriminating monopoly

a.       every customer would be charged the same price

b.       every customer would be charged a different price

c.       every customer would be charged the maximum price he/she is prepared to pay

d.       none of the above

 

6.       Perfect competition is considered to be the most efficient possible outcome, this is because

a.       it encourages technological progress

b.       it encourages the greatest degree of producer response to differing customer needs

c.       it ensures that the product is produced and sold at the lowest possible cost under a given technology

d.       all of the above

7.       Which of the following is always true?

a.       when marginal cost is rising, average cost is rising

b.       when marginal cost is falling average cost is falling

c.       when marginal cost is constant marginal cost is constant

d.       all of the above are true

8.       The electricity crises in California was in large part caused by

a.       changes in technology

b.       the weather

c.       price fixing regulation

d.       sunspots

 

9.       Redeeming of slaves in the Sudan resulted in

a.       an increase in the demand for slaves

b.       an increase in the number of slaves offered for sale

c.       both of the above

d.       none of the above

 

10.   Banning the performance of abortions under any circumstances under penalty of severe punishment would most likely

a.       eliminate all abortions

b.       increase the cost of abortions

c.       increase the health risk to those seeking illegal abortions

d.       b and c of the above

 

11.   Which of the following influences the number of crimes committed?

a.       the probability of being apprehended by the police

b.       the probability of being charged for a crime once apprehended

c.       the probability of being convicted once changed

d.       all of the above

 

12.   The most efficient expenditure policy for crime deterrence is one for which

a.       the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of apprehension is greater than the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of conviction

b.       the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of apprehension is less than the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of conviction

c.       the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of apprehension is equal to the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of conviction

d.       the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of apprehension is made independent of the marginal benefit of increasing the probability of conviction

 

13.   Nationalizing the delivery of health care

a.       would decrease the real cost of health care

b.       would increase the real cost of health care

c.       would not affect the real cost of health care

d.       would increase the supply of health care

 

14.   Nationalizing the delivery of health care and providing it at a zero cost would in result in which of the following?

a.       an increase in the supply

b.       an increase in the amount demanded

c.       a shortage

d.       none of the above

e.       b and c of the above

 

15.   Consider the imposing a tariff on the importation of steel into the United States. Which of the following is likely to be true?

a.       the cost to consumers is greater than the benefit to producers

b.       the cost to consumers is less than the benefit to producers

c.       there is no cost to consumers only a benefit to producers

d.       there are no costs because steel production becomes more efficient

 

16.   Which of the following can be most compellingly identified as a barrier to entry?

a.       predatory pricing

b.       high capital requirements

c.       licensing

d.       advertising

 

17.   Government output is officially evaluated

a.       at cost – what the government spends providing it

b.       by what the public would be prepared to pay for it

c.       by the revenues the government collects for it

d.       by the consumer surplus it generates

 

18.   Assume an industry with a very large number of firms, each one a price taker producing a standardized product. Assume further that a fixed number of the firms have a production cost reflected in an average cost curve that is 5% lower than the others at every output. Assume a competitive rate of return is reflected in the average cost of all firms and is not included in profits. Assume freedom of entry. In long run equilibrium(defined as a situation when no entry and exit is occurring).

a.       no profits will be earned

b.       all firms will earn a 5% rate of return above the competitive rate

c.       the low cost firms will earn a 5% rate of return above the competitive rate

d.       there can be no long run equilibrium

 

19.   Assume an industry defined by a standardized product that is dominated by a firm (Firm A) that has a cost advantage because its production process is more efficient. Assume there is one other firm (Firm B) in the industry that is almost as efficient. Assume that the average cost curves are smooth U shaped curves. Assume there is freedom of entry and that no predatory behavior occurs. Over time

a.       the price will never be equal to the minimum of an average cost curve

b.       the price will tend to be equal to the minimum average cost of Firm B

c.       the price will never rise above the minimum average cost of Firm B

d.       the price will never fall below the minimum average cost of Firm B

e.       the price will tend to be at the minimum average cost of Firm A

 

20.   The effects of predatory behavior is likely to be most costly for

a.       the potential entrant

b.       the incumbent

c.       the regulators

d.       the consumers

 

21.   In order to completely establish that a foreign producer is dumping its product on our domestic market it is necessary to

a.       establish that its price is lower than the domestic price

b.       establish that it is producing below its average cost

c.       establish either that it intends to raise the price or cease production in the future

d.       all of the above

 

22.   Which of the following occurs as a direct result of differences in state tax rates?

a.       different weather patterns

b.       air pollution

c.       global warming

d.       cigarette smuggling

 

23.   A dynamic view of antitrust would focus solely on which of the following?

a.       the elasticity of demand facing the alleged monopolist

b.       the vertical difference between the MR and AR curves facing the alleged monopolist

c.       the identification of barriers to entry protecting the alleged monopolist

d.       the market share the alleged monopolist

 

24.   Historically, prior to deregulation, electricity in this country has been supplied

a.       competitively

b.       by unregulated monopolies

c.       by regulated monopolies

d.       by a mixture of the above

 

25.   Anti-trust law in America is designed to ensure that

a.       competition is always fair

b.       consumers are not harmed by firms in a position to resist competition and charge high prices

c.       supplies are paid a fair price

d.       all of the above

e.       none of the above


GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

 

If you score is greater than or equal to:     your grade is

24

A+

20

A

19

A-

18

B+

17

B

16

B-

15

C+

10

C

ELSE

C-

 

 

Solution:

 

  1. c
  2. a
  3. c
  4. a
  5. c
  6. c
  7. c
  8. c
  9. c
  10. d
  11. d
  12. c
  13. b
  14. e
  15. a
  16. c
  17. a
  18. c
  19. b
  20. b
  21. d
  22. d
  23. c
  24. c
  25. b