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Economists view positive statements as
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descriptive, making a claim about how the world is.
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Which of the following displays a direct, or positive, relationship?
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a country's productivity and its standard of living
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What is one definition of equity?
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fairness
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Production possibilities frontiers can shift outward
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if there is an increase in technology.
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A rancher can produce only beef, while a farmer can produce only potatoes. If the rancher and the farmer each like both foods, which of the following is most likely?
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They could gain from trade because each would enjoy a greater variety of food.
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What is the x-coordinate?
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the first number of an ordered pair, which represents the point's horizontal location
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Bill has noticed that increases in unemployment insurance claims are associated with recessions, and therefore he advocates limits on unemployment insurance so as to prevent recessions. Martha has noticed that most drug addicts once attended schools, and therefore she advocates getting rid of schools so as to prevent drug addiction. What do we know about the reasoning of Bill and Martha?
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Bill's reasoning suffers from the reverse causality problem, and Martha's reasoning suffers from the omitted variable problem.
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What does the saying "There is no such thing as a free lunch" mean?
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To get something we like, we usually have to give up another thing we like.
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In economics, capital refers to
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buildings and machines used in the production process.
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How do prices direct economic activity in a market economy?
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by influencing the actions of buyers and sellers
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What does it mean if an economy is producing efficiently?
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There is no way to produce more of one good without producing less of the other.
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Economics deals primarily with the concept of
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scarcity
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What is the term that means "whatever must be given up to obtain an item"?
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opportunity cost
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A primary function of prices in a market economy is to provide participants with
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economic information.
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Suppose a gardener produces both green beans and corn in her garden. If she must give up 15 bushels of corn to get five bushels of green beans, what is the opportunity cost of one bushel of green beans?
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3 bushels of corn
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A demand curve shows the relationship between/among
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price and quantity demanded.
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What happens when scientists make good assumptions?
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They greatly simplify the problem without substantially affecting the answer.
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A production possibilities frontier will be linear and not bowed out
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if the trade-off between the two goods is always at a constant rate.
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Which statement about slope is NOT correct?
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Slope can be computed by delta x divided by delta y.
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How is the slope of a line calculated?
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change in y/change in x
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What are factors of production?
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inputs into the production process
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What is the definition of productivity?
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What is the definition of productivity?
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What is a circular-flow diagram?
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a visual model of how the economy is organized
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What does microeconomics study?
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how individual households and firms make decisions
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When does scarcity exist?
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when there is less of a good or resource available than people wish to have
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For society, a good is NOT considered scarce
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if all members of society can have all they want of the good.
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Economists view normative statements as
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prescriptive, making a claim about how the world ought to be.
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Using all available resources, if a farmer can produce either 65 cantaloupes or 70 watermelons, what is the opportunity cost of one cantaloupe to the farmer?
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1.08 watermelons
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Regan grows flowers and makes vases. Jayson also grows flowers and makes vases, but Regan is better at producing both. Who has an absolute or comparative advantage in what activity?
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Regan has an absolute advantage in both activities.
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According to economists, people respond to
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incentives