AP Microeconomics : Perfectly Competitive Markets
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Example Questions
Example Question #65 : Perfectly Competitive Output Markets
Which of the following is an example of a private good?
A bicycle
Fireworks
Public radio
A public park
A free blog
A bicycle
A private good is rivalrous, which means that one person's use of the good reduces the availability of the good for others, and excludable, which means that individuals can be effectively excluded from consuming the good. The only choice that fits both descriptions is the bicycle.
Example Question #66 : Perfectly Competitive Output Markets
An oligopolistic industry would most likely have
a large number of firms
one firm with no close rivals
substantial barriers to entry
no barriers to entry
price-taking behavior
substantial barriers to entry
An oligopolistic industry is dominated by a small number of firms. Oligopolies are typically caused by significant barriers to entry, which enable a few firms to dominate the industry.
Example Question #67 : Perfectly Competitive Output Markets
The market for pizza is currently in equilibrium. If the demand for pizza increases and its supply decreases, what happens to the price and quantity of pizza?
Quantity increases but the change in price is ambiguous
Price and quantity both decrease
Price increases but the change in quantity is ambiguous
Price and quantity both increase
The change in price and quantity is ambiguous
Price increases but the change in quantity is ambiguous
As its supply decreases and its demand increases, the price of pizza will definitely increase. However, the change in quantity is ambiguous and depends on which effect is stronger.
Example Question #68 : Perfectly Competitive Output Markets
Which of the following is an example of a public good?
A laptop
A truck
A movie theatre
A neighborhood park
Satellite TV
A neighborhood park
A public good is non-rival, which means that one person's consumption of a good does not affect another person's consumption of the good, and non-excludable, which means that a person cannot be prevented from consuming the good. The only answer that is non-rival and non-exculdable is the neighborhood park.
Example Question #69 : Perfectly Competitive Output Markets
Which of the following is NOT a property of perfectly competitive markets?
The barriers to entry are low.
In the long run, firms are expected to earn no profits.
The goods are nearly identical.
There are a large number of firms in the market.
At market equilibrium, price is greater than marginal revenue.
At market equilibrium, price is greater than marginal revenue.
When a a perfectly competitive market is in equilibrium, the marginal revenue curve is a horizontal line at the price level in contrast to monopolies, where the marginal revenue is below price.
All of the other answer choices are key characteristics of perfectly competitive markets.
Example Question #71 : Perfectly Competitive Markets
Energy can be generated using either coal or natural gas as an input. If the supply of coal is interrupted, what are the most likely effects on the price and quantity of natural gas traded on the open market? Assume a perfectly competitive market with no government policy intervention.
Price decreases, Quantity increases
No change
Price increases, Quantity decreases
Price increases, Quantity increases
Price decreases, Quantity decreases
Price increases, Quantity increases
Coal and natural gas are substitutes for each other based on the description given in the question. Therefore, an interruption in the supply of coal will lead to an increase in the demand for natural gas. This will increase both the price and quantity of natural gas.
Example Question #72 : Perfectly Competitive Markets
Iron ore is an important input in steelmaking. If the cost of iron ore increases, what are the likely effects on the equilibrium price and quantity in the market for steel? Assume a perfectly competitive market.
No effect
Price decreases, Quantity increases
Price increases, Quantity increases
Price increases, Quantity decreases
Price decreases, Quantity decreases
Price increases, Quantity decreases
An increase in the cost of iron ore will make steel production more expensive.
Because production costs increase, steelmakers will be less willing to produce steel at any given price. Therefore, the market price of steel will increase, and less steel will be traded on the market.
Example Question #73 : Perfectly Competitive Markets
Which of the following scenarios will result in an increase in the market price for iron ore?
A significant new deposit of iron ore is discovered.
The wages paid to workers extracting iron ore increase, and at the same time a construction boom increases the demand for iron.
The completion of a rail network allows iron ore producers to significantly reduce the cost of transporting the product to market.
The cost of other building materials, such as lumber and concrete, falls.
The wages paid to workers extracting iron ore fall as a depressed construction market reduces the demand for iron.
The wages paid to workers extracting iron ore increase, and at the same time a construction boom increases the demand for iron.
We need to choose the scenario that results in a higher equilibrium price. This will result from an increase in demand and a decrease in supply. Only one answer choice matches this scenario. The other choices create a lower equilibrium price or an ambiguous change.
Example Question #74 : Perfectly Competitive Markets
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a perfectly competitive market?
Buyers and sellers do not incur transactions costs when trading on the market.
The quality and characteristics of a good or service do not vary between different suppliers.
Buyers and sellers have perfect information on the quality of the good or service exchanged.
Entry barriers limit the number of new firms that can enter the market.
Firms sell at a price point such that marginal cost equals marginal revenue.
Entry barriers limit the number of new firms that can enter the market.
Perfectly competitive markets are characterized by their LACK of entry and exit barriers, which makes it easy for firms to enter or leave the market as conditions change.
Example Question #75 : Perfectly Competitive Markets
Which of these actions most obviously produces a positive externality?
Planting an herb garden in your private backyard
Cutting to the front of the line at the movies
Keeping your yard clean and maintained
Remodeling your kitchen
Parking rusty, old cars on your front lawn
Keeping your yard clean and maintained
Keeping your yard clean and maintained is a positive quality that residents and visitors in your neighborhood will also benefit from. Some of the other answers are also positive, but they only have a private benefits, not public ones.
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