JAMB UTME - Economics - 2022

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The ordinary partner in a partnership typically has unlimited liability in case of business failure. This means that they can be held personally liable for any debts or obligations of the business that are not satisfied by the assets of the partnership. This is a major disadvantage of a partnership, as it exposes the personal assets of the partners to the risk of loss in the event of business failure. While the extent of the involvement of the ordinary partner in the management of the business may vary, they are typically expected to take an active part in the management and decision-making of the partnership. As such, they cannot be said to take no active part in the management of the business. Furthermore, as a general rule, partners are jointly and severally liable for the actions of the partnership, which means that they can be sued personally on matters relating to the business. Limited liability, on the other hand, is a characteristic of some types of business entities such as limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations.

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In a free market economy, the rationing of scarce goods is principally done by the price mechanism. The price of a good is determined by the forces of supply and demand in the market. When the supply of a good is limited and demand for it is high, the price of that good will increase. This higher price will serve as an incentive for producers to increase their supply of the good, and for consumers to reduce their demand for it. As a result, the scarce good will be rationed among consumers based on their willingness to pay the higher price. This process occurs naturally without the need for government intervention or control, and is a key feature of a free market economy.

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A disadvantage of a joint-stock company is the potential for loss of controlling interest. In a joint-stock company, ownership is divided into shares, which can be bought and sold by individual shareholders. If a large number of shares are sold to other individuals or entities, it can dilute the ownership and control of the original shareholders, making it more difficult for them to have a significant say in the decision-making process. Limited liability is actually an advantage of a joint-stock company, as it protects shareholders from personal financial liability beyond their investment in the company. Continuity is also an advantage of a joint-stock company, as it can continue to exist even if shareholders come and go or if one or more shareholders die. Unlimited liability, on the other hand, is a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship or partnership, where the owner or partners can be held personally liable for the debts and obligations of the business.

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The scale of preference refers to a list of a consumer's wants or desires arranged in order of importance or priority. It shows the consumer's preferences or choices among different options. The scale of preference is subjective and varies from person to person. For instance, if a person is given the choice to buy a new smartphone, a new pair of shoes, or a ticket to a concert, they may rank these options in order of priority. If they value communication more than entertainment, they may choose the smartphone as their top priority. Conversely, if they value entertainment more than communication, they may choose the concert ticket. Thus, the scale of preference is a way to understand how consumers make choices based on their preferences and priorities, and it helps in predicting their behavior in the market.

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If the Central Bank increases its bank rate, it means that it has increased the interest rate at which commercial banks can borrow money from the Central Bank. This, in turn, makes it more expensive for commercial banks to borrow money, which can have several effects on the economy. Firstly, since it is more expensive for banks to borrow money, they may become more cautious about lending money to their customers. This means that customers may find it more difficult to obtain loans or credit from banks, and the amount of borrowing may decrease. So, is not correct. Secondly, if banks find it more expensive to borrow money, they may also try to increase the interest rates they charge on loans and mortgages to maintain their profits. This could make borrowing more expensive for customers, and the interest charges by banks may rise rather than fall. So, is not correct. Thirdly, if the cost of borrowing money for commercial banks increases, they may not want to borrow as much money, which could reduce the supply of money in the economy. So, is correct. Lastly, an increase in the Central Bank's bank rate may not cause many banks to shut down their operations. However, some smaller banks or financial institutions that heavily rely on borrowing may struggle to stay afloat. So, is not correct. In conclusion, an increase in the Central Bank's bank rate can reduce the supply of money in the economy and increase the cost of borrowing for banks, which could result in higher interest rates for customers.

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When the central bank increases the bank rate, it becomes more expensive for banks to borrow money from the central bank. This in turn causes interest rates on loans and mortgages offered by commercial banks to increase as well. As a result, people and businesses are less likely to take out loans, because they have to pay more in interest. So, borrowing is discouraged. On the other hand, banks are able to charge more for loans, so they can increase their profits. However, this increase in interest rates can also lead to a decrease in spending, which can slow down economic growth.

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Under flexible exchange rates, a deficit could be corrected by the appreciation of other currencies. Flexible exchange rates are determined by market forces of supply and demand, without any government intervention. This means that the value of a country's currency can fluctuate based on changes in economic conditions and market expectations. In the case of a deficit, the demand for a country's currency will decrease, causing its value to fall relative to other currencies. This depreciation can make the country's exports cheaper and more competitive, while making imports more expensive, which can help correct the deficit. On the other hand, the appreciation of other currencies can make a country's exports more expensive and reduce demand for them, which can worsen the deficit.

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The middlemen is responsible for "breaking the bulk". Middlemen are intermediaries between producers and consumers in the distribution process. They play a crucial role in getting products from the producers to the consumers, and they perform a variety of functions such as transportation, storage, and marketing. One important function of middlemen is to break the bulk of products. This means they take large quantities of goods from producers and break them down into smaller units that can be sold to consumers in the desired quantities. For example, a farmer may produce tons of wheat, but consumers may only want to buy it in small quantities. Middlemen can purchase the bulk quantity from the farmer, then break it down into smaller units that can be sold to individual consumers. Breaking the bulk is important for several reasons. It allows for greater efficiency in the distribution process, as products can be transported and stored more easily in smaller units. It also allows for greater flexibility in meeting consumer demand, as products can be sold in the quantities that consumers desire. Finally, it can help to reduce costs for both producers and consumers, as middlemen can aggregate products from multiple producers and sell them at a lower cost than individual producers could achieve on their own.

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A major characteristic of natural resources is that they are free gifts of nature. This means that they are not produced by humans, but are found naturally in the environment. Examples of natural resources include water, air, forests, minerals, and fossil fuels. However, although natural resources are free in the sense that they are not created by humans, their extraction, production, and transportation often involve costs. Additionally, some natural resources may become scarce over time due to overuse or depletion, leading to increased prices and a greater focus on sustainability and conservation efforts.

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Economics problems arise in all societies because of the fundamental concept of scarcity. Scarcity means that the resources available to society are limited, while the wants and needs of individuals are virtually unlimited. This leads to a situation where individuals, businesses, and governments have to make choices about how to allocate scarce resources in the most efficient and effective way possible. For example, a society may want to provide free healthcare to all its citizens, but it may not have the resources to do so. Alternatively, a business may want to produce more products, but it may not have the resources to expand its production line. These are just two examples of the countless economic choices that are made every day. Mismanagement of resources by leaders, lack of planning, inadequate supply of resources, and underutilization of economists are some of the factors that can exacerbate economic problems in a society. However, the underlying cause of economic problems is the scarcity of resources, which requires individuals and institutions to make difficult choices about how to allocate those resources.

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Fiscal policy measures imply a change in government revenue and expenditure to regulate an economy. Fiscal policy is a tool used by governments to influence the economy by adjusting their spending levels and tax rates. This can be done by either increasing or decreasing government spending and taxes in order to achieve specific economic goals, such as controlling inflation, boosting employment, or promoting economic growth. For example, if the government wants to stimulate economic growth, it may increase its spending on infrastructure projects or offer tax incentives to businesses. Conversely, if the government wants to control inflation, it may decrease government spending and increase taxes to reduce the amount of money circulating in the economy. Therefore, fiscal policy measures involve making changes to both government revenue and expenditure in order to achieve specific economic objectives.

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Massive importation of consumer goods will not lead to economic growth. Economic growth refers to an increase in the capacity of an economy to produce goods and services over a period of time. It is measured by the growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country. Massive importation of consumer goods may lead to an increase in consumption, but it does not lead to an increase in the productive capacity of an economy. This is because consumer goods are used for immediate consumption and do not contribute to the production of other goods and services. On the other hand, capital goods like machinery, equipment, and infrastructure are used to produce other goods and services, and their importation can lead to economic growth by increasing the productive capacity of an economy. Intensive capital formation and the use of modern technology also contribute to economic growth by increasing the efficiency and productivity of an economy.

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Producers operating in a free market economy are more efficient as a result of the existence of competition. In a free market, businesses compete with each other for customers by offering better quality products, lower prices, or both. This competition forces producers to be efficient and innovative in order to remain competitive and attract customers. As a result, businesses are motivated to increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve their products and services to meet customer needs. The competition also leads to more choices for consumers and lower prices, as businesses strive to provide the best value for money. In contrast, if there were no competition, businesses would have less incentive to improve their operations, resulting in lower efficiency and higher prices for consumers.

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If the government imposes a minimum price on a commodity, it means that sellers cannot sell the commodity for a price lower than the minimum price set by the government. This is done to ensure that the producers of the commodity are getting a fair price for their goods. When a minimum price is set, it may result in excess supply (market surplus) of the commodity, as producers may be incentivized to produce more of the commodity at the higher price. However, the surplus can be reduced if the government buys the excess supply or if producers reduce their production. In the short-run, the market may be cleared, which means that all of the available supply of the commodity is sold at the minimum price set by the government. However, in the long-run, excess demand may occur as the minimum price may discourage buyers from purchasing the commodity. Therefore, government regulation may still be needed to ensure that the market operates efficiently, even with the minimum price in place.

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The factor that is not a cause of diminishing returns is "Technological innovations". Diminishing returns refers to the decrease in marginal output or production as more units of a variable input (such as labor or capital) are added to a fixed amount of other inputs (such as land or machinery). This occurs because the fixed inputs become increasingly scarce relative to the variable inputs, which can lead to inefficiencies and reduced productivity. The other three factors listed - an increase in variable inputs, land fragmentation, and constant technology - can all contribute to diminishing returns. For example, adding more workers to a fixed amount of land may lead to overcrowding and reduced productivity (land fragmentation). Similarly, if technology remains constant while more inputs are added, the additional inputs may not be fully utilized and may even become redundant. In contrast, technological innovations can actually help to overcome diminishing returns by allowing for more efficient use of inputs and increasing productivity. New technologies can improve the efficiency of production processes, reduce waste, and create new products or services, all of which can lead to increased output and economic growth.

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The main objective of marketing boards is to stabilize the incomes of cash crop farmers. Marketing boards help to regulate the supply and demand of cash crops, ensuring stable prices and incomes for farmers. They also provide support services to farmers, such as warehousing facilities and education on pricing, to help them sell their crops more effectively. While marketing boards may generate revenue for the government, their primary focus is on supporting and protecting the livelihoods of farmers.

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To compare the standard of living among nations, the most widely used economic indicator is the real per capita income. This is a measure of the average income per person in a given country, adjusted for inflation to reflect the purchasing power of that income. It is calculated by dividing the real gross domestic product (GDP) of a country by its population, which gives a sense of the economic output per person. While per capita nominal income and real gross national income are also used as economic indicators, they do not take into account inflation or differences in the cost of living across countries, which can make them less useful for comparing living standards. Real domestic output is not as widely used as real per capita income as it does not take into account the size of the population, which is an important factor in determining the standard of living.

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In perfectly elastic supply, the supply curve is a horizontal line. This means that the quantity of a good that a supplier is willing to sell is not affected by changes in the price of the good. The supplier will sell any quantity of the good at the market price, no matter how high or low it is. In other words, the supply is perfectly responsive to changes in the price, so the supply curve is flat.

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Nations engage in external trade because of the differences in comparative cost, also known as comparative advantage. Comparative advantage is the ability of a country to produce goods or services at a lower opportunity cost than another country. Opportunity cost is the cost of one choice in terms of the best alternative that must be given up. In other words, it's the cost of producing one product in terms of the number of other products that could have been produced instead. For example, let's say that Country A can produce both cars and computers, but it can only produce one of them at a time. If Country A devotes all its resources to producing cars, it can produce 100,000 cars per year. If it devotes all its resources to producing computers, it can produce 50,000 computers per year. Meanwhile, Country B can produce 60,000 cars per year or 30,000 computers per year. In this case, Country A has a comparative advantage in producing cars because it has a lower opportunity cost of producing cars compared to computers. As a result, Country A can produce cars at a lower cost and sell them to Country B, which can in turn produce computers at a lower cost and sell them to Country A. This allows both countries to benefit from trade and improve their overall welfare. In summary, nations engage in external trade because of the differences in comparative cost, which allow countries to specialize in producing goods and services that they can produce more efficiently and trade with other countries for goods and services that they cannot produce efficiently. This creates mutual benefits for all countries involved.

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The elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded of a commodity to a change in its price. In this case, when the price of the commodity increased from $4.00 to $5.00, the quantity demanded increased from 20 units to 30 units. To calculate the elasticity of demand, we use the following formula: Elasticity of demand = (percent change in quantity demanded) / (percent change in price) First, let's find the percent change in quantity demanded: (30 units - 20 units) / 20 units = 0.50 or 50% Next, let's find the percent change in price: (5.00 - 4.00) / 4.00 = 0.25 or 25% Finally, let's plug in the values into the formula: Elasticity of demand = 0.50 / 0.25 = 2.00 So, the elasticity of demand in this case is 2.00. This means that a 1% increase in price leads to a 2% decrease in the quantity demanded.

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In the long-run, a firm should shut down if its average revenue is less than its average cost. This is because, in the long-run, all costs are considered variable, meaning the firm can adjust its production and input levels. If the firm continues to operate despite having average revenue less than average cost, it will continue to incur losses. To understand this concept, it's essential to know what the average revenue and average cost mean. Average revenue is the total revenue earned by a firm divided by the quantity of output produced. On the other hand, average cost is the total cost incurred by a firm divided by the quantity of output produced. The average cost can further be divided into two categories: average variable cost and average fixed cost. The average variable cost is the cost that varies with the level of output, such as labor and raw material costs. In contrast, the average fixed cost is the cost that remains constant regardless of the level of output, such as rent and salaries. So, in the long-run, a firm must shut down if its average revenue is less than its average cost because it means that the firm is not generating enough revenue to cover all its variable and fixed costs. By shutting down, the firm can avoid further losses and redirect its resources elsewhere. On the other hand, if the firm's average revenue is greater than its average cost, it can continue to operate and earn profits.

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Transfer payments refer to payments made by the government or other institutions to individuals or other entities, without receiving any goods or services in return. These payments are typically made for social welfare purposes or to redistribute income. An example of a transfer payment in national income accounting is unemployment allowance paid to citizens who are unemployed. The government pays these allowances to support individuals who are currently out of work and seeking employment. This payment is considered a transfer payment because the government is not receiving any goods or services in return for the funds provided. Transfer payments are not included in the calculation of GDP because they do not represent the production of goods or services. However, they are important in measuring the overall economic well-being of a society, particularly in terms of income distribution and social welfare.

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Budget deficit is the amount by which total expenditure exceeds revenue. A budget deficit occurs when a government or organization spends more money than it takes in through revenue, such as taxes or other sources of income. This can result in the accumulation of debt over time, which can have long-term implications for the financial health of the government or organization. While recurrent expenditure and capital expenditure are both types of expenditures that can contribute to a budget deficit, neither of these terms captures the full picture of a budget deficit. Recurrent expenditure refers to ongoing or routine expenses such as salaries, utilities, and other operating costs, while capital expenditure refers to spending on assets such as buildings, equipment, and infrastructure. A budget deficit can result from either type of expenditure, as well as from other sources of spending such as debt servicing or unexpected events that require emergency spending.

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The effect of an increase in the personal income tax is to reduce the disposable income of taxpayers. When personal income taxes are increased, taxpayers have less money to spend on goods and services, as more of their income is going towards taxes. This reduction in disposable income can lead to a decrease in consumer spending, which can have a negative impact on businesses and the economy as a whole. Increasing personal income taxes may also have a distorting effect on the economy, as it can create disincentives for individuals to work, save, and invest. However, it is not likely to raise the absolute price level, as this is determined by a variety of factors including supply and demand in the economy. Furthermore, an increase in personal income taxes is not directly linked to a reduction in unemployment, as this is influenced by a wide range of factors such as economic growth, labour market policies, and the overall state of the economy.

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If workers at the school canteen cannot sell during the holidays, this is an example of seasonal unemployment. This means that the workers are temporarily out of work due to changes in demand for their labor, in this case because the school is not in session. Seasonal unemployment is a common occurrence in industries that are heavily influenced by the time of year, such as agriculture, tourism, and retail. While the workers may have other employment options, they are currently without work due to the seasonality of the school canteen.

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If the mining sector contributes 60% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), then its contribution can be calculated by multiplying the GDP by 60% (or 0.60, which is the decimal equivalent of 60%).

So, the contribution of the mining sector to the GDP is:

Contribution of mining sector = GDP x 60%

= $540 x 0.60

= $324

Therefore, the contribution of the mining sector to the GDP is $324. 

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The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that provides loans, technical assistance, and other services to developing countries. Out of the options provided, the IBRD does not reduce tariffs among its members. Its main focus is on granting long-term loans to member countries for development projects, providing technical expertise to help those countries implement those projects successfully, and developing human resources in those countries. Tariff reduction is not one of its main functions.

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An effect of inflation is that it "favors debtors at the expense of creditors." Inflation reduces the real value of money over time, which means that the value of debt also decreases. This can be an advantage for debtors, who are able to repay their debts with money that is worth less than when they borrowed it. In contrast, creditors are disadvantaged by inflation, as the value of the money they receive in repayment is worth less than the money they loaned out. Inflation can also have other effects, such as reducing the purchasing power of consumers, increasing uncertainty, and distorting economic decision-making.

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Marginal cost refers to the cost of producing one additional unit of a good or service. It is the cost of producing the last or extra unit of output. This cost includes the variable costs of producing the additional unit, such as the cost of materials and labor, but it does not include fixed costs like rent or salaries, which do not change with the level of production. The concept of marginal cost is important in economics because it helps businesses and policymakers make decisions about how much to produce, what price to set for their goods or services, and whether to enter or exit a market. By analyzing their marginal costs, businesses can determine whether producing an additional unit of a good will be profitable or not.

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A minimum price legislation is also called a price floor. A price floor is a type of price control set by the government that sets a minimum price that must be paid for a particular good or service. The government typically sets a price floor in order to help support the producers of the good or service by ensuring they receive a certain level of income. For example, if the government sets a minimum price for agricultural goods, such as wheat or milk, it can help support farmers by ensuring that they receive a fair price for their products. A price floor is usually set above the equilibrium price of the good or service in question, which means that it can create a surplus of supply. This surplus can result in a number of economic issues, such as a buildup of inventory or a decrease in demand, which can lead to further government intervention or market adjustments. Overall, price floors and other types of price controls can be controversial, as they can have both positive and negative effects on producers, consumers, and the overall economy.

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Under a floating exchange rate regime, the determinant of the exchange rate is "demand for and supply of foreign goods." In a floating exchange rate system, the exchange rate between two currencies is determined by the market forces of supply and demand. Factors such as interest rates, inflation rates, and trade flows can influence the demand for and supply of currencies, which in turn can affect the exchange rate. Unlike fixed exchange rate systems, where the exchange rate is determined by government policy, in a floating exchange rate system, the exchange rate can fluctuate based on market conditions.