JAMB UTME - Economics - 1999

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Price plays an important role in the economic system by allocating scarce resources among competing uses. It is a mechanism that balances the demand for goods and services with their supply. As prices rise, demand for goods and services decreases, leading to lower production and supply. Conversely, as prices fall, demand increases, leading to higher production and supply. Therefore, price helps to signal the scarcity of resources and guides producers and consumers in making economic decisions. It also helps to ensure efficient allocation of resources and encourages competition among producers, which can lead to improved quality and lower costs for consumers.

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In a perfect competition, every firm is a price taker. This means that the market determines the price of the product and individual firms have no control over it. Each firm must accept the market price in order to sell its product, and no firm can influence the market price by itself. Therefore, firms must focus on producing at the lowest possible cost to remain profitable in a competitive market.

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Normative economics deals with value judgements or what should be, as opposed to positive economics which deals with what is. Normative economics involves making recommendations about how the economy or economic policies should be designed to achieve certain goals. It involves making value judgments based on ethical or moral principles, political beliefs, or personal preferences. Examples of normative economic questions include "What should be the minimum wage?" or "What is the most efficient tax system?"

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Bills of exchange originate from a commercial bank. A bill of exchange is a financial document that orders the payment of a certain amount of money from one person or organization to another on a specific date in the future. This document is issued by a seller of goods or services and is used as a means of payment from the buyer. The seller can then take the bill of exchange to a commercial bank and exchange it for cash. Commercial banks are authorized to deal with such documents and are often involved in the process of exchanging bills of exchange for cash or other financial instruments.

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In a planned economy, what shall be produced is determined primarily by government decisions. This means that the government controls the production of goods and services, and decides what should be produced based on the country's economic priorities and goals. The government plans the allocation of resources, sets production targets, and determines prices, wages, and other economic factors. The government's decisions are usually based on factors such as social welfare, industrial development, and national security. In a planned economy, the role of market forces, such as the price mechanism and consumer demand, is greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

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The multiplier is a measure of the effect of a change in one variable on another variable in an economy. It indicates the amount by which the equilibrium level of income changes when there is a change in autonomous spending. The value of the multiplier depends on the marginal propensity to consume (MPC) and the level of income. The MPC is the fraction of additional income that is spent on consumption. The higher the MPC, the higher the multiplier, and the greater the impact of a change in spending on the level of income. The level of personal savings and government policy can also affect the multiplier, but they are not the only factors that determine its value.

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The first petroleum exploring company to discover crude petroleum in Nigeria was Shell-BP. Shell-BP began exploration activities in Nigeria in 1937 and discovered crude oil in 1956 at a location called Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State. This discovery marked the beginning of the Nigerian oil industry and has since transformed the Nigerian economy.

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The shape of a production possibility frontier is determined by the concept of increasing relative costs. This means that as more of one good is produced, there is a trade-off in terms of the amount of the other good that can be produced. This is due to the fact that resources are not equally efficient at producing both goods, so as more resources are allocated to one good, the opportunity cost of producing an additional unit of that good increases. This results in a bowed-out shape of the production possibility frontier, reflecting the increasing trade-off between the two goods as more of one is produced.

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The land tenure system in Nigeria impedes agricultural production because it limits the opportunity for mass production of agricultural goods. This is due to the fact that the system is characterized by small landholders who often lack the resources and technology necessary for large-scale agricultural production. The fragmentation of land ownership also makes it difficult to consolidate land for mass production. As a result, farmers are often unable to take advantage of economies of scale, which can increase production efficiency and reduce costs. Additionally, the system discourages specialization of factors of production, which further hampers agricultural productivity.

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The relationship between the value of money and the price level is inverse. This means that when the value of money decreases, the price level increases and vice versa. In other words, when the value of money decreases, it takes more money to purchase the same goods and services, leading to an increase in prices. Conversely, when the value of money increases, it takes less money to purchase the same goods and services, leading to a decrease in prices. This relationship is important in macroeconomics and is often studied using the concept of inflation.

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Non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFIs) do provide credit facilities, accept deposits, and sell shares, but they do not accept demand deposits. Demand deposits are deposits that are withdrawable on demand, such as checking accounts at banks. NBFIs are financial institutions that do not have a banking license, but still engage in financial intermediation activities similar to banks, such as lending, investing, and borrowing. Examples of NBFIs include insurance companies, pension funds, investment funds, and finance companies.

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The primary objective of establishing the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is to encourage the production and processing of export commodities. An EPZ is a designated industrial area with special incentives to attract foreign investors to set up manufacturing and processing plants that produce goods for export. These incentives include tax holidays, duty-free import of machinery and raw materials, simplified procedures for permits and licenses, and other benefits that create a favorable environment for businesses to operate. The ultimate goal is to boost exports, create employment opportunities, and attract foreign exchange earnings for the country.

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Fiscal policy refers to the changes made by the government in its revenue and expenditure. In other words, it is the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy. The government can increase or decrease its spending, or adjust tax rates, to stimulate or slow down economic growth, manage inflation, or address other economic issues. By doing so, fiscal policy affects the overall demand and supply of goods and services, which can impact the money supply, but it is not directly related to changes in the money supply or the regulation of imports and exports.

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To calculate the mean income of the employees, we need to find the total income earned by all the employees and divide it by the total number of employees. So, let's calculate the total income earned by all the employees: (3 x 5,500) + (4 x 3,300) + (2 x 5,000) + 7,000 = 16,500 + 13,200 + 10,000 + 7,000 = 46,700 Now, let's count the total number of employees: 3 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 10 Therefore, the mean income of the employees is: 46,700 / 10 = 4,670 Hence, the answer is N4,670.

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Gains from trade depend on comparative advantage. Comparative advantage is the ability of a country to produce a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another country. In other words, if a country is able to produce a good or service at a lower cost compared to another country, it has a comparative advantage in the production of that good or service. By trading with other countries, each country can specialize in producing the goods or services in which it has a comparative advantage, leading to a more efficient allocation of resources and increased output. This results in lower prices, increased quantity and variety of goods available, and ultimately higher standards of living for all parties involved.

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The income elasticity of clothing refers to how changes in income affect the demand for clothing. In the table, the income elasticity of clothing is given as 2.0. This means that when income increases by 1%, the demand for clothing is expected to increase by 2%. Conversely, if income were to decrease by 1%, the demand for clothing is expected to decrease by 2%. Therefore, clothing is considered a normal good as the income elasticity is positive, indicating that demand for clothing increases as income increases.

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Favorable terms of trade is important to a country because it facilitates economic prosperity for the country. It refers to the ratio at which a country can trade its exports for imports from other countries. When the terms of trade are favorable, a country can exchange a smaller quantity of exports for a larger quantity of imports. This means that the country can import more goods and services than it exports, which can lead to increased economic growth and prosperity. Therefore, a country with favorable terms of trade can import hard currency to finance its imports, which can lead to greater economic development.

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The downward sloping part of the long-run average cost curve of a firm may be attributable to "increasing returns to scale." This means that as a firm increases its scale of production, it experiences greater efficiency and cost savings, resulting in a lower average cost of production. In other words, as the firm expands its production capacity, it can take advantage of economies of scale, such as bulk purchasing of raw materials, specialized labor, and the use of more efficient technology, resulting in lower average costs. Therefore, the long-run average cost curve may slope downward due to increasing returns to scale.

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Opportunity cost is the cost of the next best alternative foregone, when a choice is made. In this case, Abubakar has the option to either buy a house or a Mercedes Benz car. If he chooses to buy the car, his opportunity cost is the value of the house that he could have bought with the money spent on the car. Therefore, the correct answer is "the house".

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The correct answer is Average cost. Average cost is the total cost per unit of output, which includes both fixed and variable costs. As output expands, the total cost increases, but if the average cost falls, it means that the cost per unit of output decreases. This is because the fixed cost is spread out over more units of output, resulting in a decrease in the average cost. Therefore, average cost falls continuously as output expands.

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Concentrating industries in one place is advantageous because of the external economies it creates. External economies refer to the benefits that firms in an industry receive due to their proximity to other firms in the same industry. By being in close proximity, firms can share common resources such as transportation, communication networks, and skilled labor. This reduces their costs of production and helps them to become more efficient. In addition, a concentration of similar industries can create a cluster of expertise and knowledge, leading to increased innovation and collaboration. Therefore, firms can achieve cost savings and benefit from knowledge spillovers by clustering together.

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Inflation caused by an increase in the prices of factors of production such as labor and raw materials is known as cost-push inflation. As the cost of producing goods and services increases, businesses raise their prices to maintain their profit margins, leading to an overall increase in the price level of goods and services in the economy.

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The average total cost (ATC) is the total cost (TC) divided by the total output (Q). To find the total cost, we need to add the total fixed cost (TFC) and total variable cost (TVC). TFC = N1,000 TVC = N2,500 Q = 100 TC = TFC + TVC = N1,000 + N2,500 = N3,500 ATC = TC/Q = N3,500/100 = N35 Therefore, the average total cost of producing one unit is N35. Answer option (C) is correct.

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Trade protection refers to government actions that restrict imports or promote exports to safeguard domestic industries. The most acceptable economic measure for trade protection is to protect infant industries. Infant industries are those that are in their early stages of development and require protection from foreign competition to grow and become established. By protecting these industries, the government can help to promote economic growth and create jobs, as well as reduce the need for future protection by allowing the industry to become competitive over time.

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The correct answer is that the average fixed cost falls continuously but is never equal to zero. Average fixed cost (AFC) is the fixed cost per unit of output produced, and it decreases as output increases. This is because fixed costs are spread over a larger number of units, so the cost per unit decreases. However, AFC will never reach zero because even when no units are produced, fixed costs still exist. Therefore, AFC will always have a positive value, but it will continually decrease as output increases.

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A free trade area emerges when a group of countries agree to remove or significantly reduce restrictions on imports from one another. This means that goods can be traded without tariffs or quotas, which makes it easier and cheaper for businesses to sell their products across borders. In a free trade area, each country still maintains its own external tariffs on goods imported from countries outside of the agreement. The aim of a free trade area is to promote trade and economic growth by making it easier for businesses to access larger markets and take advantage of comparative advantages.

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The excess income earned by a worker over and above the minimum wage required to keep him in his current job is called "economic rent". This means that the worker is earning a premium over and above what is necessary to keep him in his current job, and is essentially receiving a reward for his unique skills, abilities, or resources that are in high demand. Economic rent is a key concept in economics, particularly in the study of labor markets and income distribution.

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A capitalist economy is an economic system characterized by private ownership of factors of production. In such an economy, individuals, rather than the government or state, own and control resources such as land, labor, and capital, and make decisions about their use and allocation. The goal of the system is typically to generate profits for individuals and businesses, which can then be reinvested to drive further economic growth. This is different from systems in which ownership and control of resources are more heavily regulated or centralized, such as in socialist or communist systems.

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Import substitution industrialization refers to a situation in which local industries are set up to produce goods that were previously imported. This strategy is adopted by some countries to promote the growth of local industries and reduce their dependence on imported goods. The idea is to substitute locally produced goods for imported ones in order to save foreign exchange and promote economic development.

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The major obstacle to rapid agricultural development in Nigeria is the inability of farmers to adopt modern technology. This means that farmers are still using traditional methods and techniques which limit their productivity and efficiency. With the adoption of modern technology, farmers can increase their yields, reduce wastage and increase their income. The use of modern technology in agriculture also has the potential to attract young people to the sector, improve food security and contribute to the economic development of the country.

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The situation created when high unemployment goes hand in hand with rising prices is called "stagflation". This is a period of slow economic growth, high unemployment, and high inflation. Stagflation can be caused by a combination of factors, such as a supply shock or a decrease in aggregate demand. It is a challenging economic situation because traditional policies used to address high inflation or high unemployment can have conflicting effects and may not be effective in addressing both problems at once.

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A utility maximizing household will allocate its expenditure so that the utility of the last naira spent on each commodity is equal. This is known as the principle of equal marginal utility. According to this principle, a household will continue to allocate its expenditure across different goods and services until the utility it derives from the last unit of spending on each item is equal. In other words, the household will allocate its spending in a way that maximizes the total utility it derives from all the goods and services it consumes, subject to its budget constraint. Therefore, the household will spend more on goods that provide higher levels of satisfaction (utility) and less on goods that provide lower levels of satisfaction, until the marginal utility of the last naira spent on each good is equal.

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One of the characteristics of an imperfect market is the heterogeneity of products. This means that in an imperfect market, goods and services are not homogeneous or identical. They may have slight differences in quality, packaging, design, features, etc. This makes it difficult for buyers to make direct comparisons and for sellers to compete solely on price. As a result, imperfect markets often have higher prices and lower quantities exchanged compared to perfect markets where goods and services are homogeneous and price is the only differentiating factor.

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Elasticity refers to the sensitivity of demand or supply for a particular good or service to changes in its price, income, or other factors. The determinants of elasticity of demand or supply are the factors that affect the degree of responsiveness of demand or supply to changes in these factors. The most important determinants of price elasticity of demand include price, time, and availability of alternatives. The price elasticity of demand tends to be higher when there are close substitutes for the good or service, when consumers have more time to adjust to price changes, and when the price represents a larger portion of the consumer's income. Other factors that may influence the elasticity of demand include the availability of credit, advertising, and changes in tastes and preferences. The determinants of elasticity of supply are similar to those of demand and include price, time, and technology changes. When prices are high, producers have an incentive to increase production, but this response depends on the time needed to adjust production levels and the availability of resources and technology.