JAMB UTME - Economics - 2022

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

To solve this problem, we need to first understand what a pie chart is and how it works. A pie chart is a circular graph that is divided into sectors, with each sector representing a proportion of the whole. The size of each sector is proportional to the quantity it represents, so we can use it to determine the percentage or fraction of the whole that each quantity represents.

In this case, the city's population is represented by 45 degrees of the pie chart. If we assume that the pie chart represents the entire country's population, which is 10 million people, then the fraction of the country's population represented by the city is:

45 degrees / 360 degrees = 1/8

This means that the city's population is 1/8 of the entire country's population. To find out the actual population of the city, we can multiply the fraction by the total population:

(1/8) x 10 million = 1.25 million

Therefore, the correct answer is 1.25 million.

Détails de la réponse

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. 

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The term "Gross National Product (GNP) less the provision for the wear and tear of assets" refers to the Net National Product (NNP). The Net National Product (NNP) is a measure of the total economic output of a country, which takes into account the depreciation or wear and tear of the country's capital assets. Capital assets are things like buildings, machinery, and other long-term investments that contribute to a country's economic output. When we subtract the depreciation from the Gross National Product (GNP), which is the total value of goods and services produced by a country's residents, we arrive at the Net National Product (NNP). The reason we need to subtract depreciation from the GNP is that capital assets, such as buildings and machinery, wear out over time and lose value. If we didn't account for this loss of value, we would overestimate the country's economic output. For example, suppose the GNP of a country is $1 trillion, and the depreciation or wear and tear on its capital assets is $100 billion. In that case, the NNP of the country would be $900 billion ($1 trillion - $100 billion). In summary, the Net National Product (NNP) is the Gross National Product (GNP) minus the provision for the wear and tear of assets or depreciation. It gives us a more accurate measure of a country's economic output by accounting for the loss of value in capital assets over time.

Détails de la réponse

The major role of multi-national companies in the petroleum industry in Nigeria is oil prospecting. These companies typically invest heavily in exploration, drilling, and production of crude oil in Nigeria, which is one of the largest oil-producing countries in Africa. The multi-national companies also play a significant role in the development of Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure, including pipelines, storage facilities, and export terminals, which are necessary for getting the oil to international markets. While some of these companies are also involved in downstream activities such as oil marketing and refining, their primary role in Nigeria's petroleum industry is oil exploration and production.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

A consumer of a single commodity is in equilibrium when they have reached a point where they are satisfied with the amount of the commodity they have purchased and consumed, and do not feel the need to buy any more or any less of it. This equilibrium can be achieved in different ways, but one common way is when the marginal utility, or the additional satisfaction gained from consuming one more unit of the commodity, is equal to the price paid for that unit. In other words, the consumer is willing to pay the price because they feel they are getting enough satisfaction from the additional unit. At this point, the consumer has no incentive to buy more of the commodity, because the marginal utility would be lower than the price, and they would feel like they are overpaying for the satisfaction gained. Conversely, if the price were to decrease, the marginal utility would be higher than the price, and the consumer may feel like they are getting a good deal and may want to purchase more of the commodity. Ultimately, the consumer is in equilibrium when they have found a balance between the satisfaction gained from the commodity and the price paid for it.

Détails de la réponse

Holding money to take care of contingencies is a precautionary motive. This means that people keep money saved in case of unexpected events or emergencies, such as a sudden illness, job loss, or car repair. By having money set aside, they are better prepared to handle these situations and can avoid going into debt or facing financial hardship. In short, holding money for precautionary reasons is a way to protect one's financial security and peace of mind.

Détails de la réponse

Wholesalers play an important role in the distribution of goods and services because they act as intermediaries between producers and retailers. Wholesalers buy goods in large quantities from producers and then sell them in smaller quantities to retailers. This enables producers to focus on their production process without worrying about marketing and distribution. On the other hand, retailers can buy smaller quantities of goods from wholesalers, which allows them to stock a variety of products without having to buy in bulk. Wholesalers also provide other important services, such as financing and logistics. They may provide credit to both producers and retailers, allowing them to manage their cash flow and invest in their businesses. Additionally, wholesalers can handle the transportation and storage of goods, which can be a complex and expensive task for smaller businesses. Therefore, wholesalers play a crucial role in the distribution process, providing valuable services and enabling the smooth flow of goods and services from producers to retailers, and ultimately to consumers.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Commodities X and Y are substitutes. Substitute goods are products that can be used in place of each other. When the price of commodity X rises, consumers shift to commodity Y because it is a cheaper alternative to X. An example of substitute goods is coffee and tea - if the price of coffee increases, some people may switch to drinking tea instead.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

The type of unemployment found among workers who leave their jobs in search of other jobs is called frictional unemployment. This occurs when individuals are between jobs and are actively searching for new employment opportunities. Frictional unemployment is typically short-term and is a natural part of the job search process. It can occur due to various reasons such as workers seeking better job opportunities, moving to a new location, or recently graduating from school. Although frictional unemployment may be a temporary situation for individuals, it can have an impact on the economy if the time taken to find a new job is prolonged. However, it is generally seen as a less problematic form of unemployment than other types, such as structural or cyclical unemployment, which can have more severe and long-lasting effects on the economy.

Détails de la réponse

Unemployment of resources occurs when production is below the production possibility curve, which means that the economy is not using all of its available resources to produce goods and services. These unused resources can include labor, capital, land, and natural resources. When production is within the production possibility curve, it means that the economy is using all of its resources efficiently and producing as much as it can given its current level of resources. Along the production possibility curve, the economy is also producing efficiently, but it is not using all of its resources. If production is outside the production possibility curve, it means that the economy is not capable of producing that level of output given its current resources. Finally, if production is adequate to meet market demand, it means that the economy is producing enough goods and services to satisfy the needs and wants of consumers. In summary, unemployment of resources occurs when the economy is not using all of its available resources to produce goods and services, which results in an output level below the production possibility curve.

Détails de la réponse

One possible factor that limits the extent of growth of a firm is the unwillingness to share ownership and control. When a firm is controlled by a single owner or a small group of owners who are not willing to share ownership or decision-making power, it can limit the firm's ability to raise capital, make strategic partnerships, or expand into new markets. In contrast, allowing outside investors or partners to have a stake in the company can provide the firm with access to more resources, expertise, and new opportunities for growth.

Détails de la réponse

Economic goods are termed scarce goods when they are not available in sufficient quantity to satisfy all wants for them. In other words, when there is a limited supply of a good or resource, but a potentially unlimited demand for it, that good is considered to be scarce. This concept is fundamental to economics because it helps to explain why goods have value and why individuals and societies must make choices about how to allocate scarce resources.

Détails de la réponse

Based on the pie chart, the Education sector is represented by 1/3 of the total budget allocation. To find out how much is allocated to Education, we can calculate 1/3 of the total budget: 1/3 x $7,200 = $2,400 Therefore, the answer is $2,400.00.

Détails de la réponse

In the long run, all production factors are "variable." This means that in the long run, a firm can adjust all of its production inputs, including labor, capital, and technology, to change the scale of its operations. In the short run, some inputs may be fixed, such as the size of the factory, which can only be changed in the long run. But in the long run, all inputs can be varied to optimize production and increase efficiency. The ability to adjust all inputs in the long run is what distinguishes the long run from the short run in the theory of production.

Détails de la réponse

The advantage which firms obtain directly from expanding their operations are referred to as "internal economies of scale." Internal economies of scale occur when a firm's average cost of production decreases as it increases the scale of its operations. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as increased specialization of labor, greater use of capital equipment, or better purchasing power for inputs. Internal economies of scale enable a firm to become more efficient and competitive as it grows, which can result in higher profits and a stronger market position. The opposite of internal economies of scale is internal diseconomies of scale, which occur when the average cost of production increases as a firm becomes too large or complex to manage efficiently.

Détails de la réponse

The production process described in the question, where the marginal physical product of the variable factor increases as more units of it are added to a fixed factor, is referred to as increasing returns to the variable factor. In this case, the variable factor is becoming increasingly productive as more units of it are added, which results in an increase in the marginal physical product. Increasing returns to scale, on the other hand, refer to the situation where an increase in all factors of production leads to a more than proportionate increase in output. Constant returns to the variable factor occur when increasing the variable factor by a certain percentage leads to a proportional increase in output. Finally, external economies of scale refer to the cost advantages that a firm experiences as a result of factors outside of its control, such as the growth of an industry or the development of infrastructure.

Détails de la réponse

Economic goods are termed scarce when they are "not available in sufficient quantities to satisfy all wants for them." Scarce resources are those that have a limited supply relative to the demand for them. This scarcity means that choices must be made about how the resources are allocated, and that not all wants or needs can be fully satisfied. The concept of scarcity is fundamental to the study of economics, as it is the basis for understanding the concepts of opportunity cost, trade-offs, and efficiency.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

If a demand curve that intersects a perfectly inelastic supply shifts rightward, the equilibrium price will increase, but the quantity supplied will remain the same. In this scenario, a shift in the demand curve to the right indicates that there is an increase in demand for the product at every price level, leading to a new equilibrium price and quantity. However, the supply is perfectly inelastic, meaning that the quantity supplied cannot increase to meet the new demand. Therefore, the equilibrium quantity remains the same, while the equilibrium price increases. So, only the price will increase in this scenario.

Détails de la réponse

The point x inside the PPC (Production Possibility Curve) indicates that some of the resources in the economy are currently idle or not being fully utilized. This means that the economy is not producing at its maximum potential, and there is room for further growth and development. The PPC represents the different combinations of goods and services that an economy can produce given its limited resources and technology. The curve shows the maximum output that can be produced with the available resources and technology at a given point in time. Any point inside the curve represents a level of production that is below the maximum potential output, indicating that some resources are not being used to their full capacity. Therefore, if the economy is currently operating at a point inside the PPC, it has the potential to increase its production of goods and services by putting its idle resources to work. This could be achieved through measures such as increasing investment, improving technology, or providing more education and training to the workforce.

Détails de la réponse

The industry that adds more value to primary products is the processing industry. The processing industry takes raw materials, such as those produced by the mining industry, and turns them into finished products through various manufacturing processes. This added value comes from transforming the raw materials into something that is more useful and valuable to consumers. The service industry, on the other hand, provides services to individuals and businesses, such as consulting, financial advice, or customer support. While the service industry is important for the economy, it does not add value to primary products in the same way that the processing industry does. The construction industry involves the building of structures and infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, and bridges. While the construction industry uses materials produced by the mining industry, it does not add value to these materials in the same way that the processing industry does. In conclusion, the processing industry is the industry that adds the most value to primary products by transforming raw materials into finished goods that are more useful and valuable to consumers.

Détails de la réponse

Demand-pull inflation occurs when the overall demand for goods and services in an economy exceeds the supply of those goods and services, leading to an increase in the general price level. This increase in demand may be caused by a number of factors, such as an increase in consumer confidence, an increase in government spending, or an increase in exports. Out of the given options, an increasingly large budget deficit is the most likely cause of demand-pull inflation. When the government spends more money than it collects in taxes, it may finance the deficit by borrowing from the central bank, other banks or the public. This increases the overall amount of money in circulation in the economy, which in turn leads to an increase in demand for goods and services. This increased demand can then lead to higher prices for those goods and services, resulting in demand-pull inflation. An increase in the cost of factor inputs, such as labor or raw materials, may also contribute to inflation, but this is known as cost-push inflation, which occurs when the cost of producing goods and services increases, leading to higher prices. An increase in the income tax rate and an increase in the bank lending rate can reduce the overall demand for goods and services and lead to a decrease in inflation.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

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.

Détails de la réponse

Détails de la réponse

The firm is said to be experiencing diseconomies of scale if the cost of production continues to increase as its output rises. Diseconomies of scale occur when the firm becomes too large, and the increased complexity and coordination costs of managing a large organization outweigh the benefits of increased production. This can result in a decrease in efficiency, productivity, and profitability for the firm.

Détails de la réponse

An advantage of the sole proprietorship over the partnership form of business organization is that it relies on the decision of one individual and does not require the consent or involvement of others. This can make decision-making more efficient and effective, and reduce the possibility of conflicts between partners. In contrast, partnerships require consensus and agreement among multiple individuals, which can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when there are disagreements. However, it is important to note that a sole proprietorship does not enjoy limited liability for debt in the event of failure, and its existence is limited by the individual owner's life span.