JAMB UTME - Economics - 2024

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Economics problems arise in all societies primarily because resources are not in adequate supply. This is known as the fundamental economic problem of scarcity. In every society, there are limited resources but unlimited wants and needs. These resources include things like land, labor, and capital, which are necessary for producing goods and services. Since we do not have enough of these resources to satisfy everyone's desires, we face choices about how to allocate them efficiently.

The issue of scarcity leads to other economic problems such as deciding what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom it should be produced. These decisions are made by assessing opportunity costs and considering how to make the best possible use of the limited resources available.

While factors such as lack of proper planning or mismanagement by leaders can exacerbate economic problems, they are not the root cause. The core issue remains the limited availability of resources, compelling societies to prioritize and decide how best to meet the needs of their population.

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In developing countries, the largest component of national income typically consists of wages and salaries. This means that the income earned by individuals from their employment or labor work forms a significant part of the national income. Several reasons contribute to this:

• Labor-Intensive Economy: Developing countries often have labor-intensive sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services, which employ a large number of people. These sectors need a substantial workforce, leading to the major share of national income coming from wages and salaries.
• Lower Levels of Capital: Capital refers to tools, equipment, and machinery used in production. Developing countries may have lower levels of capital investment, focusing more on labor to boost production, which again increases the share of wages and salaries in national income.
• Demographics: Developing countries often have younger populations with a high dependency on labor for earning income. This means most people derive their livelihood through working jobs rather than owning businesses or properties, leading to wages and salaries dominating national income.

In contrast, components like rent and profit tend to form a smaller component of national income in developing economies. While these components are important, they are usually not as predominant as wages and salaries due to the lesser commercialization and capital-intensive industries compared to developed countries.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Holding money to take care of contingencies is known as the precautionary motive.

Let me explain this further in a simple way:

• Imagine you keep aside some money for unexpected events, such as medical emergencies, car repairs, or other sudden expenses that might occur. This act of saving money for unforeseen needs is called the precautionary motive.
• The main purpose here is to have money on hand to tackle emergencies or any sudden need without having to struggle or sell other assets quickly.
• This behavior is different from having money for regular expenses, which is known as the transactions motive, where the money is kept for day-to-day spending like groceries and bills.
• It is also different from speculative motive, where money is held to take advantage of future investment opportunities.
• Lastly, expansionary motive typically relates to policy measures encouraging broader economic growth and isn't directly about individual money-holding behavior for emergencies.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Market trade unions are not typically associated with the problem of internal trade. Trade unions are typically formed b workers or employees to protect their rights, negotiate better working conditions, and advocate for their interests. While trade unions can have an impact on labor markets and industrial relations, they are not directly linked to the challenges or problems specifically related to internal trade.

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The **variance** of a set of numbers is a measure of how much the numbers in the set differ from the mean (average) of the set. It is calculated as the average of the squared differences from the mean.

The **standard deviation** is simply the square root of the variance. It gives a measure of how spread out the numbers in the set are, using the same units as the original numbers.

Given that the standard deviation of a set of numbers is **3.6**, you can find the variance by squaring the standard deviation. This is because the variance is the square of the standard deviation.

So you calculate the variance as follows:

Variance = (Standard Deviation)² = **3.6** x **3.6** = **12.96**

So the **variance** is **12.96**.

Akọwa Nkọwa

When analyzing the objectives of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), it is important to look at the core goals that this organization typically aligns with:

1. To stabilize the price of oil in the world market: This is indeed one of the primary objectives of OPEC. By coordinating the oil production levels among its members, OPEC strives to maintain oil price stability in the global market.

2. To stabilize the revenue from oil to producing countries: Another key objective of OPEC includes ensuring consistent and fair revenue for its oil-producing member countries. By influencing oil prices and production levels, OPEC helps in maintaining stable revenues for these nations.

3. To make sure that oil flows to all the consuming countries: Ensuring the continuous supply of oil to consuming countries is a goal aligned with OPEC's efforts to balance supply and demand for economic and energy stability worldwide.

4. To establish petroleum refineries in all member states: This is NOT among the objectives of OPEC. OPEC does not focus specifically on establishing petroleum refineries in all its member states. The organization's primary focus is on coordinating and unifying the petroleum policies among its member countries, not on the physical establishment of refineries.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Economic planning is an important policy tool used by governments to coordinate their efforts in improving the nation's economy. Let's look at the objectives:

Equitable allocation of resources: This is indeed an objective of economic planning. It ensures that resources are distributed evenly across different sectors and regions to promote balanced development and reduce regional disparities.

Achieving economic growth: Another key objective of economic planning is to spur economic growth. This involves increasing the capacity of the economy to produce goods and services, enhancing the standard of living, and elevating the overall wealth of the nation.

Creating employment: Economic planning aims to create jobs for the population. By fostering industries and fostering investment, economic planning attempts to reduce unemployment rates and provide more job opportunities.

Widening the income gap: This is NOT an objective of economic planning. Economic plans generally aim to reduce, not widen, the income gap between different segments of society. A widening income gap can lead to increased poverty and social unrest, which are contrary to the goals of economic planning focused on promoting equality and social harmony.

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Processing involves transforming raw materials or inputs into more refined or semi-finished products. This can include various stages of production, such as refining, manufacturing, assembly, or other forms of processing.
The processing industry plays a vital role in taking raw materials from their natural state and converting them into products that can be used for further processing or consumed by end-users. This industry typically adds value to the rav materials by applying different processes, technologies, and expertise.
NOTE: Although manufacturing is involved in the production of goods, it does not specifically address the extraction of raw materials. Manufacturing encompasses a broader range of industries involved in producing finished goods from raw materials, components, or parts.

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In Nigeria, marketing boards were established to regulate and promote agricultural products. Their primary functions include activities like grading farm produce to ensure quality standards and marketing farm produce by finding markets where these products can be sold. They are also responsible for fixing prices for farm produce to stabilize farmers' incomes and protect them from market fluctuations.

However, one activity that marketing boards do not typically perform is the importation of farm produce. Marketing boards are mainly concerned with the domestic production and distribution of local agricultural products, whereas the importation would fall under international trade domains and different regulatory agencies. Thus, the importation of farm produce is not a usual function of marketing boards in Nigeria.

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Nigeria, like many developing countries, faces several challenges in its development planning. These include issues such as inadequate capital, which limits the ability to fund critical development projects and infrastructure, thus hindering economic growth. Another significant challenge is the inadequate statistical data, which affects the ability to make informed, evidence-based policy decisions. Without reliable data, it's difficult to plan effectively and measure progress.

Poor implementation of economic planning is also a notable problem, as even the best-laid plans cannot yield results if not properly executed. This might be due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, or lack of capacity.

However, the statement under-population is not a commonly recognized problem in Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria is known for having a large and rapidly growing population, which sometimes poses its own challenges in terms of resource management and service provision. Therefore, the issue of under-population can be seen as an exception to the typical problems of development planning in Nigeria.

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The level of consumption generally refers to the amount of goods and services that households are willing and able to purchase. This can be influenced by several factors:

Level of Income: The more income people earn, the more they can spend on goods and services, which directly affects consumption levels. With higher income, households typically increase their consumption.

The Rate of Taxes Paid: Taxes directly impact disposable income, which is the income available after tax deductions. Higher taxes reduce disposable income and may lead to lower consumption, while lower taxes increase disposable income and can potentially boost consumption.

Savings: When households allocate a portion of their income to savings, this reduces the immediate level of consumption. Therefore, high levels of savings can indicate lower levels of consumption.

The Political Climate: Although the political climate can affect the economy in various ways, it is generally not a direct and immediate determinant of consumption levels. The political climate can influence factors like economic stability and government policies, but it is not a direct factor in determining how much households consume.

Based on these explanations, the factor that determines the level of consumption the least is the political climate, because its effects are indirect and less immediate compared to the direct effects of income, taxes, and savings on consumption.

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The system of farming that involves the use of a large hectare of land planted with economic crops is known as plantation farming.

Explanation: Plantation farming is an agricultural system where a single crop is grown extensively over a large area. This system is specifically designed for the cultivation of high-demand crops, often termed as "economic crops," because they are produced for their commercial value rather than for direct consumption by the farmers. Such crops include coffee, tea, rubber, sugarcane, cotton, and palm oil.

Key Characteristics of Plantation Farming:

• Large-scale production: Plantation farms occupy vast expanses of land to maximize the output of a single type of crop.
• Monoculture: Typically, a single crop is cultivated, allowing specialization and efficiency in farming practices.
• Commercial orientation: The primary goal is to produce crops for sale, often aiming at international markets.
• Use of advanced techniques: Plantation farming often employs modern agricultural techniques, such as mechanization, irrigation, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides, to enhance productivity.
• Capital intensive: There is a significant investment in both infrastructure and labor to manage the large scale of operations.

In contrast, smaller or subsistence farmers often engage in diverse cropping systems with multiple types of plants cultivated for personal or local consumption. Plantation farming, on the other hand, is designed to produce large quantities of a specific, economically valuable crop to meet regional or global demands.

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Opportunity cost is a key concept in economics that refers to the value of the next best alternative forgone when making a choice. It plays a significant role in determining the downward shift in the production possibilities curve (PPC).
The PPC represents the different combinations of two goods or services that an economy can produce given its limited resources and technology. It illustrates the trade-offs that occur when resources are allocated between the production o different goods.
When there is a downward shift or inward shift in the PPC, it indicates a decrease in the economy's productive capacity. This shift can be influenced by several factors, including changes in resource availability, technology, or the efficiency of resource allocation. However, opportunity cost can help explain how these factors lead to a downward shift.

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In a free market economy, multiple producers are allowed to enter the market and compete with each other. This competition creates incentives for producers to become more efficient in order to gain a competitive advantage. When producers compete, they strive to offer better quality products, lower prices, and improved customer service. To achieve these goals, they need to find ways to reduce costs, increase productivity, and innovate. The pressure of competition encourages producers to constantly improve their efficiency to attract customers and maximize profits

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Factors of production are the inputs used to produce goods and services in an economy. The main factors of production include land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. Each of these factors receives a specific reward or return:

• Land: The reward for using land as a factor of production is rent. Rent is the payment made for the use of land or real estate resources.
• Labor: The reward for labor is typically in the form of wages or salaries. It represents the compensation paid to workers for their productive efforts.
• Capital: The reward for capital, which includes machinery, tools, or financial capital used in production, is interest. It is the return on investment for using capital resources.
• Entrepreneurship: The reward for entrepreneurship, which involves the risk-taking and organization of other factors of production, is profit. Profit is the financial gain realized by entrepreneurs for their ventures.

The term subsidy is generally not a reward for factors of production. A subsidy is a financial assistance granted by the government to individuals or businesses to support activities, promote economic growth, or reduce the cost of certain goods and services. It is not directly linked to any of the classical factors of production.

In conclusion, while profit, rent, and interest are returns directly associated with factors of production, a subsidy is not. It serves a different purpose in economic policy.

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The concept of the circular flow of income represents how money moves within an economy among consumers, businesses, and various markets. In this circular flow, three key elements can either add to or reduce the flow of funds: **leakages** and **injections**.

Leakages are the flows of money that exit the circular flow. They reduce the amount of money that circulates within the economy. Common leakages include savings, taxes, and imports. For instance, when individuals save money instead of spending it, that money is not used to purchase goods or services, thus exiting the circular flow.

Injections, on the other hand, are the activities or financial inflows that add funds to the circular flow of income, ensuring continued economic activity. They increase the total amount of money circulating in the economy. These include investment, government spending, and exports.

• Investment: When businesses invest in capital goods, they increase the production capability, leading to more employment and income.
• Government Spending: When the government spends on infrastructure, social services, or other public projects, it injects money directly into the economy.
• Exports: When a country sells goods and services to other countries, new money flows into the country's economy from foreign buyers.

The expenditure approach is a method for calculating a nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by considering the total expenditure on the nation's final output of goods and services in a year. While this approach helps to measure the size of the economy, it is not directly responsible for adding funds to the circular flow. Instead, it relies on the activities of consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports.

In conclusion, it is the concept of injection that directly adds funds to the circular flow, stimulating economic activities and growth by multiplying the effects of initial spending through the economy.

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A persistent fall in the general price level is known as deflation.

To understand this better, let's break it down:

• General Price Level: This refers to the average of current prices across the entire spectrum of goods and services produced in the economy. It is like taking a snapshot of what prices look like overall in the economy.


• Deflation: This is the term used when the general price level is consistently decreasing over time. In simpler terms, it means that prices of goods and services are falling, making them cheaper for consumers. This might sound beneficial to consumers initially, but prolonged deflation can lead to reduced consumer spending, as people may delay purchases in anticipation of even lower prices. This can subsequently slow down economic growth and potentially lead to an economic recession.

Hence, when we say "persistent fall in the general price level," we are accurately describing deflation.

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The balance of payments is a record of all financial transactions made between consumers, businesses, and the government in one country with others. It includes trade in goods and services, investments, and money transfers. To improve a country's balance of payments, particularly the trade balance, countries may implement certain policies.

Anti-dumping policies are used to prevent foreign companies from selling goods at a price lower than their market value to gain an unfair advantage. By implementing anti-dumping policies, a country can protect its domestic industries from unfair competition, which can help improve the balance of payments by reducing imports or encouraging domestic consumption.

Granting subsidies to export producers can help improve the balance of payments by making domestic products cheaper and more competitive in international markets. By lowering production costs, subsidies can help increase exports, leading to an improvement in the balance of payments.

Increasing import duties is another way to improve the balance of payments. By imposing higher taxes on imported goods, a country can discourage imports and encourage consumers to purchase domestically produced goods. This can improve the trade balance by reducing the outflow of money used to purchase foreign products.

On the other hand, decreasing taxation on personal income doesn't directly affect the balance of payments. Reducing personal income tax may increase disposable income for consumers, which could lead to more consumption. However, this increased consumption might not necessarily focus on domestic goods, and could instead lead to higher imports. Therefore, among the options listed, decreasing taxation on personal income is the one least likely to directly improve a country's balance of payments.

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In the context of business organizations, the term that stands out as not fitting among the others is **Entrepreneurship**.

To understand why, let's briefly define each term:

• Co-operative Society: This is a type of business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit. Co-operatives are often established in sectors like agriculture or retail, where members pool resources to achieve common goals, such as better marketing of their products.
• Partnership: This refers to a business organization where two or more individuals manage and operate a business together, sharing profits, liabilities, and responsibilities. Partnerships are common in professional practices like law firms or medical practices.
• Public Corporation: A public corporation is a business entity that has been incorporated through a legal process and issues shares to the public through a stock exchange. Shareholders own the corporation, and it is usually distinguished by being large and having significant public presence, such as multinational companies.
• Entrepreneurship: While entrepreneurship involves starting and operating a business, it is not a formal type of business organization like the others. Instead, it refers to the process and activities undertaken by an entrepreneur to establish a new enterprise or bring a new idea to market.

Thus, the odd one out is Entrepreneurship, because it describes the activity of establishing and managing a business rather than being a structured form of business organization like the others mentioned.

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The most prominent contribution of petroleum to the Nigerian economy is in the area of revenue generation.

Here’s why:

1. Major Source of Government Revenue: The petroleum industry is the backbone of Nigeria's economy, significantly impacting the nation’s fiscal landscape. It contributes a substantial portion of government revenue through the sale of crude oil globally. This revenue is critical for funding various government activities and programs.

2. Foreign Exchange Earnings: Crude oil and natural gas exports are a primary source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria. These earnings are vital as they enable the country to engage in international trade, import goods, and services, and stabilize the national currency.

3. Budgetary Funding: The Nigerian annual budget heavily relies on oil revenues. Oil sales provide the funds necessary for the government to execute national projects, maintain public services, and drive economic policies.

In summary, while petroleum impacts Nigeria's economy in various ways such as infrastructure development and employment generation, its contribution to revenue generation is by far the most prominent and crucial for sustaining government functions and the overall economic health of the nation.

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Minimum price legislation is a policy where the government sets a lower price limit for certain goods or services, meaning they cannot be sold below this set price. It is often intended to protect producers, ensuring they receive fair compensation and maintaining industry standards.

When a minimum price is set above the equilibrium price, it typically leads to several economic effects:

• Wastages of resources: This can occur because at the artificially high price, producers might overproduce as they want to profit from the higher price, leading to excess production that isn't effectively utilized or sold.
• Excess supply: This means that the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded because the price is higher than what consumers are willing to pay. Thus, the market experiences surplus products.
• Unemployment: In some cases, particularly in labor markets, setting a minimum price (like minimum wage) can result in employers reducing hiring or cutting jobs because of higher wage costs, leading to unemployment.

Excess demand is NOT associated with minimum price legislation. Excess demand occurs when the price is set too low, leading to a situation where the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied. This situation is commonly related to maximum price controls, not minimum price legislation.

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In the long run, a firm's average cost decreases primarily because of increasing returns to scale. This occurs when a firm's output increases by a proportion greater than the increase in inputs. In simpler terms, when a company gets bigger, it becomes more efficient at production. Consider the following reasons:

• **Economies of Scale**: As production scales up, certain costs such as fixed costs are spread over a larger number of goods, thus reducing the cost per unit.
• **Specialization and Division of Labor**: Larger firms often permit more specialization among workers and use more advanced technology, leading to increased productivity.
• **Bulk Purchasing**: Bigger firms can buy raw materials in large quantities at a discounted rate, which reduces the cost of production per unit.

Other options, like **diminishing average returns** or **decreasing marginal returns**, generally pertain to situations in the short run or under different conditions and would not directly explain a decrease in average costs in the long run. Additionally, while **decreasing average fixed cost** could reduce cost in the short run, in the long run, all costs are variable and focus instead shifts to how efficiently inputs are converted to outputs.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Refining of petroleum products in member countries is NOT a major role of OPEC in the production and marketing of petroleum.

Let me explain why:

• Stabilizing oil prices by putting a production ceiling: OPEC primarily works by coordinating and unifying the petroleum policies of its member countries. By setting production levels, it aims to stabilize the oil market to avoid excessive fluctuations in oil prices.
• Raising the revenue of member countries from oil through price increase: OPEC seeks to ensure that member countries receive fair and stable incomes from their petroleum resources. This often involves strategies to influence global oil prices.
• Ensuring efficient and regular supply of oil to the market: OPEC works to provide a reliable supply of oil to the global market, preventing shortages and ensuring that the supply meets demand.
• Refining of petroleum products in member countries: This is not a primary function of OPEC. While refining can occur within member countries, OPEC's core activities focus on the regulation of crude oil production and market stability rather than refining processes.

In summary, the main roles of OPEC include balancing oil production and prices and ensuring a steady supply, but they do not majorly focus on the refining of petroleum products.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In the long-run equilibrium position for a firm, **all costs are variable**. This is because the long-run is a period sufficiently long for firms to adjust all factors of production. They can expand or reduce their capacity, acquire new technology, or even enter and exit industries depending on market conditions.

Unlike in the short-run where some factors (like buildings and machinery) are **fixed** because they cannot be changed immediately, in the long-run, firms have the flexibility to alter all their inputs. This means that firms can choose the optimal scale of operation where the average cost of production is minimized, leading to a position where profits are maximized if the market structure allows.

So, in summary: In the long-run, a firm operates where **all costs are variable**, allowing complete adjustment to maximize efficiency and competitive position in the market.

Akọwa Nkọwa

The equilibrium price in economics is a fundamental concept where the market operates most efficiently. To understand it fully, consider the following explanation:

When demand equates supply, it indicates the price at which the quantity of goods consumers are willing to buy (demand) is exactly equal to the quantity of goods producers are willing to sell (supply). This is the point where the market reaches equilibrium. At this price, there is no excess supply or demand, meaning that resources are being used most effectively, and there is no pressure on the price to change.

In contrast:

• If the price equals demand only, this would imply a scenario that doesn't exist in standard economic terms because equilibrium involves both supply and demand.
• When demand is less than supply, it suggests a surplus in the market, leading to downward pressure on price as sellers attempt to clear excess stock.
• If demand is greater than supply, it leads to a shortage, resulting in upward pressure on prices as consumers compete to buy the limited available goods.

Thus, at equilibrium price, demand equates supply, ensuring the market operates smoothly without surplus or shortage.

Akọwa Nkọwa

The diagram you are referring to represents the Circular Flow of Income. This is a crucial concept in economics that demonstrates how money moves within an economy between different sectors. Let me explain it further in a simple and clear manner.

The Circular Flow of Income exhibits the interactions and transactions that occur between two major groups in an economy: the households and the firms. It is important to note that:

• Households: They are the owners of factors of production such as labor, land, and capital. Households provide these resources to firms.
• Firms: They produce goods and services using the factors of production provided by households. Firms pay households for these resources in the form of wages, rent, interest, and profits.

The flow of economic resources and money can be explained in two key types:

• Real Flow: This involves the flow of actual goods and services from firms to households, and the flow of factors of production from households to firms.
• Monetary Flow: This involves the flow of money in the form of payments made by firms to households for their resources, and the flow of money from households to firms to purchase goods and services.

In an expanded model of the circular flow, other components may be included, such as the government, financial sector, and foreign markets, which illustrate additional flows such as taxes, government spending, savings, investments, and exports/imports.

Overall, the Circular Flow of Income provides a fundamental understanding of how economic activity is interconnected and how different sectors interact with one another in a continuous cycle.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In any economy, the problem of "how to produce" is essentially about deciding the best way to combine resources to produce goods and services. This challenge can be effectively addressed by adopting the least cost method of production.

Here’s why:

• Objective: The key objective for any economy is to produce goods and services efficiently, using the least amount of resources possible, while maximizing output. This ensures that the resources, which are often limited, are utilized in the most productive way.


• Resource Allocation: By focusing on the least cost method, producers aim to determine the proportion of capital (like machines, tools, and buildings) and labor (human effort) that should be used to minimize costs and maximize profits. This can involve a mix of both capital and labor-intensive methods depending on which combination minimizes production costs.
• Flexibility: The least cost method is iterative and allows for adjustments based on changes in resource availability, technological advancements, and shifts in market conditions, ensuring the production process remains cost-effective and competitive.


• Consumer Benefits: When producers focus on minimizing costs, they can offer products at lower prices, making goods and services more affordable for consumers, which can increase demand and boost the overall economy.

In summary, while other methods and managerial skills are important, addressing how to produce in the most efficient and effective way often boils down to using the least cost method of production, thereby ensuring optimal resource use and economic stability.

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In economics, the demand for factors of production is best described as being derived. What this means is that the demand for these factors, like labor, land, and capital, is not for their own sake but because of the demand for the goods and services they can produce.

To put it simply, businesses need these factors of production to create products. If there is a high demand for a particular product, there will naturally be a higher demand for the factors needed to produce that product. Conversely, if there is little to no demand for a product, then the demand for the factors required to produce it will also decrease.

For example, if there is a high demand for cars, a car manufacturing company will need more metal, labor, and machinery, which are the factors of production, to make more cars. Thus, the demand for these factors is based on, or derived from, the demand for the cars themselves.

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The bank that is primarily dedicated to financing projects aimed at promoting economic and social development within the African continent is the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The African Development Bank (AfDB) was established in 1964 with the main objective to reduce poverty, improve living conditions, and promote economic and social development in African countries. It achieves these goals by providing loans and grants for a variety of development projects and programs across the continent. These projects cover various sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and energy.

Unlike purely commercial banks, the AfDB is focused on development projects that may not always have immediate financial returns but are crucial for the sustainable growth and development of African nations. The bank works together with member countries and international partners to mobilize resources and expertise needed to tackle the continent's challenges, often adopting innovative financing solutions tailored to the unique needs of the African context.

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The Production Possibility Curve (PPC), also known as the Production Possibility Frontier, is a graphical representation that illustrates the concept of scarcity, trade-offs, and opportunity cost. It shows the different combinations of two goods or services that an economy can produce given its finite resources and technology.

The factors typically highlighted by a PPC are as follows:

• Scarcity of resources: This is emphasized as it limits the production possibilities for an economy, thereby creating the necessity to allocate resources efficiently.
• Unemployment of labour: Although the PPC assumes full employment of resources, any point inside the curve indicates that resources, including labor, are not being fully employed.
• Inefficiency in the use of resources: This is indicated by points inside the PPC curve, which shows that resources are not being used optimally.

However, a point that is not emphasized within a PPC is:

• Economic development: The PPC does not directly illustrate concepts such as economic growth or development. While economic growth can shift the PPC outward, the curve itself does not explain the aspects of long-term growth, improvement in living standards, or the underlying factors of economic development like technology advancements, better education, and institutional changes.

Thus, the concept that is not highlighted in a PPC is economic development.

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In the context of production, the Total Product (TP) refers to the total quantity of output produced by a firm. The Marginal Product (MP) is the additional output obtained by employing one more unit of a specific input, while keeping all other inputs constant.

When the Total Product starts to fall, it indicates that each additional unit of input is contributing less and less to the total output, to the extent that the output is actually decreasing. This means that any added input is no longer producing additional output but instead reducing it. Therefore, the Marginal Product in this situation is actually negative.

Here is why:

• Consider the scenario where adding extra workers or resources does not increase output, and might even disrupt production.
• At this point, the contribution of added input becomes detrimental, causing a decline in the total output.
• Thus, the Marginal Product turns negative, because the next unit of input is not just unproductive, it makes the overall production lower than before.

Akọwa Nkọwa

The concept we are discussing here is the Price Elasticity of Demand (PED). It measures how much the quantity demanded of a commodity changes with a change in its price. The formula for calculating the price elasticity of demand is:

PED = (% Change in Quantity Demanded) / (% Change in Price)

First, we calculate the percentage change in quantity demanded:

• Initial quantity demanded = 100 units
• New quantity demanded = 80 units
• Change in quantity demanded = New quantity demanded - Initial quantity demanded = 80 - 100 = -20 units

Percentage change in quantity demanded:

= (Change in quantity demanded / Initial quantity demanded) × 100

= (-20 / 100) × 100 = -20%

Next, calculate the percentage change in price:

• Initial price = N8.00
• New price = N10.00
• Change in price = New price - Initial price = N10.00 - N8.00 = N2.00

Percentage change in price:

= (Change in price / Initial price) × 100

= (2 / 8) × 100 = 25%

Now, we can substitute these values into the formula for PED:

PED = (% Change in Quantity Demanded) / (% Change in Price)

= (-20%) / (25%)

= -0.8

The price elasticity of demand is -0.8. The negative sign indicates that there is an inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded, which is normal for most goods. This value rounded to the nearest value provided in your options is 0.8. This implies it is inelastic demand, meaning the quantity demanded is not very responsive to price changes.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In a capitalist economic system, several features define its characteristics. To understand which of the given options is NOT a feature of capitalism, let's examine each one:

Free Enterprise: This is a fundamental aspect of capitalism. It refers to the freedom of businesses to operate competitively for profit with minimal government intervention. Under free enterprise, individuals and businesses have the right to sell goods and services, decide on investments, and set prices.

Private Ownership of Property: Another core feature of capitalism is the ownership of property by individuals or corporations rather than by the government. In this system, individuals have the right to own assets, resources, and production facilities. They can use, rent, or sell property as they see fit.

Competition: Competition is a driving force in capitalism. It encourages businesses to improve their products and services, enhance efficiency, lower prices, and innovate. Healthy competition is believed to lead to better choices and quality for consumers.

Detailed Economic Planning: This is NOT a feature of capitalism. Detailed economic planning is more characteristic of socialist or centrally planned economies where government agencies set production targets, control resources, and address distribution centrally. Capitalism relies more on market forces and price mechanisms to guide economic decisions rather than detailed and centralized planning.

Therefore, detailed economic planning is the correct answer as it is NOT a feature of capitalism.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In the long-run, a firm must shut down if its average revenue is less than its average variable cost. This is because the firm is unable to cover even its variable costs, which are the costs it incurs when it produces any output at all. Let me explain further:

• A firm's goal is to maximize profit. To do this, a firm must ensure that it can at least cover its variable costs in the short-term. Variable costs include things like labor and raw materials, which are necessary for production.
• If the firm cannot cover the variable costs, it indicates that producing a unit of output adds more cost than revenue. Therefore, producing any more output will increase losses, making it better for the firm to shut down operations.
• In the long-run, all costs become variable, and if the firm's revenue doesn't cover these costs, the firm will not be able to survive.

To put it simply, if average revenue is less than average variable cost, the firm can't sustain itself in the long-run, and shutting down is a rational decision.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In a perfectly competitive market, an industry or firm will maximize its profit when its Marginal Cost (MC) equals Marginal Revenue (MR). This is a fundamental principle of microeconomics that ensures the firm's resources are being used most efficiently.

Here's why:

• Marginal Cost (MC) is the additional cost incurred from producing one more unit of a good or service.
• Marginal Revenue (MR) is the additional revenue generated from selling one more unit of a good or service.

If MC = MR, the cost of producing an additional unit is exactly equal to the revenue it generates, meaning any increase or decrease in production would not improve profitability. At this point, the firm is efficiently allocating its resources.

If MC < MR; it means that the cost of producing an extra unit is less than the revenue it brings. The firm can increase its profit by producing and selling more units.

Conversely, if MC > MR; the cost of producing an extra unit exceeds the revenue it brings, and the firm should reduce production to avoid losses.

Therefore, to achieve maximum profit, a firm in a perfectly competitive market should continue adjusting its output until the cost of the last unit produced is exactly equal to the revenue it produces, which occurs at MC = MR.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Under perfect competition, a profit-maximizing firm will hire labor up to the point where the marginal revenue product of labor (MRP) is equal to the wage rate. MRP represents the additional revenue generated by adding one more unit of labor.
Since the firm aims to maximize profits, it will continue hiring labor until the MRP is greater than or equal to the wage rate. At this point, the last unit of labor hired contributes more to total revenue than to total cost, resulting in increased profits for the firm.

Akọwa Nkọwa

The equilibrium wage rate is achieved when the demand for labour equals the supply of labour in a particular labour market. At this point, there is no excess demand or excess supply of labour, and the market is in balance.
From the diagram above, the equilibrium wage rate is W2.

Akọwa Nkọwa

Wholesalers play a significant role in the distribution of goods and services for several key reasons:

1. Bulk Purchasing and Distribution: Wholesalers buy large quantities of goods from producers and sell them in smaller lots to retailers, which allows them to benefit from economies of scale. This bulk buying helps keep costs low for retailers and ultimately consumers.

2. Bridging the Gap: By acting as an intermediary between producers and retailers, wholesalers play a crucial role in the supply chain. They enable manufacturers to focus on production while handling the complexities of distribution and logistics.

3. Financial Support: Wholesalers sometimes provide credit to retailers, allowing them to purchase goods and pay later. They also assist producers by buying inventory upfront, providing necessary funds for the producers to continue their business.

4. Information Exchange: Wholesalers gather market trends and feedback from retailers and share this information with producers. This helps producers adjust their products to meet consumer demands more effectively.

5. Inventory Management: Wholesalers manage storage and inventory, reducing the burden on manufacturers and retailers. They ensure a steady supply of products, minimizing the risk of stockouts or overproduction.

In summary, wholesalers are essential in the distribution network because they facilitate product flow, support financial operations, manage distribution logistics, and collect market intelligence.

Akọwa Nkọwa

In economics, a change in demand is influenced by several factors, but one of the options provided is NOT a factor that leads to a change in demand. This factor is the price of the good or service.

Here’s why:

The Price of the Good or Service: When we talk about demand, we focus on a demand curve that represents the relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded. A change in the price of the good itself does not shift the demand curve; instead, it results in a movement along the demand curve. Therefore, changes in the price of the good or service itself do not cause a change in demand but rather a change in the quantity demanded.

In contrast, the following factors do cause shifts in the demand curve (change in demand):

A Change in Real Income: When consumers have more or less income, their ability to purchase goods and services changes. If real income increases, consumers can afford to buy more, shifting the demand curve to the right. Conversely, a decrease in real income shifts the demand curve to the left.

Government Policy: Policies such as taxes, subsidies, regulations, or import restrictions can impact consumer purchasing power or the attractiveness of a product, influencing demand. For example, a subsidy on solar panels might increase their demand as they become more affordable.

Increase in Population: An increase in population typically increases demand for various goods and services as more people in the economy need these products, causing a rightward shift in the demand curve.

Akọwa Nkọwa

The recent revolution of cassava from an ordinary food crop to an export crop is likely to lead to an increase in the price of cassava products.
When cassava transitions from being primarily used as a food crop to an export crop, its demand and value in the international market tend to increase. This increased demand can result in higher prices for cassava products such as cassava flour, starch, or other processed derivatives.