Principles of Economics: ECON11026

Order Description

The subject is Econ11026. This is assessment item 2- short answer questions. Using The Principals of Economics, fourth edition.
Principles of Economics: ECON11026
Term 2-2015
Assessment Item 2 – Short Answer Questions

ASSESSMENT
Part A: Weighting: 30 % (2 marks for in-text referencing, presentation, clarity of explanation and evidence of reference list and
28 marks for the answers to the four questions)
Length: Approximately 1500-2000 words (Approx. 400-500
words for each question, excluding graphs, tables and reference list)
It is a progressive assignment based on topics studied in weeks 5-8 covering chapters 6, 7, 9, & 10.
Please attempt each question on a weekly basis which 2 will prevent you from asking for extensions.

Objectives
This assessment item 2, relates to course learning outcomes 3, 4 & 5 as listed in the course profile.
Question 1: Refer to Chapter 6- Imperfect Competition

(a) Define and explain the characteristics of a monopolistically competitive firm. Assuming identical long-run cost curves, compare graphically (use 2 graphs) the prices and outputs that would result under the long-run monopolistic competition and perfect competition. Evaluate the differences between these two market structures (4 marks).
(b) From society’s point of view, why monopolistic competition is considered as an ideal market structure? Explain. (1 mark)
(c) Define, illustrate and explain the method of price discrimination used by the airlines industry with an example. (2 marks)
Total = 7 marks Question 2: Refer to Chapter 7- Market Failure and Government Policy
(a) Assume that a firm discharges waste into a river. As a result, the marginal social costs (MSC) are greater than the firm’s marginal (private) costs (MC). The table below shows how MC, MSC, AR and MR vary with output. Assume that the marginal private benefit (MB) is given by the price (AR). Also assume that there are no externalities on the consumption side, and that therefore MSB = MB. Study the table and answer the following questions.

Output 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MC 23 21 23 25 27 30 35 42
MSC 35 34 38 42 46 52 60 72
TR 60 102 138 168 195 219 238 252
AR 60 51 46 42 39 36.5 34 31.5
MR 60 42 36 30 27 24 19 14

(i) How much will the firm produce if it seeks to maximise profits? (1 mark)
(ii) What is the socially efficient level of output? (1 mark)
(iii) How much is the marginal external cost at this level of output? (1 mark)
(iv) What size of tax would be necessary for the firm to reduce its output to the socially efficient level? (1 mark)
(v) Why is tax less than the marginal externality? Explain. (1 mark)

(b) Consider the following externalities, and explain if there would be external effects associated with any of the following activities, and if so, what would be the nature of the externality in each case?

(i) A hotel that is located next to an apartment building and plays loud music late at night. (0.5 mark)
(ii) Being vaccinated for polio, influenza or swine flu. (0.5 mark)
(iii) Can you think of government policies that might deal with each of the two external effects? (1 mark)
Total = 7 marks

Question 3: Refer to Chapter 9- Introduction to Macroeconomics

(a) Using the circular flow model, explain why the value of businesses’ output (goods and services) equals the income of the households? (2 marks)

(b) As shown in table below a small economy of Day Dream Island produced the following final goods and services during the month of May 2015. Calculate the value of the output at the given market price for this economy. (2 marks)

Items Quantity Price ($)
Food (Kilos) 1, 000000 2
Houses 30 150,000
Medical services (hours) 35,000 40
Shirts 30,000 25
Speedboats 2 240,000
(c) The table below gives the national accounts data for Australia for a given year in 2010.

Amount ($)
Billion
Gross Private Domestic Investment 855
Government Consumption Expenditure 620
Government Investment Expenditure 195
Household Consumption Expenditure 3120
Taxes 600
Import 575
Exports 680
Savings 300

(i) From the above table, calculate GDP and the country’s gross national expenditure (GNE) using the expenditure approach. (3 marks)
Total = 7 marks
Question 4: Refer to Chapter 10- The Determination of GDP
(a) Refer to the above table in Q3 (c) and calculate the level of Injection (J) and Withdrawal (W) for Australia. Based on W and J, what will happen to GDP growth? (2 marks)
(b) How does a deflationary-gap differ from an inflationary-gap? Illustrate and explain. (2 marks)
(c) Illustrate and explain how the equilibrium level of GDP is determined, by applying the Keynesian income and expenditure model? (1 mark)
(d) Why do you think that the macroeconomic policy makers should worry about structural unemployment? How does it differ from frictional and cyclical unemployment? (2 marks)
Total = 7 marks
——————————————The End——————————————————-

Assessment criteria for Written Assessment Item 2
Use the DADA acronym when structuring your answers to all questions in economics. (Definitions: define the key terms; Assumptions: list or make assumptions as required; Diagrams: draw relevant graphs/tables and explain; and original Analysis: apply the theory to real life economic examples and explain).
(i) Please, you must read the chapters each week and work on the assignment questions progressively each week—which will prevent you from asking for extensions and also submit all assessment task on time to pass the course. So please follow a weekly study schedule.
(ii) Plagiarism is a real concern, therefore, please remember to reference in-text and also provide a reference list. Do not give your assignment to anyone or copy from other students.
(iii) Concepts and key terms must be defined accurately and completely.
(iv) The assumptions upon which the analysis is based must be stated at the outset.
(v) Diagrams must be drawn properly, correctly labelled and the relations they depict explained on the diagram and in the accompanying text of your answer.
(vi) Answers must be complete, addressing the specific tasks nominated in the questions.
(vii) Sources must be acknowledged in-text and a list of references provided using the Harvard Referencing Style.
(viii) Where a question has more than one part, so too should the answer. Ensure complete coverage in the analysis section of your answer.
(ix) Students should reference more than two (2) to three (3) textbooks to answer these theory based questions as a minimum.
(x) Remember an extension is not a gift, it is a burden.