Homework #1
1. Identify whether the following statements are normative (N) or positive (P).
a. If gas prices continue to rise, the economic performance will definitely worsen and another recession will follow.
b. If gas prices continue to rise, the Federal Reserve Board should increase the money supply in order to prevent interest rates from rising.
c. The proposed tax cuts should stimulate the economy resulting in higher levels of employment.
d. The primary goal of the President with regard to the aggregate economy should be the pursuit of high levels of employment and low levels of inflation.
2. Point A with coordinates (Y=1, X=3) and point B with coordinates (Y=7, X=9) belong to a straight line. Let Y be on the vertical axis and X on the horizontal axis.
a. Draw a straight line passing through both points.
b. Give the equation of that line.
c. Find the slope of the line
d. Indicate the X and Y axis intercepts.
3. Graph the following sets of equations. Each set of equations should be on its own graph and each graph should have the x and y axis labeled, the solution for the two equations identified (i.e., what value of x and y will satisfy both equations) as X and Y.
a. Y = X - 2, Y = - X + 6
b. Y = - 2X + 10, Y = 2X
c. X = 3Y + 10, X = -2Y + 60
d. X = 2Y + 2, X = -3Y + 4
4. A factory of 5000 workers produces footballs and basketballs. Each worker could produce either 20 footballs or 10 basketballs per day.
a. Draw the PPF for this factory and label it PPF1.
b. Find the equation of the PPF.
c. Find the opportunity cost of 1 basketball.
d. Find the opportunity cost of 1 football.
e. Is there a relationship between the opportunity cost and the slope of the PPF?
f. Contrast and compare the relationship of the slope and opportunity cost of a linear PPF and a bowed-out from the origin PPF?
g. Suppose the workers invent some new method to produce footballs. With the implementation of the new method, each worker can produce 30 footballs per day instead of 20. Draw the PPF and label it PPF2. Find its equation. What does this example suggest about the relationship between the PPF and technological improvements?
Use the following table to answer question 5.
|
|
DVDs
|
TVs
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|
USA
|
6000
|
3000
|
|
Japan
|
300
|
900
|
5. The USA and Japan both produce DVDs and TVs. These goods are produced only using labor. The table above shows how many units are produced in each country for a week. We are assuming that the PPF for both countries are linear.
a. Draw the production possibilities frontiers (PPFs) for USA and Japan with DVDs on the horizontal axis and TVs on the vertical axis.
b. Indicate the opportunity cost of 1 DVD, both for the USA and Japan.
c. Indicate the opportunity cost of 1 TV, both for the USA and Japan.
d. Which country has the absolute advantage in producing DVDs? And which country has the absolute advantage in producing TVs?
e. Which country has the comparative advantage in producing DVDs? And which country has the comparative advantage in producing TVs?