Ben Goes to the Motor Vehicle Department to Renew His

question 69

Multiple Choice

Ben goes to the motor vehicle department to renew his drivers' license and has to wait in line to take a number, then when his number is called, he finds out which other line to stand in to get his picture taken. All this seems to be excessively formal and a needlessly complex example of the ______.

• A) abuse of power
• B) efficiency of bureaucracy
• C) irrationality of rationality
• D) engineering of annoyance

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Definitions:

Earplugs

A device inserted in the ear canal to protect the ears from loud noises, water, or foreign bodies.

Utility Function

A mathematical representation of a consumer's preference orderings over a set of goods and services.

Equivalent Variation

An economic measure of the change in income needed to maintain utility after a price change, keeping utility constant before and after the change.

Consumption

The use of goods and services by households, encompassing spending on necessities and discretionary items.