Suppose That Opportunity Costs Are Constant and That Fred Can

question 252

Multiple Choice

Suppose that opportunity costs are constant and that Fred can either bake a maximum of six pies or three cakes in a day. Ethel can either produce a maximum of eight pies or two cakes in a day. Fred's opportunity cost to produce one cake is

• A) one-half pie.
• B) two pies.
• C) six pies.
• D) four pies.

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Definitions:

Diseconomies of Scale

The phenomenon where, as a firm expands, its costs start increasing per unit of output, usually due to inefficiencies and management challenges that arise with size.

Diminishing Returns

A principle stating that as investment in a particular area increases, the rate of profit from that investment, after a certain point, cannot continue to increase and may decrease.

Natural Monopoly

A market structure where a single provider is more efficient in supplying the entire market with a product or service, due to high fixed or startup costs.