1. Here is the production possibilities table for war goods and civilian goods:
______Production Alternative______
Types of Production A B C D E
|
Automobiles
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
Missiles
|
30
|
27
|
21
|
12
|
0
|
- Draw a product possibilities curve for automobiles and missiles using the data above.
- If the economy is at point C, what is the cost of one more automobile? One more missile? Explain how the production possibilities curve reflects the law of increasing opportunity costs.
- What must the economy do to operate at a specific point of the production possibilities curve?
2. Referring again to the production possibilities curve above:
a. Improvement occurs in the technology of producing missiles but not in the technology of producing automobiles. Draw the new production possibilities curve.
b. Now assume that a technological advance occurs in producing automobiles but not in producing missiles. Draw the new production possibilities curve.
c. Now draw a production possibilities curve that reflects technological improvements in the production of both products.
Opportunity Cost Review:
- Suppose you arrive at a store expecting to pay $100 for an item but learn that a store 2 miles away is charging $50 for it.
- Would you drive there and buy it?
- How does your decision benefit you?
- What is the opportunity cost of your decision?
- Now suppose you arrive at a store expecting to pay $6000 for an item but discover that it costs $5950 at the other store.
- Do you make the same decision as before?
- Perhaps surprisingly, you should? Explain why.