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Gm545

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Midterm Exam
Jan 2006
GM545
Microeconomics

Instructions:

--You are to answer one question from each section of the exam.
--Please indicate the question selected on your answer sheets
--Please return your answers by 6:00 pm Sunday, Jan 29th
--The exam is to be completed solely by the student without assistance from anyone else.
--Send your answers to my email address: lpatille@etaconsultants.com or place them in the Drop Box

Section I: Answer one of the following questions in this section.

1. Discuss the impact in the context of consumer demand of the recent fluctuations and projected future changes in the price of gasoline. Would you classify this product as elastic or inelastic? Why? Explain.

2. A recent article in the New York Times stated that the Denver housing market has gone from “frothy to flat” in just the last twelve months. As a result, consumers are having to cut back their spending in many areas. Explain why a decrease in housing prices might cause a homeowner to cut back their demand for other products and services.

3. In a recent article in the WSJ it was revealed that some consumers are willingly shelling out more money for certain vehicles above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Economic theory would suggest that this is contrary to the workings of an efficient market where supply and demand create an equilibrium price that clears the market. Explain.

Section II: Answer one of the following questions in this section.

4. Compare and contrast the monopolistically competitive model with the oligopoly model of an industry. Since both are inefficient producers, why not regulate the industries to insure lower prices to consumers? Explain.

5. With the increasing cost of jet fuel seeming to be a permanent fixture in the operating costs of the airline industry this year, several large airlines have announced ticket

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