Economics
Exam Technique Advice
AS Micro Multiple Choice: Statements about Market Failure
- Level:
- AS
- Board:
- AQA, Edexcel, IB
Last updated 22 Mar 2021
Here is an example of a multiple choice question covering four statements about market failure
Which one of the following statements about market failure is correct?
- A Small firms are less efficient than large firms due to diseconomies of scale.
- B The existence of free riders will result in the over-production of public goods.
- C The social benefits of some private goods exceed the private benefits.
- D Markets do not supply merit goods.
Market failure
Market failure occurs when a market economy fails to achieve an economically efficient and equitable allocation of scarce resources
There are many different types of market failure, each of which is a core topic at AS micro level
- Externalities in production and consumption
- Merit and de-merit goods
- Public goods
- Monopoly power in markets
- Information failures
- Factor immobility
- Inequalities of income and wealth
The exam question provides four statements
- A Small firms are less efficient than large firms due to diseconomies of scale.
- B The existence of free riders will result in the over-production of public goods.
- C The social benefits of some private goods exceed the private benefits.
- D Markets do not supply merit goods.
The right answer is C
- A Small firms are less efficient than large firms due to diseconomies of scale - incorrect - small firms are likely to be less efficient because of economies of scale
- B The existence of free riders will result in the over-production of public goods - incorrect - the free rider problem is likely to cause an under-production or non-production of public goods because free riders can consume and benefit without paying
- C The social benefits of some private goods exceed the private benefits - correct! - this statement refers to positive externalities from consumption, for example merit goods such as health care, education and the cultural arts
- D Markets do not supply merit goods - incorrect - markets do provide merit goods (think about private health care!) but they tend to be under-consumed in a market economy
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