Chapter 1 I 7

Ch.1 The Nature of Microeconomics

Answers

Case Study: Pri\'l/ri-::,mion of Electricity Sc, rice in the Sub -Salwr(/

a. Poor performance by Ivorian Company of Electricity management increases the risk of this
company ·s failing to get its contract rcue\\ cd. The possibility of ~uch an outcome provides
an incentive for the Ivorian Company of Electricity to enhance efficiency and productivity
and to pass the cost savings on to customers.
b. Improving productivity allows the Ivorian Company of Electricity to generate enough cost
savings so that it receives profits while paying higher wages to workers and charging lower
prices to customers . In addition, paying higher wages allows the rvorian Company of
Electricity to employ highly skilled workers who are able to contribute to greater
productivity gains .
c. The threat of losing the contract creates an incentive for the Ivorian Co·m pany of Electricity
to charge low prices even though the company does not face competition for its services.
d. Albwing potential rivals access to the Ivorian Company of Electricity's customers could
generate the competition needed to keep prices low.

Completion Questions
1. public; will not; government
2. resources; human wants
3. individual consumers, firms, and resource owners
4. vary
5. goods and services
6. free
7. capital
8. use; understanding
9. consumers; producers
10. the price of each resource
11. rate of _increase of the efficiency with which they are used

True or False
1. False 2. False 3. True 4 . True 5. False 6. False 7. False 8. False
9 . False 10. False 11. False 12. True

Multiple Choice
1. b 2. e 3. c 4. c