Utility and Indifference Analysis

MCQ test
Answer all Questions
Time: 30 minutes

1. What does the marginal utility diagram show?

A Total utility becomes negative if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.

B Total utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from X to Y.
C Total utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.
D Total utility is maximized at X.

2. Which assumption in relation to an indifference theory diagram is not correct?

A The consumer’s income may change.

B The consumer may change their satisfaction-maximizing objective.
C The consumers may change their tastes and preferences.
D The relative prices of products may change.

3. The diagram shows an individual’s indifference curve, I1, for apples and pears.

What can be concluded from the movement from point X to point Y on this curve?
A The individual can afford more apples than pears.
B The individual has not changed their total utility.
C The individual prefers apples to pears.
D The individual has gained more utility by moving from point X to point Y.
4. The price of good S is $6 and the price of good T is $8. A consumer’s marginal
utility for each good is shown.

Units marginal utility marginal utility

of good S of good T
1 36 32
2 24 22
3 18 20
4 9 18
5 0 9

If this consumer wants to maximize total utility, which combination of goods would
they consume?

Good S Good T
A 1 1
B 2 1
C 3 4
D 4 5

5. The diagram shows the effect of a price change on an individual consumer’s

equilibrium, moving from E1 to E2.

What can be deduced from the diagram about the price change, the substitution
effect and the income effect?

Price Change Substitution Income Effect

Effect
A price of X falls Positive Positive
B price of X falls Positive Negative
C price of Y rises Negative Positive
D price of Y rises Negative Negative
6. The diagram shows an individual’s budget lines and indifference curves. The initial
budget line is JL. There is then an increase in the price of good Y.

Which distance represents the substitution effect of the increase in price of good Y?
A LK B SR C TS D TR

7. Which statement about a budget line in consumer behaviour theory is correct?

A It illustrates consumer preference between two goods.

B It illustrates combinations of two goods that consumers are able to purchase with
a given income.
C It illustrates the least cost combination of goods that yield the same level of utility.
D It illustrates the income effect of a price change.

8. When the price of a good increases, which statement is correct according to the
analysis that uses budget lines and indifference curves?

A The income and substitution effects of the price increase will work in opposite
directions in the case of a Giffen good.
B The income effect of the price increase will result in reduced consumption for all
goods.
C The new equilibrium position will be where the new budget line meets the original
indifference curve.
D The price rise will be represented by a parallel shift inwards of the original budget
line.
9. What is a correct statement of the equi-marginal utility rule?

A The marginal utility of X must equal the marginal utility of Y.

B The marginal utility of X divided by the price of X must equal the marginal utility of
Y divided by the price of Y.
C The marginal utility of X divided by the price of Y must equal the marginal utility of
Y divided by the price of Y.
D The price of X must equal the price of Y.

10. How can the concept of marginal utility explain the shape of the downward
sloping demand curve?

A Consumer tastes and preferences only change when their spending power
increases.
B Extra utility gained from consuming successive units of a good will fall
continuously.
C Satisfaction of consuming one more unit of a good is greater than the loss of
money spent.
D Total utility gained from buying more and more units of a good will continue to
increase indefinitely.