ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
Welfare economics
Contributed by: O'Reilly
  • 1. Welfare economics is a branch of economics that focuses on the optimal allocation of resources and goods to maximize social welfare. It seeks to evaluate and improve the well-being of individuals and society as a whole by analyzing market outcomes and policies. Welfare economists study how various factors such as income distribution, externalities, public goods, and market failures impact overall social welfare. Their aim is to design efficient and equitable policies that enhance societal welfare and promote economic prosperity while considering trade-offs and ethical considerations.

    Who introduced the concept of Pareto efficiency in welfare economics?
A) Vilfredo Pareto
B) Milton Friedman
C) Adam Smith
D) John Maynard Keynes
  • 2. Which approach in welfare economics focuses on improving social welfare by maximizing utility?
A) Monetarism
B) Keynesian economics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Laissez-faire
  • 3. What does the term 'market failure' refer to in welfare economics?
A) When markets do not allocate resources efficiently
B) Excessive government regulation in the market
C) Economic prosperity reached through competition
D) Successful coordination of supply and demand
  • 4. What distinguishes positive externalities in welfare economics?
A) Benefits received by individuals not directly involved in a market transaction
B) Negative impacts on market efficiency
C) Direct financial gains from market exchanges
D) Costs borne by those who did not benefit from a transaction
  • 5. Which of the following is an example of a regressive tax?
A) Sales tax
B) Income tax
C) Value-added tax
D) Progressive tax
  • 6. What is the basis of utilitarianism in welfare economics?
A) Encouraging competition for market efficiency
B) Promoting individual rights and liberties
C) Maximizing overall happiness or utility in society
D) Minimizing government intervention in economic activities
  • 7. Which of the following is an example of a public good in welfare economics?
A) Fast food
B) Designer clothing
C) National defense
D) Luxury cars
  • 8. What does the term 'consumer surplus' represent in welfare economics?
A) The difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good/service and what they actually pay
B) Tax revenue generated from consumer spending
C) Total cost of production for a given product
D) Profit margin for producers
  • 9. If a market is perfectly competitive and there are no externalities, which outcome is most likely to result according to welfare economics?
A) Market failure
B) Pareto efficiency
C) Regulatory capture
D) Monopoly pricing
  • 10. What is meant by the term 'Pareto improvement' in welfare economics?
A) Government intervention to redistribute wealth
B) A strategy to increase overall market competition
C) A change that benefits at least one person without making anyone else worse off
D) Any policy change that reduces taxes
  • 11. Which of the following is not a reason for market failure according to welfare economics?
A) Perfect competition
B) Externalities
C) Information asymmetry
D) Public goods
  • 12. What is the Gini coefficient used to measure in the context of welfare economics?
A) Market demand
B) Inflation rate
C) Income inequality
D) Labor force participation
  • 13. Which economic school of thought emphasizes the importance of consumer surplus in welfare economics?
A) Austrian economics
B) Keynesian economics
C) Marxist economics
D) Neoclassical economics
Created with That Quiz — where a math practice test is always one click away.