JAMB UTME - Economics - 2022

Cooperative societies are primarily formed to promote and maintain the welfare of their members. This means that the members of a cooperative society come together to work towards achieving common goals that benefit everyone in the society. Cooperative societies are usually formed by a group of individuals who share a common interest, such as farming, housing, or credit. By working together, members can access resources that they may not have been able to on their own, such as bulk purchasing of materials, access to credit, or sharing of knowledge and skills. In a cooperative society, the focus is not on maximizing profits for individual members, but rather on achieving benefits that are shared by the entire group. By working together, members can create a sustainable and mutually beneficial organization that can help to address the needs of the community. Therefore, the main purpose of cooperative societies is to promote the welfare of members by providing a platform for collective action and collaboration.

Since the entire pie chart represents the total population of the school, and the shaded area of 60∘ represents the underaged pupils, then the remaining unshaded area of the pie chart must represent the population of matured students. To find the measure of the unshaded area, we can subtract the measure of the shaded area from the total measure of the pie chart, which is 360∘ (since a circle has 360 degrees). So the unshaded area is: 360∘ - 60∘ = 300∘ The unshaded area of 300∘ represents the population of the matured students. To find the actual population of the matured students, we need to convert the 300∘ into a proportion of the total population. The proportion of the matured students is: 300∘ / 360∘ = 5/6 This means that the population of the matured students is 5/6 of the total population of the school, which is: (5/6) x 1200 = 1000 Therefore, the population of the matured students is 1000.

To compare the standard of living among nations, the most widely used economic indicator is the real per capita income. This is a measure of the average income per person in a given country, adjusted for inflation to reflect the purchasing power of that income. It is calculated by dividing the real gross domestic product (GDP) of a country by its population, which gives a sense of the economic output per person. While per capita nominal income and real gross national income are also used as economic indicators, they do not take into account inflation or differences in the cost of living across countries, which can make them less useful for comparing living standards. Real domestic output is not as widely used as real per capita income as it does not take into account the size of the population, which is an important factor in determining the standard of living.

Holding money to take care of contingencies is a precautionary motive. This means that people keep money saved in case of unexpected events or emergencies, such as a sudden illness, job loss, or car repair. By having money set aside, they are better prepared to handle these situations and can avoid going into debt or facing financial hardship. In short, holding money for precautionary reasons is a way to protect one's financial security and peace of mind.

Fixing the prices of agricultural products can be a problem because of the unpredictable output of farmers. Agricultural output can vary due to a variety of factors including weather, pests, disease, and other unpredictable factors. This variability can make it difficult to accurately predict the supply of agricultural products and set prices accordingly. While the instability of government policies, activities of marketing boards, and the size of agricultural exports can also have an impact on the pricing of agricultural products, the unpredictable output of farmers is a primary factor that can create challenges in setting prices. Instability of government policies can create uncertainty in the market, while the activities of marketing boards can sometimes lead to distortions in supply and demand. The size of agricultural exports can also influence prices by affecting the balance of supply and demand in domestic and international markets.

The use of the bank rate, cash ratio, and open market operations are tools used in monetary policy. Monetary policy is a set of actions taken by a country's central bank to manage the supply of money and credit in the economy to achieve specific economic goals, such as controlling inflation, stabilizing prices, and promoting economic growth. The bank rate is the interest rate at which commercial banks can borrow money from the central bank. When the central bank increases the bank rate, it becomes more expensive for commercial banks to borrow money, which reduces the amount of money in circulation in the economy. Conversely, when the central bank lowers the bank rate, it becomes cheaper for commercial banks to borrow money, which increases the amount of money in circulation in the economy. The cash ratio is the percentage of deposits that commercial banks are required to hold in reserve with the central bank. When the central bank increases the cash ratio, it reduces the amount of money that commercial banks have available to lend, which reduces the amount of money in circulation in the economy. Conversely, when the central bank lowers the cash ratio, it increases the amount of money that commercial banks have available to lend, which increases the amount of money in circulation in the economy. Open market operations refer to the buying and selling of government securities by the central bank in the open market. When the central bank buys government securities, it injects money into the economy, which increases the amount of money in circulation. Conversely, when the central bank sells government securities, it withdraws money from the economy, which reduces the amount of money in circulation. So, the use of bank rate, cash ratio, and open market operations are all tools used in monetary policy to manage the amount of money in circulation in the economy, with the aim of achieving specific economic goals.

A consumer of a single commodity is in equilibrium when they have reached a point where they are satisfied with the amount of the commodity they have purchased and consumed, and do not feel the need to buy any more or any less of it. This equilibrium can be achieved in different ways, but one common way is when the marginal utility, or the additional satisfaction gained from consuming one more unit of the commodity, is equal to the price paid for that unit. In other words, the consumer is willing to pay the price because they feel they are getting enough satisfaction from the additional unit. At this point, the consumer has no incentive to buy more of the commodity, because the marginal utility would be lower than the price, and they would feel like they are overpaying for the satisfaction gained. Conversely, if the price were to decrease, the marginal utility would be higher than the price, and the consumer may feel like they are getting a good deal and may want to purchase more of the commodity. Ultimately, the consumer is in equilibrium when they have found a balance between the satisfaction gained from the commodity and the price paid for it.

The effect of an increase in the personal income tax is to reduce the disposable income of taxpayers. When personal income taxes are increased, taxpayers have less money to spend on goods and services, as more of their income is going towards taxes. This reduction in disposable income can lead to a decrease in consumer spending, which can have a negative impact on businesses and the economy as a whole. Increasing personal income taxes may also have a distorting effect on the economy, as it can create disincentives for individuals to work, save, and invest. However, it is not likely to raise the absolute price level, as this is determined by a variety of factors including supply and demand in the economy. Furthermore, an increase in personal income taxes is not directly linked to a reduction in unemployment, as this is influenced by a wide range of factors such as economic growth, labour market policies, and the overall state of the economy.

A downward sloping demand curve means that as the price of a good decreases, the quantity demanded of that good increases. In other words, there is an inverse relationship between the price of a good and the quantity of that good demanded by consumers. This is the fundamental law of demand in economics.

As the price of a good decreases, consumers are more willing and able to purchase it, which leads to a higher quantity demanded. Conversely, as the price of a good increases, consumers are less willing and able to purchase it, which leads to a lower quantity demanded.

Therefore, the correct answer is - price must be lowered to sell more of the good. Total revenue may increase or decrease as the price changes depending on the magnitude of the change in price and quantity demanded.

A free trade area is a form of economic integration where member nations agree to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods and services traded among themselves. However, each member nation is still free to impose duties against non-member nations. In other words, members have a free trade agreement with each other, but they can still have their own trade policies towards non-members. In contrast, a customs union is an advanced form of a free trade area where member nations not only eliminate tariffs among themselves, but they also agree to have a common external tariff towards non-member nations. This means that all goods entering the customs union must pay the same tariffs, regardless of which member nation they are entering. A common market is a further step towards integration, where not only goods, but also factors of production such as capital and labor can freely move among member nations. This allows for a more integrated and efficient market, but it also means that member nations have less control over their trade policies. An economic community is a broader form of integration, where member nations agree to coordinate and harmonize their economic policies in a wide range of areas, including trade, monetary policy, and fiscal policy. This is the most advanced form of integration, as it involves a high degree of cooperation and coordination among member nations.

The price mechanism is a system in an economy where the prices of goods and services are determined by the forces of supply and demand. This mechanism is responsible for regulating the balance between what consumers want to buy and what producers want to sell. As the demand for a particular item increases, the price of the item will rise, causing producers to increase supply to meet the demand. On the other hand, if the demand decreases, the price will fall, and producers will decrease their supply. In this way, the price mechanism helps allocate scarce resources by ensuring that the goods and services that are in high demand are produced and distributed more, while those that are not in high demand are produced and distributed less. In conclusion, the price mechanism does all of the above - regulates supply and demand, rations the consumers, rewards the producers, and allocates scarce resources - to ensure an efficient and effective allocation of resources in an economy.

In the long run, all production factors are "variable." This means that in the long run, a firm can adjust all of its production inputs, including labor, capital, and technology, to change the scale of its operations. In the short run, some inputs may be fixed, such as the size of the factory, which can only be changed in the long run. But in the long run, all inputs can be varied to optimize production and increase efficiency. The ability to adjust all inputs in the long run is what distinguishes the long run from the short run in the theory of production.

If W stands for wages/salaries, P for profits, R for interest, and Z for rent on land and real estate, then the national income is given by:

W + P + R + Z

This is because national income is the total amount of income earned by individuals and firms within a country's borders, and it includes all four components of W, P, R, and Z.

Wages and salaries are earned by employees, profits are earned by business owners, interest is earned by lenders, and rent is earned by landlords. When we add up all of these components, we get the total national income.

Therefore, "W+P+R+Z," is the correct answer.

If a demand curve that intersects a perfectly inelastic supply shifts rightward, the equilibrium price will increase, but the quantity supplied will remain the same. In this scenario, a shift in the demand curve to the right indicates that there is an increase in demand for the product at every price level, leading to a new equilibrium price and quantity. However, the supply is perfectly inelastic, meaning that the quantity supplied cannot increase to meet the new demand. Therefore, the equilibrium quantity remains the same, while the equilibrium price increases. So, only the price will increase in this scenario.

The demand for labor is an example of "derived demand." Derived demand refers to the demand for a factor of production or a good that arises as a result of the demand for another good or service. In the case of labor, it is not demanded for its own sake but rather because it is needed to produce goods and services that consumers demand. The demand for labor is therefore derived from the demand for the goods and services that labor helps to produce.

The stock exchange is an example of a capital market. A capital market is a market where individuals and institutions trade financial securities, such as stocks and bonds, with the goal of raising capital. In other words, the capital market is where businesses can go to raise money by selling ownership in the company (stocks) or borrowing money (bonds) from investors. The stock exchange is a specific type of capital market where publicly-traded companies can sell ownership in the form of stocks to the public. Investors can buy and sell these stocks on the exchange, and the value of the stocks can rise or fall based on various factors, such as the company's financial performance, overall market conditions, and investor sentiment. Overall, the stock exchange and other capital markets play an important role in facilitating the flow of capital and resources throughout the economy, helping businesses raise funds to invest in growth and development, and providing investors with opportunities to earn a return on their investment.

When the central bank increases the bank rate, it becomes more expensive for banks to borrow money from the central bank. This, in turn, leads banks to charge higher interest rates on loans they give to their customers. As a result, borrowing becomes more expensive for customers, so they might choose to borrow less money or pay off existing loans. This discourages borrowing and slows down the overall spending in the economy. On the other hand, since banks have to pay a higher interest rate to the central bank, they might be able to increase the interest they charge on loans, which would increase their profits. The increase in the bank rate does not directly impact the money supply in the economy. The central bank can use other tools, such as open market operations, to influence the money supply.

Economic goods are termed scarce when they are "not available in sufficient quantities to satisfy all wants for them." Scarce resources are those that have a limited supply relative to the demand for them. This scarcity means that choices must be made about how the resources are allocated, and that not all wants or needs can be fully satisfied. The concept of scarcity is fundamental to the study of economics, as it is the basis for understanding the concepts of opportunity cost, trade-offs, and efficiency.

Economic goods are termed scarce goods when they are not available in sufficient quantity to satisfy all wants for them. In other words, when there is a limited supply of a good or resource, but a potentially unlimited demand for it, that good is considered to be scarce. This concept is fundamental to economics because it helps to explain why goods have value and why individuals and societies must make choices about how to allocate scarce resources.

Commodities X and Y are substitutes. Substitute goods are products that can be used in place of each other. When the price of commodity X rises, consumers shift to commodity Y because it is a cheaper alternative to X. An example of substitute goods is coffee and tea - if the price of coffee increases, some people may switch to drinking tea instead.

The increase in the demand for a commodity may lead to a decrease in the demand for another if both are in competitive demand. When two goods are in competitive demand, they are seen as substitutes for each other, meaning that they can be used for the same purpose. For example, coffee and tea can be seen as substitutes for each other, since both are beverages that can be used to satisfy the same desire for a hot drink. So, if the demand for coffee increases, people may buy more coffee and less tea, because they see coffee as a substitute for tea. Similarly, if the demand for tea increases, people may buy more tea and less coffee, because they see tea as a substitute for coffee. On the other hand, if two goods are in complementary demand, they are often used together. For example, if the demand for cars increases, the demand for gasoline will also increase, since cars require gasoline to run. Similarly, if the demand for smartphones increases, the demand for phone cases may also increase, since people may want to protect their phones. In composite demand, a good has multiple uses, so an increase in demand for one use may not necessarily lead to a decrease in demand for another use. And in the case of goods of the same quality, an increase in demand for one good does not necessarily affect the demand for the other good, since they are not substitutes or complements.

The factor that is not a cause of diminishing returns is "Technological innovations". Diminishing returns refers to the decrease in marginal output or production as more units of a variable input (such as labor or capital) are added to a fixed amount of other inputs (such as land or machinery). This occurs because the fixed inputs become increasingly scarce relative to the variable inputs, which can lead to inefficiencies and reduced productivity. The other three factors listed - an increase in variable inputs, land fragmentation, and constant technology - can all contribute to diminishing returns. For example, adding more workers to a fixed amount of land may lead to overcrowding and reduced productivity (land fragmentation). Similarly, if technology remains constant while more inputs are added, the additional inputs may not be fully utilized and may even become redundant. In contrast, technological innovations can actually help to overcome diminishing returns by allowing for more efficient use of inputs and increasing productivity. New technologies can improve the efficiency of production processes, reduce waste, and create new products or services, all of which can lead to increased output and economic growth.

A major characteristic of natural resources is that they are free gifts of nature. This means that they are not produced by humans, but are found naturally in the environment. Examples of natural resources include water, air, forests, minerals, and fossil fuels. However, although natural resources are free in the sense that they are not created by humans, their extraction, production, and transportation often involve costs. Additionally, some natural resources may become scarce over time due to overuse or depletion, leading to increased prices and a greater focus on sustainability and conservation efforts.

The effect of changes in the condition of demand on a demand schedule with the price constant is a shift of the demand curve. When there is a change in any factor that affects the quantity demanded at each price level, such as income, tastes and preferences, prices of related goods, or population, the entire demand curve shifts to a new position. This means that at each price level, the quantity demanded changes, leading to a new demand schedule. A movement along the demand curve occurs when there is a change in price, leading to a change in quantity demanded, while the other factors remain constant. Deflation or hyperbola formation are not terms typically used to describe changes in demand.

The term "Gross National Product (GNP) less the provision for the wear and tear of assets" refers to the Net National Product (NNP). The Net National Product (NNP) is a measure of the total economic output of a country, which takes into account the depreciation or wear and tear of the country's capital assets. Capital assets are things like buildings, machinery, and other long-term investments that contribute to a country's economic output. When we subtract the depreciation from the Gross National Product (GNP), which is the total value of goods and services produced by a country's residents, we arrive at the Net National Product (NNP). The reason we need to subtract depreciation from the GNP is that capital assets, such as buildings and machinery, wear out over time and lose value. If we didn't account for this loss of value, we would overestimate the country's economic output. For example, suppose the GNP of a country is $1 trillion, and the depreciation or wear and tear on its capital assets is $100 billion. In that case, the NNP of the country would be $900 billion ($1 trillion - $100 billion). In summary, the Net National Product (NNP) is the Gross National Product (GNP) minus the provision for the wear and tear of assets or depreciation. It gives us a more accurate measure of a country's economic output by accounting for the loss of value in capital assets over time.

The privatization and commercialization of public enterprises in Nigeria is necessitated by their operational inefficiency. Public enterprises in Nigeria, like in many other countries, have often been criticized for poor management, corruption, and inefficiency, which have resulted in heavy financial losses for the government. Privatization and commercialization are seen as a way to introduce more competition, increase efficiency, and reduce the financial burden on the government. While the IMF and the World Bank have encouraged privatization in many countries as a condition for receiving loans, in Nigeria, the privatization and commercialization policies were largely driven by domestic factors, including the need to improve the performance of public enterprises.

Producers operating in a free market economy are more efficient as a result of the existence of competition. In a free market, businesses compete with each other for customers by offering better quality products, lower prices, or both. This competition forces producers to be efficient and innovative in order to remain competitive and attract customers. As a result, businesses are motivated to increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve their products and services to meet customer needs. The competition also leads to more choices for consumers and lower prices, as businesses strive to provide the best value for money. In contrast, if there were no competition, businesses would have less incentive to improve their operations, resulting in lower efficiency and higher prices for consumers.

Budget deficit is the amount by which total expenditure exceeds revenue. A budget deficit occurs when a government or organization spends more money than it takes in through revenue, such as taxes or other sources of income. This can result in the accumulation of debt over time, which can have long-term implications for the financial health of the government or organization. While recurrent expenditure and capital expenditure are both types of expenditures that can contribute to a budget deficit, neither of these terms captures the full picture of a budget deficit. Recurrent expenditure refers to ongoing or routine expenses such as salaries, utilities, and other operating costs, while capital expenditure refers to spending on assets such as buildings, equipment, and infrastructure. A budget deficit can result from either type of expenditure, as well as from other sources of spending such as debt servicing or unexpected events that require emergency spending.

In the long-run, a firm should shut down if its average revenue is less than its average cost. This is because, in the long-run, all costs are considered variable, meaning the firm can adjust its production and input levels. If the firm continues to operate despite having average revenue less than average cost, it will continue to incur losses. To understand this concept, it's essential to know what the average revenue and average cost mean. Average revenue is the total revenue earned by a firm divided by the quantity of output produced. On the other hand, average cost is the total cost incurred by a firm divided by the quantity of output produced. The average cost can further be divided into two categories: average variable cost and average fixed cost. The average variable cost is the cost that varies with the level of output, such as labor and raw material costs. In contrast, the average fixed cost is the cost that remains constant regardless of the level of output, such as rent and salaries. So, in the long-run, a firm must shut down if its average revenue is less than its average cost because it means that the firm is not generating enough revenue to cover all its variable and fixed costs. By shutting down, the firm can avoid further losses and redirect its resources elsewhere. On the other hand, if the firm's average revenue is greater than its average cost, it can continue to operate and earn profits.

The firm is said to be experiencing diseconomies of scale if the cost of production continues to increase as its output rises. Diseconomies of scale occur when the firm becomes too large, and the increased complexity and coordination costs of managing a large organization outweigh the benefits of increased production. This can result in a decrease in efficiency, productivity, and profitability for the firm.

Statutory organizations usually established by Acts of parliament are called public corporations. A public corporation is a type of legal entity that is established by the government through legislation to perform a specific function or provide a particular service to the public. Public corporations can be formed at the national, state, or local level, and can take a variety of forms depending on their specific mandate. While public enterprises are also entities that are owned and controlled by the government, they may not necessarily be established by Acts of parliament. Cooperative societies are typically voluntary organizations formed by individuals or businesses to pool resources and share risks, while joint-stock companies are privately owned businesses that are established to generate profit for their shareholders.

Demand-pull inflation occurs when the overall demand for goods and services in an economy exceeds the supply of those goods and services, leading to an increase in the general price level. This increase in demand may be caused by a number of factors, such as an increase in consumer confidence, an increase in government spending, or an increase in exports. Out of the given options, an increasingly large budget deficit is the most likely cause of demand-pull inflation. When the government spends more money than it collects in taxes, it may finance the deficit by borrowing from the central bank, other banks or the public. This increases the overall amount of money in circulation in the economy, which in turn leads to an increase in demand for goods and services. This increased demand can then lead to higher prices for those goods and services, resulting in demand-pull inflation. An increase in the cost of factor inputs, such as labor or raw materials, may also contribute to inflation, but this is known as cost-push inflation, which occurs when the cost of producing goods and services increases, leading to higher prices. An increase in the income tax rate and an increase in the bank lending rate can reduce the overall demand for goods and services and lead to a decrease in inflation.

The demand for labour is an example of derived demand. Derived demand refers to the demand for a good or service that arises from the demand for another good or service. In the case of labour, the demand for it is derived from the demand for the goods and services that labour produces. For example, a factory may demand more labour to increase production of a particular product to meet customer demand. The demand for labour is not a direct demand, but rather a demand that is derived from the demand for the final product.