Economics · Commerce Accountancy

Microeconomics and Pricing

1,364 Questions

Microeconomics and pricing analyze market structures, consumer utility, marginal cost, and strategic pricing models like predatory pricing. These foundational economic concepts are regularly featured in civil services and state administrative examinations. Solve these practice questions to understand market equilibrium, demand elasticity, and competitive firm behavior.

Market equilibrium pricingIncome elasticity of demandMarginal cost conceptsUtility functions analysisPredatory pricing strategiesOligopoly market structures

Microeconomics and Pricing Questions

Multiple choice
  1. always matched

  2. generally unmatched

  3. always by 10%

  4. none of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In oligopoly markets (especially under the kinked demand curve model), when one firm raises prices, competitors typically do not follow to gain market share. This makes price increases generally unmatched, unlike price cuts which are quickly matched.

Multiple choice
  1. monopolistic competition

  2. monopoly

  3. non-collusive Oligopoly

  4. perfect competition

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Price leadership occurs when one dominant firm sets prices and other firms in the industry follow suit without any formal agreement. This makes it a form of non-collusive oligopoly - there's implicit coordination but no explicit collusion.

Multiple choice
  1. Monopoly

  2. Imperfect competition

  3. Oligopoly

  4. Perfect competition

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Since in monopoly market, there is no close substitute of product available, the monopolist may use his monopolistic power in any manner in order to realize maximum revenue. He may also adopt price discrimination. Hence, monopolist's degree of control over price is very large.

Multiple choice
  1. straight line

  2. concave

  3. backward bending

  4. convex

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

When marginal opportunity cost is falling, the production possibility frontier becomes convex to the origin (bowed inward). This indicates increasing returns - each additional unit produced requires giving up less of the other good.

Multiple choice
  1. perpendicular

  2. tangent

  3. parallel

  4. diagonally opposite

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Consumer equilibrium occurs where the budget line (also called price line) is tangent to the highest attainable indifference curve. At this tangency point, the slope of the indifference curve (marginal rate of substitution) equals the slope of the budget line (price ratio), meaning the consumer maximizes satisfaction given the budget constraint.

Multiple choice
  1. penetrative price

  2. premium price

  3. niche price

  4. average price

  5. maximum retail price

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Penetration pricing is the practice of offering a low price for a new product or service during its initial offering in order to attract customers away from competitors. So, quantity of a product being made available at a lower price is an example of penetrative price.

Multiple choice
  1. Rationality of the consumer

  2. Constant marginal utility of money

  3. Perfectly competitive market

  4. Additivity of utility

  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Perfect competition is not necessary for cardinal utility theory. Cardinal utility depends more on consumer preferences, satisfaction, etc.

Multiple choice
  1. a lower level of satisfaction

  2. a lower level of production

  3. a lower level of income

  4. a lower level of savings

  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct because low production means low indifference curve.

Multiple choice
  1. People will still buy the company's products.

  2. People may or may not buy the company's products.

  3. The general commodity prices will increase.

  4. The company will withdraw the increase in price after few months.

  5. All of these can be the effects.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The statement talks about one company that has increased its prices. Why will the prices of other commodities increase unless the product is monopolistic or of national importance?

Multiple choice
  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Both (b) and (c)

  4. All of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All these factors tend to make a monopolistic company lose efficiency and innovation. But this is a very harmful in the sense that some new entrants may overcome entry barriers and pose competition.

Multiple choice
  1. 2, 5, 7, 8

  2. 1, 3, 4, 6

  3. 1, 2, 5, 6

  4. 3, 4, 5, 7

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Monopolistic markets are characterized by: (1) Price set above marginal cost, (3) Preservation of excess profits (barriers to entry), (4) Absolute product differentiation, and (6) No direct competitors (limited competition). This distinguishes monopolistic competition from perfect competition where price equals marginal cost and competitors are infinite.

Multiple choice
  1. Large number of buyers and sellers

  2. Homogeneous product

  3. Freedom of entry

  4. Absence of transport cost

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Perfect competition requires: many buyers and sellers, homogeneous products, free entry and exit, perfect information, and perfect mobility of factors. Transportation costs are not essential - models can include or exclude them. In reality, transport costs exist but are small enough not to significantly affect competition. The other three listed conditions are fundamental requirements.