Understanding Economics 151 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
Multiple Choice Questions
Understanding Economics 152 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
J/05/1/15
5 Prior to an election, the government proposes to build a new urban motorway.
In a cost-benefit analysis, what would not be included among the prospective benefits?
A the lower operating costs of public transport
B the lower running costs incurred by private motorists C the value of time saved by commuters
D the improved chance of the re-election of the government N/05/1/15
6 When is cost-benefit analysis most likely to be used?
A by a firm when deciding whether to relocate
B by a firm when deciding to purchase new machinery
C by a government when choosing between two road schemes D by a local authority when deciding its tax rate
J/06/1/15
7 Correct use of cost-benefit analysis should produce an outcome where A social costs are minimised and social benefits are maximised.
B social benefits are in excess of social costs.
C marginal private benefits equal marginal social benefits.
D marginal social benefits equal marginal social costs.
N/06/1/15
8 What is an advantage of using cost-benefit analysis in decision-making rather than using only private costs and private benefits?
A It does not require detailed calculations.
B It is easier to calculate social costs than private costs.
C It speeds up the decision-making process.
D It takes into account a wider range of effects.
J/07/1/16
9 The costs and benefits of building a bridge have been calculated as follows.
$ million
building costs 100
disturbance to people nearby 10 time saved by using the bridge 90 less congestion on other routes 30 Which of the following is true?
A The external cost exceeds the private costs.
B The private benefit exceeds the private costs.
C The social benefit exceeds the social costs.
D The external cost exceeds the external benefits.
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Understanding Economics 153 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
N/07/1/14
10 A government decided to approve a private airport-building scheme because it was socially beneficial. In making its decision it calculated private costs at $700 m, private benefits at $800m and external costs at $200 m.
What does this suggest must have been true about the external benefits of the scheme?
A External benefits equalled private benefits.
B External benefits exceeded $100m.
C External benefits exceeded external costs.
D There were no external benefits.
N/07/1/15
11 In cost-benefit analysis the term net social benefit refers to A private benefit plus social benefit.
B social benefit minus private benefit.
C social benefit minus private cost.
D social benefit minus social cost.
J/08/1/16
12 The government has to choose the best one of four possible sites to locate a port.
The benefits and costs of each site are shown in $m in the table.
Which site would be chosen?
private benefits
external benefits
private costs
external costs
A 900 600 10 50
B 700 1100 20 5
C 800 1100 80 40
D 1000 900 100 200
J/09/1/16
13 When would cost-benefit analysis definitely indicate that a government project should be approved?
A if it eliminated all external costs
B if it gave a higher rate of return than a private sector project
C if it maximised net social benefit D if it minimised total social cost N/09/1/13
14 The government is considering building flood defences along a river. It has calculated the costs and benefits as follows.
costs $m benefits $m
private 450 260
external 60 190
According to cost-benefit analysis, which decision and reasoning about flood defences is correct?
decision reasoning
A Build. External benefits are greater than external costs.
B Build. Social benefits are greater than private benefits.
C Do not build. Private costs are greater than the external benefits.
D Do not build. Social costs are greater than the social benefits.
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Understanding Economics 154 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
J/10/1/15
15 What makes it particularly difficult to take decisions using cost-benefit analysis?
A External costs are difficult to estimate accurately.
B Government have no method of valuing time savings.
C Market forces have no influence on the outcome.
D Private costs can vary from one day to the next.
N/10/1/15
16 How would net external benefit be calculated?
A external benefit minus external cost B external benefit plus private benefit C private benefit plus social benefit D social benefit minus private cost N/10/1/16
17 The table shows the expected costs and benefits from four government projects. The government can afford only one project.
Which project should the government choose?
private benefits
$m
external benefits
$m
private costs
$m
external costs
$m A
B C D
40 60 100 150
200 160 210 90
60 100 100 120
70 20 120 140 J/11/1/13
18 The table shows some of the costs and benefits at a given level of production of a good.
costs $m benefits $m
private social
80 200
private external
90 100 What is correct at this level of production?
A External benefits exceed external costs.
B Private benefits exceed external costs.
C Private costs exceed social benefits.
D Social costs exceed social benefits.
J/11/1/15
19 What is an advantage, rather than a disadvantage, of cost-benefit analysis in deciding on a government investment project?
A Economic agents place different values on external costs and external benefits.
B Estimates of external costs and external benefits are included.
C Forecasts of future costs and benefits vary over time.
D Miscalculations of the costs are financed by the taxpayer.
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Understanding Economics 155 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
N/11/1/15
20 A cost-benefit analysis of a proposed underground railway produced the following statistics.
annual costs and benefits $ million annual capital cost
operating and maintenance costs fare revenue
savings to private travellers savings to business
other economic benefits
10 3 6 5 10 7 What can be concluded from the statistics?
A If undertaken by the private sector there would be a loss of $13m.
B If undertaken by the private sector there would be a profit of $3m.
C If undertaken by the public sector there would be a net social benefit of $15m.
D If undertaken by the public sector there would be a net social cost of $1m.
J/12/1/15
21 In deciding whether to invest in a new project, what would be taken into account in government cost-benefit analysis but not by a private company?
A consultancy fees B consumer surplus
C interest charges D tax payments
N/12/1/16
22 The table shows some of the costs and benefits, in $ millions, associated with a road building project. Both a government department and a profit-maximising private firm are considering building the road.
PRIVATE COSTS
EXTERNAL COSTS
EXTERNAL BENEFITS
SOCIAL BENEFITS
450 75 50 550
Who would be willing to build the road?
A Both would be willing to build it.
B Neither would be willing to build it.
C Only the government department would be willing to build it.
D Only the private firm would be willing to build it.
J/13/1/15
23 A government decided to approve a private airport-building scheme because it was socially beneficial. In making its decision it calculated private costs at $700 m, private benefits at $800 m and external costs at $200 m.
What must have been true about the external benefits of the scheme?
A External benefits equalled private benefits.
B External benefits exceeded external costs.
C External benefits exceeded $100 m.
D There were no external benefits.
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Understanding Economics 156 10-Cost Benefit Analysis
N/13/1/14
24 The table shows the expected costs and benefits from four government projects. The government can afford only one project.
Which project should the government choose?
private benefits ($m)
external benefits ($m)
private costs ($m)
external costs ($m) A
B C D
40 60 100 150
200 160 210 90
60 100 100 120
70 20 120 140 J/14/1/17
25 The table shows the results of a cost-benefit analysis into the building of a new runway at an airport.
Costs US$m Benefits US$m
private 100 125
external 25 20
Which statement about the new runway is correct?
A The net external benefit is US$5 million.
B The net private benefit is US$25 million.
C The net social benefit is US$105 million.
D The net social benefit is US$145 million.
J/15/1/01
26 In 2013, there was much criticism of a government project to build a new high-speed rail link between two cities.
What is the most likely reason for abandoning such a project?
A The construction cost is greater than the running cost.
B The external cost is greater than the external benefit.
C The future costs are difficult to calculate.
D The opportunity cost is too high.
J/15/1/15
27 The table gives the estimated costs and benefits of a proposed new leisure complex.
$000s private benefits
external benefits private costs external costs
120 80 140 20
What is the estimated value of the social benefits of the project?
A $40 000 B $60 000 C $80 000 D $200 000
J/15/1/16
28 The production of what is most likely to require a government cost-benefit analysis?
A houses B medicines C roads D schools
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Understanding Economics 157 11-Comparison between Perfect Competition and Monopoly