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Solved 2025: FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2025 ECONOMICS: ECODSM-151 (Elementary Economics)

Course No: ECODSM-151 | Time: 3 Hours | Full Marks: 70

UNIT-I

Question 1 (Answer any two) 2 x 2 = 4 Marks

(a) Mention two limitations of microeconomics.

  • Static Analysis: Microeconomics often assumes "ceteris paribus" (all other things being equal), which may not hold true in a dynamic real-world economy.
  • Unrealistic Assumptions: It frequently relies on the assumption of full employment and perfect competition, which are rarely found in reality.

(b) Define positive economics with examples.

Positive economics deals with "what is"β€”it focuses on objective analysis and factual statements that can be tested or rejected by evidence.

Example: "An increase in the tax rate on cigarettes will lead to a decrease in smoking."

(c) Write two determinants of demand.

  • Price of the Commodity: Generally, as price rises, demand falls.
  • Income of the Consumer: For normal goods, an increase in income leads to an increase in demand.

Question 2 10 Marks

Option A

Subject Matter and Importance of Microeconomics.

Subject Matter (7 Marks): Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual economic units. Its core areas include:

  • Product Pricing: Theories of consumer behavior (demand) and production/costs (supply).
  • Factor Pricing: Determination of rent, wages, interest, and profit.
  • Economic Welfare: Studying the efficiency of resource allocation.

Importance (3 Marks): It helps in understanding the working of a free market economy, assists the government in framing price policies, and provides tools for efficient resource allocation.

Option B

Law of Demand and its Exceptions.

The Law (7 Marks): The Law of Demand states that, other things being equal, the quantity demanded of a commodity increases when its price falls and decreases when its price rises.

Exceptions (3 Marks):

  • Giffen Goods: Inferior goods where demand rises as price rises.
  • Veblen Goods: Luxury items consumed for status (Conspicuous Consumption).
  • Emergencies: Consumers may buy more even at high prices during shortages or war.

UNIT-II

Question 3 (Answer any two) 2 x 2 = 4 Marks

(a) Why two indifference curves can never intersect each other?

If they intersected, the point of intersection would represent a level of satisfaction equal to points on both curves. However, due to the principle of transitivity and non-satiety, higher curves must represent higher satisfaction, making intersection logically impossible.

(c) What is meant by consumer's equilibrium?

Consumer's equilibrium is a situation where a consumer spends their limited income on goods in such a way that they maximize their total satisfaction (utility), with no intention to change their expenditure pattern.

Question 4 10 Marks

Option A

Utility and Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility (LDMU).

Utility: The want-satisfying power of a commodity.

LDMU: States that as a consumer consumes more units of a commodity, the marginal utility derived from each successive unit declines.

UNIT-III

Question 6 10 Marks

Option A

Relationship between AC and MC.

  • When MC < AC, AC is falling.
  • When MC = AC, AC is at its minimum point.
  • When MC > AC, AC is rising.
  • Envelope Curve: The LRAC is called an envelope curve because it supports or "envelopes" a series of SRAC curves, representing the lowest cost of producing any output level in the long run.

    UNIT-IV

    Question 8 10 Marks

    Option B

    Circular Flow of Income.

    In a three-sector economy (Households, Firms, and Government), the flow includes:

    • Households to Government: Taxes.
    • Government to Households: Transfer payments and wages.
    • Firms to Government: Corporate taxes.
    • Government to Firms: Subsidies and payment for goods/services.

    UNIT-V

    Question 10 10 Marks

    Option A

    National Income and Measurement Methods.

    National Income is the total value of all final goods and services produced by a country's residents in a given year.
    Methods:
  • Value Added Method: Sum of net value added by all productive enterprises.
  • Income Method: Sum of wages, rent, interest, and profit.
  • Expenditure Method: Sum of consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports (C+I+G+X-M).
  • Exam Tips

  • For Unit-III, always draw cost curves with MC cutting AC at its lowest point.
  • In National Income questions, clearly distinguish between GDP and GNP.
  • Common Mistakes

  • Confusing "stock" (measured at a point in time) with "flow" (measured over a period).
  • Forgetting to mention "ceteris paribus" when explaining the Law of Demand.
  • Important Formulas

  • GDP Deflator = (Nominal GDP / Real GDP) x 100
  • Real National Income = (Nominal National Income / Price Index) x 100
  • Answer Presentation Strategy: Use diagrams for all "Explain graphically" questions. [span_26](start_span)For 10-mark questions, use the structure: Introduction β†’ Definition β†’ Main Body with Diagram β†’ Conclusion.[span_26](end_span)


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