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Jacket
Economics, 7/e
David Begg, Birkbeck College, University of London
Rudiger Dornbusch
Stanley Fischer

Natural monopoly: public or private?

Self-test Questions

Select the radio button corresponding to your choice of answer for each question, and then click on "Submit Answers" to find out how many you answered correctly.

1

The problem posed by a natural monopoly is that it faces a ___________ . This means that ____________
A)increasing average cost curve, marginal cost lies above average cost
B)increasing average cost curve, marginal cost lies below average cost
C)decreasing average cost curve, marginal cost lies above average cost
D)decreasing average cost curve, marginal cost lies below average cost
2

State-run firms should price at _____________ and invest until price just covers ___________
A)marginal social benefit, marginal cost
B)average social cost, long run marginal social cost
C)marginal social cost, long run marginal social cost
D)below marginal cost, long run marginal cost
3

Investment decisions in state owned firms should use ______________of costs and benefits and the ____________discount rate
A)private valuation, private
B)social valuation, social
C)private valuation, social
D)social valuation, private
4

In the long run, public companies should set price equal to
A)the long run marginal cost
B)the opportunity cost
C)the total cost
D)the average cost
5

The practice of some phone companies to price calls by time of day is an example of
A)average cost pricing
B)cost plus pricing
C)price skimming
D)peak load pricing
6

The expected benefits of privatisation are
A)avoidance of government intervention
B)greater commercial self-reliance
C)productivity improvements resulting from competitive pressures
D)all of the above
7

The acquisition of private companies by the public sector is known as
A)Regulation
B)Nationalisation
C)Privatisation
D)De-regulation
8

Privatisation is the ________ of ____________ the private sector
A)purchase, shares by
B)sale, public-sector firms to
C)sale, shares by
D)purchase, public-sector goods by
9

The main task of the Regulator of a private sector utility is to
A)implement government policy
B)speak on behalf of the company
C)ensure it behaves in the public interest
D)undertake important work for the company
10

When a regulator becomes champion of the industry that it is supposed to regulate it is known as regulatory capitulation
A)TRUE
B)FALSE
11

The privatisation of public assets at a price reflecting their true value, increases government wealth
A)TRUE
B)FALSE
12

Privatisation in the UK shows that privatised utilities can be left to trade like any other company.
A)TRUE
B)FALSE