Economics for Public Administrators Exam Questions and Answers

190 Questions and Answers

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These Economics for Public Administrators Exam Questions and Answers are specifically tailored to match university-level coursework and real-world administrative scenarios. By practicing with these questions, you’ll gain the confidence to apply economic reasoning to public sector challenges, improve policy recommendations, and interpret data-driven outcomes.

Whether you’re advancing in a government career, pursuing public policy, or studying public finance, this exam is an essential study companion. Equip yourself with the knowledge and analytical framework to make informed and effective economic decisions in any public administration context.

Sample Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a typical private good?

a) Public park
b) Toll-collected highway system
c) Public administration
d) Urban clean water

Answer: b) Toll-collected highway system

The law of demand states that, all else being equal, as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded:

a) Increases
b) Decreases
c) Remains constant
d) Fluctuates unpredictably

Answer: b) Decreases

Which of the following is an example of a public good?

a) A sandwich
b) National defense
c) A private swimming pool
d) A concert ticket

Answer: b) National defense

The concept of ‘market failure’ refers to:

a) A situation where the market operates efficiently
b) A situation where the market fails to allocate resources efficiently
c) A situation where the government intervenes in the market
d) A situation where all goods are public goods

Answer: b) A situation where the market fails to allocate resources efficiently

Which of the following is a characteristic of a public good?

a) Excludability
b) Rivalry
c) Non-excludability
d) Private ownership

Answer: c) Non-excludability

The term ‘opportunity cost’ refers to:

a) The cost of producing one more unit of a good
b) The cost of the next best alternative foregone
c) The total cost of production
d) The cost of labor

Answer: b) The cost of the next best alternative foregone

Which of the following is an example of a merit good?

a) Cigarettes
b) Alcohol
c) Education
d) Gambling

Answer: c) Education

The ‘invisible hand’ concept, introduced by Adam Smith, suggests that:

a) Government intervention is necessary for market efficiency
b) Markets are inherently inefficient
c) Individuals pursuing their own self-interest can lead to positive social outcomes
d) All economic decisions should be made by the government

Answer: c) Individuals pursuing their own self-interest can lead to positive social outcomes

Which of the following is a tool of fiscal policy?

a) Setting interest rates
b) Taxation
c) Printing money
d) Regulating trade

Answer: b) Taxation

The concept of ‘public choice theory’ examines:

a) How public goods are provided
b) The behavior of public officials and voters using economic principles
c) The allocation of resources in a market economy
d) The role of government in economic development

Answer: b) The behavior of public officials and voters using economic principles

Which of the following is an example of a demerit good?

a) Public parks
b) Vaccinations
c) Cigarettes
d) Public libraries

Answer: c) Cigarettes

The ‘free rider problem’ occurs when:

a) Individuals consume a good without paying for it
b) The government provides goods for free
c) Consumers pay more than the market price
d) Producers cannot sell goods at a profit

Answer: a) Individuals consume a good without paying for it

Which of the following is a characteristic of a monopoly?

a) Many sellers
b) Homogeneous products
c) Barriers to entry
d) Perfect information

Answer: c) Barriers to entry

The ‘Laffer Curve’ illustrates the relationship between:

a) Government spending and economic growth
b) Tax rates and tax revenue
c) Inflation and unemployment
d) Supply and demand

Answer: b) Tax rates and tax revenue

Which of the following is an example of a quasi-public good?

a) National defense
b) Street lighting
c) A private swimming pool
d) A concert ticket

Answer: b) Street lighting

The ‘crowding out’ effect refers to:

a) Increased government spending leading to reduced private sector investment
b) Private sector investment leading to increased government spending
c) Government regulation leading to market inefficiencies
d) Private sector innovation leading to reduced government intervention

Answer: a) Increased government spending leading to reduced private sector investment

Which of the following is a primary function of public administration?

a) Profit maximization
b) Resource allocation
c) Taxation
d) Regulation of private businesses

Answer: b) Resource allocation

The ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ refers to:

a) Overuse of a common resource leading to its depletion
b) Government failure to provide public goods
c) Underproduction of public goods
d) Inefficient allocation of resources in a market economy

Answer: a) Overuse of a common resource leading to its depletion

Which of the following is an example of a positive externality?

a) Pollution from a factory
b) Noise from a construction site
c) Education leading to a more informed society
d) Traffic congestion

Answer: c) Education leading to a more informed society

The ‘public goods problem’ arises because:

a) Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous
b) Public goods are excludable and rivalrous
c) Private goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous
d) Private goods are excludable and rivalrous

Answer: a) Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous

Which of the following is a tool of monetary policy?

a) Taxation
b) Government spending
c) Setting interest rates
d) Price controls

Answer: c) Setting interest rates

The ‘Coase Theorem’ suggests that:

a) Government intervention is necessary to correct market failures
b) Private parties can negotiate solutions to externalities without government intervention
c) Externalities always lead to market inefficiencies
d) Public goods should be provided by the government

Answer: b) Private parties can negotiate solutions to externalities without government intervention

Which of the following is an example of a public-private partnership?

a) A government-owned hospital
b) A privately owned school
c) A toll road operated by a private company under government contract
d) A public library

Answer: c) A toll road operated by a private company under government contract

 

The Gini coefficient measures:

a) The total income of a country
b) The distribution of income within a country
c) The unemployment rate
d) The inflation rate

Answer: b) The distribution of income within a country

In the context of public administration, which of the following is considered a “budget deficit”?

a) Government expenditure is less than revenue
b) Government revenue is equal to expenditure
c) Government expenditure exceeds revenue
d) The government runs a balanced budget

Answer: c) Government expenditure exceeds revenue

The concept of ‘price elasticity of demand’ refers to:

a) The amount of goods produced by a firm
b) The responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price
c) The total revenue generated from sales
d) The total cost of producing a good

Answer: b) The responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price

Which of the following is an example of a government regulation designed to correct a market failure?

a) Minimum wage laws
b) Tax cuts for corporations
c) Deregulation of energy markets
d) Reduction in income taxes

Answer: a) Minimum wage laws

Which of the following best describes the ‘fiscal multiplier effect’?

a) The impact of government tax increases on consumer spending
b) The impact of government spending on total economic output
c) The effect of a central bank’s interest rate changes on inflation
d) The effect of government regulations on business investment

Answer: b) The impact of government spending on total economic output

The ‘public administration’ model of government primarily focuses on:

a) Maximizing profit in public enterprises
b) Making decisions based on political ideology
c) Efficiently delivering public services and managing public resources
d) Reducing government involvement in the economy

Answer: c) Efficiently delivering public services and managing public resources

 

A government budget surplus occurs when:

a) Government revenue exceeds government spending
b) Government spending exceeds government revenue
c) The government borrows money
d) The government prints more money

Answer: a) Government revenue exceeds government spending

The principle of ‘cost-benefit analysis’ is used in public administration to:

a) Calculate the taxes needed to fund government programs
b) Evaluate the effectiveness of public policies and programs
c) Determine how much money should be allocated for defense
d) Set interest rates for government loans

Answer: b) Evaluate the effectiveness of public policies and programs

The term ‘externality’ refers to:

a) A transaction between two private parties
b) The unintended side effects of an economic activity on third parties
c) The government’s budget deficit
d) A government monopoly in a market

Answer: b) The unintended side effects of an economic activity on third parties

Which of the following is an example of a ‘negative externality’?

a) The creation of a public park
b) Education leading to a more informed society
c) Air pollution from a factory
d) The development of public transportation systems

Answer: c) Air pollution from a factory

Which economic model is typically used to explain the behavior of government when dealing with public goods and market failures?

a) The supply and demand model
b) The circular flow model
c) The public choice model
d) The Keynesian model

Answer: c) The public choice model

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