How is it possible that switzerland, a landlocked country with almost no natural resources, is one of the richest countries in the world while the democratic republic of the congo, a huge country with vast deposits of many strategically important minerals, is one of the poorest? the case of switzerland vs. the dr congo highlights that:
a. it is important to extract as much of the natural resources as possible.
b. once you become rich, it is easier to get even richer.
c. natural resources are more important than the other components of productivity growth.
d. natural resources do not make up for all of the advantages that the other components of productivity growth bring.

Which of the following best describes the economic effect that results when the government increases interest rates and restricts the lending of money? a. borrowing money becomes more expensive and there is less investment in production. b. the economy grows as investments result in larger profits. c. government spending drives up prices because of greater competition for goods and services. d. consumers save more money and spend less buying goods and services.

Suppose there are three types of consumers who attend concerts at your university’s performing arts center: students, staff, and faculty. each of these groups has a different willingness to pay for tickets; within each group, willingness to pay is identical. there is a fixed cost of $1,000 to put on a concert, but there are essentially no variable costs. for each concert: i. there are 140 students willing to pay $20. (ii) there are 200 staff members willing to pay $35. (iii) there are 100 faculty members willing to pay $50. a) if the performing arts center can charge only one price, what price should it charge? what are profits at this price? b) if the performing arts center can price discriminate and charge two prices, one for students and another for faculty/staff, what are its profits? c) if the performing arts center can perfectly price discriminate and charge students, staff, and faculty three separate prices, what are its profits?

Suppose farmer lane grows and sells cotton in a perfectly competitive industry. the market price of cotton is $1.64 per kilogram, and his marginal cost of production is $1.44 per kilogram, which increases with output. assume farmer lane is currently earning a profit. can farmer lane do anything to increase his profit in the short run? farmer lane: a. cannot do anything to increase his profit. b. may or may not be able to increase his profit. c. can increase his profit by raising his price. d. can increase his profit by producing more output. e. can increase his profit by shutting down.