Economics past questions: WAEC SSCE 2021

50 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

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50 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

1.
A consumer with $10 needs a dress, a pair of shoes, a handbag and jewelry costing $20, $10, $7 and $3 respectively. The opportunity cost of buying the pair of shoes Is the________
1. A.Dress
2. B.Jewelry
3. C.Handbag and Jewelry
4. D.Dress and Jewelry
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Answer: C Handbag and Jewelry
2.
A country may be able to earn more from exports if she_____________
1. A.increase her export duty
2. B.devalues her currency
3. C.increases her import duty
4. D.allows her currency to appreciate
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Answer: B devalues her currency
3.
A customs union is an economic grouping which has___________
1. A.free movement of factors of production
2. B.common tariffs against non-Members
3. C.common currency for trading
4. D.common military defence
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Answer: B common tariffs against non-Members
4.
A firm incurred the following costs in production. Use the information in the table to answer the question below.
Output (bags of rice 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Total Cost ($) 100 200 300 380 440 520 600
The average cost of producing 40 bags of rice is_____
1. A.$10
2. B.$11
3. C.$60
4. D.$80
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Answer: B $11
5.
A firm incurred the following costs in production. Use the information in the table to answer the question below.
Output (bags of rice 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Total Cost ($) 100 200 300 380 440 520 600
The fixed cost of production is___________
1. A.$I00
2. B.$200
3. C.$300
4. D.$600
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Answer: A $I00
6.
A floating exchange rate means that the exchange rate is fixed by the __________
1. A.Central bank of the country
2. B.Forces of demand and supply
3. C.International monetary fund (IMF)
4. D.Ministry of Finance
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Answer: B Forces of demand and supply
7.
A major source of finance to the Railway Corporation in West African countries is_______
1. A.sale of shares
2. B.government subvention
3. C.trade credit
4. D.surplus
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Answer: B government subvention
8.
A measure that can be adopted to correct a country 's balance of payments deficit is ____________
1. A.Allow the currency to appreciate to encourage imports
2. B.Allow the currency to depreciate to encourage imports
3. C.Adopt import substitution strategy
4. D.Restrict trade with all countries
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Answer: C Adopt import substitution strategy
9.
Abundant natural resources do not contribute to economic growth in developing countries because of_________
1. A.high rate of inflation
2. B.urban congestion
3. C.over-reliance on multiple commodities
4. D.mismanagement and corruption
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Answer: D mismanagement and corruption
10.
An increase in cash ratio by the central bank will_______
1. A.Increase the supply of money
2. B.Increase banks lending
3. C.Encourage borrowing
4. D.Reduce the supply of money
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Answer: D Reduce the supply of money
11.
An increase in market supply is caused by the following factors except_________
1. A.An improvement in innovation and technology
2. B.An increase in the price of the commodity
3. C.A reduction in the cost of raw materials
4. D.A favourable weather condition
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Answer: B An increase in the price of the commodity
12.
An increase in the rice harvest, all things being equal, may cause____________
1. A.Price to increase substantially
2. B.Price to fall substantially
3. C.Demand to fall substantially
4. D.Farmer's incomes to be more than doubled
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Answer: B Price to fall substantially
13.
Balance of payments and trade problems that arose after the world wars were resolved by the____________
1. A.International Bank tor Reconstruction and Development.
2. B.International Monetary Fund.
3. C.African Development Bank.
4. D.Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
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Answer: A International Bank tor Reconstruction and Development.
14.
By passing the middlemen in the chain of distribution can lead to _________
1. A.a problem of unemployment of labour
2. B.the creation of artificial scarcity
3. C.high prices of goods and services
4. D.an increase in government tax revenue
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Answer: A a problem of unemployment of labour
15.
Demand-pull inflation can be as a result of___________
1. A.increase in the cost of production
2. B.excessive supply of foodstuff
3. C.deficit financing by the government
4. D.increase in import duties
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Answer: C deficit financing by the government
16.
Examples of land that are non-renewable include___________
1. A.marshy and water-logged land
2. B.farmland already used tor many years
3. C.some natural resources such as natural gas
4. D.oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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Answer: C some natural resources such as natural gas
17.
Functions of money does not include_______
1. A.store of value
2. B.medium of exchange
3. C.standard of deferred payment
4. D.general acceptability
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Answer: D general acceptability
18.
Government can curb inflation by_________
1. A.encouraging banks to lend for any purpose
2. B.increasing her own expenditure
3. C.buying treasury bills in the open market
4. D.selling securities in the open market
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Answer: D selling securities in the open market
19.
Government can increase farmers' incomes by__________
1. A.Fixing maximum prices.
2. B.Fixing minimum prices.
3. C.Encouraging them to produce surplus output.
4. D.Increasing taxes on inputs.
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Answer: B Fixing minimum prices.
20.
If a country imposes a barrier on trade, the resultant effect will be _________
1. A.a halt in buying and selling
2. B.high quality goods from local industries
3. C.an increase in the demand for locally produced goods
4. D.shutdown of infant industries
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Answer: C an increase in the demand for locally produced goods
21.
If a country's import bill is high, she can encourage exports by___________
1. A.Allowing her currency to depreciate
2. B.Allowing her currency to appreciate
3. C.Liberalizing importation
4. D.Increasing taxes on all locally produced goods
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Answer: A Allowing her currency to depreciate
22.
In order to enable the government of a country to increase its tax revenue, it will be advisable for it to increase taxes on_______
1. A.Textile materials with elastic demand
2. B.Alcoholic beverages with inelastic demand
3. C.Agricultural products with inelastic supply
4. D.Luxury goods with elastic supply
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Answer: A Textile materials with elastic demand
23.
Market supply may increase if there is an increase in the________
1. A.Price of the product
2. B.Prices of factors of production
3. C.Tax paid on raw materials
4. D.Subsidies on raw materials
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Answer: A Price of the product
24.
Non-economic factors that influence the location of firms include ________
1. A.the existence of required materials for production
2. B.availability of population of buyers
3. C.adequate supply of power, good road and rail network
4. D.the activities of politicians in deciding location of firms
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Answer: D the activities of politicians in deciding location of firms
25.
One way of obtaining the median of a given data is to__________
1. A.Sum the value and divide by the number of items.
2. B.Arrange the data in ascending order and subtract each item from the mean.
3. C.Arrange the data in descending order and add each item to the least.
4. D.Arrange the data in either ascending or descending order and find what item divides the set in two equal parts.
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Answer: D Arrange the data in either ascending or descending order and find what item divides the set in two equal parts.
26.
People who dispose of their assets are expected to pay ______________
1. A.value added tax
2. B.capital gains tax
3. C.expenditure tax
4. D.sales tax
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Answer: B capital gains tax
27.
Records of a country's invisible trade are recorded in her_____________-
1. A.Trade account
2. B.Capital account
3. C.Current account
4. D.Financial account
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Answer: C Current account
28.
Separation of ownership of resources and their control is mostly found in a __________
1. A.sole proprietorship
2. B.partnership
3. C.joint stock company
4. D.consumer co-operative
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Answer: C joint stock company
29.
The age distribution of a country's population is shown below. Use the information is answer the question below.
Age group (YEARS) Population
0 - 15 16 - 40 41 - 60 Over 60 30% 45% 15% 10%
What is the dependency ratio?
1. A.2:3
2. B.3:2
3. C.1:2
4. D.6:1
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Answer: A 2:3
30.
The age distribution of a country's population is shown below. Use the information is answer the question below.
Age group (YEARS) Population
0 - 15 16 - 40 41 - 60 Over 60 30% 45% 15% 10%
What is the percentage of the working population?
1. A.75%
2. B.60%
3. C.45%
4. D.15%
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Answer: B 60%
31.
The coefficient of price elasticity of supply of land is usually____________
1. A.One
2. B.Greater than one
3. C.Zero
4. D.Less than one
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Answer: C Zero
32.
The demand for wood and labour is an example of______
1. A.Effective demand
2. B.Complementary demand
3. C.Derived demand
4. D.Competitive demand
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Answer: C Derived demand
33.
The distinguishing function of an entrepreneur is_______
1. A.Planning.
2. B.Control.
3. C.Risk-bearing.
4. D.Management.
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Answer: C Risk-bearing.
34.
The law of diminishing returns is applicable to the__________
1. A.fixed inputs of production.
2. B.variable factors of production.
3. C.plants and machinery of the firm.
4. D.equipment and other capital.
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Answer: B variable factors of production.
35.
The leftward shift in the supply curve for a commodity indicates_________
1. A.An increase in quantity supplied
2. B.A decrease in supply
3. C.A reduction in quantity supplied
4. D.An increase in supply
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Answer: B A decrease in supply
36.
The output of an extra unit of an input is referred to as________
1. A.Output of the input
2. B.Marginal product of the input
3. C.Average product of the input
4. D.Utility of the input employed
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Answer: B Marginal product of the input
37.
The price of soap rose from $10 to $20 causing a trader to increase her supply from 50 to 120 boxes per week. This makes supply_________
1. A.Unitary elastic.
2. B.Perfectly inelastic.
3. C.Fairly elastic.
4. D.Inelastic.
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Answer: C Fairly elastic.
38.
The relationship between the marginal revenue (MR) and the average revenue(AR) of a monopolist is that the marginal revenue curve____
1. A.is above the average revenue curve
2. B.slopes down to the right and is below the AR curve
3. C.and the AR curve are downward sloping and are identical
4. D.is vertical while the average revenue curve is horizontal
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Answer: B slopes down to the right and is below the AR curve
39.
The standard of living in two countries can be compared using the___________
1. A.number of industries in each country
2. B.size of their arms and ammunition
3. C.size of their national incomes only
4. D.gross national product per head
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Answer: D gross national product per head
40.
The study of economics IS Important to every society because it______
1. A.Enables individuals to satisfy all their wants
2. B.Helps in the utilization of scarce resources
3. C.Helps producers to know what to produce
4. D.Restores equilibrium between producers and consumers
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Answer: B Helps in the utilization of scarce resources
41.
The supply of land for agricultural purpose can be increased through _______
1. A.The introduction of mechanized farming
2. B.reclamation and irrigation
3. C.increase in prices of land
4. D.conversion of building sites to farmlands
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Answer: B reclamation and irrigation
42.
The supply of mangoes is represented as P=0.3Q, where P is the price ($) and Q is the quantity. What is P when Q is 50?
1. A.$1.50
2. B.$15.00
3. C.$150.03
4. D.$166.67
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Answer: B $15.00
43.
Two factors which can improve the efficiency of labour are_________
1. A.population size and age of retirement
2. B.school leaving age and number of disabled workers
3. C.work environment and health status of workers
4. D.school leaving age and number of part-time workers
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Answer: C work environment and health status of workers
44.
Use this data below to answer the question The following data relates to the national income of a country. Gross domestic product = $2800 Net factor income from abroad = $250 Depreciation = $700 Indirect taxes = $120 What is the country's Gross National (GNP)?
1. A.$ 3.050
2. B.$ 2.680
3. C.$ 2,350
4. D.$2,100
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Answer: B $ 2.680
45.
Use this data below to answer the question The following data relates to the national income of a country. Gross domestic product = $2800 Net factor income from abroad = $250 Depreciation = $700 Indirect taxes = $120 What is the country's Net National Product (NNP) at factor cost?
1. A.$3.050
2. B.$2,680
3. C.$2,230
4. D.$2.220
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Answer: C $2,230
46.
What will be the reaction of consumers in a market if there is a fall in the price of the substitute commodity X?
1. A.Price of commodity X will increase
2. B.Demand for the substitute of commodity X will decrease
3. C.Demand for commodity X will decrease
4. D.Supply of both commodity X and its substitute will increase
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Answer: C Demand for commodity X will decrease
47.
When a commodity market operates without government interference, commodities are distributed through_______
1. A.A government distribution agencies
2. B.The operation of price mechanism
3. C.A central planning committee
4. D.Retailers only
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Answer: B The operation of price mechanism
48.
When a government cuts down her expenditure to reduce inflation, she has embarked on___________
1. A.A restrictive Fiscal policy
2. B.An expansionary monetary policy
3. C.Physical policy
4. D.Implementing budget deficit
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Answer: A A restrictive Fiscal policy
49.
When market supply increases , the equilibrium price_________
1. A.Rises and quantity falls
2. B.Falls and quantity rises
3. C.And quantity increase
4. D.And quantity fall
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Answer: B Falls and quantity rises
50.
Which of the following is not an argument for the policy of privatization in West Africa?
1. A.To make businesses more profitable
2. B.Government is able to participate and control the operation of the privatized businesses
3. C.Members of the public are able to acquire shares
4. D.It encourages the inflow of capital and expertise from local and foreign sources
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Government is able to participate and control the operation of the privatized businesses

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Output (bags of rice	0	10	20	30	40	50	60
Total Cost ($)	100	200	300	380	440	520	600

Age group (YEARS)	Population
0 - 15 16 - 40 41 - 60 Over 60	30% 45% 15% 10%