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Economics Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Foundations of Economic Thought and Practice

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Foundations of Economic Thought and Practice Study Guide

Foundations of Economic Inquiry

Economics is defined as a behavioral science focused on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Answer: True

Explanation: Economics is indeed defined as a behavioral science concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, analyzing the behavior and interactions of economic agents and the functioning of economies.

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Positive economics describes 'what is,' while normative economics advocates 'what ought to be.'

Answer: True

Explanation: This accurately captures the fundamental distinction between positive economics, which is descriptive and empirical, and normative economics, which involves value judgments and policy recommendations.

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The term 'economics' originates from the Latin words 'oikos' and 'nomos,' meaning 'house' and 'law.'

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'economics' actually originates from the Ancient Greek word 'oikonomia,' which combines 'oikos' (house) and 'nomos' (custom or law), meaning 'the management of a household' or state, not from Latin.

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Lionel Robbins' definition of economics emphasizes the role of government intervention in managing scarce resources.

Answer: False

Explanation: Lionel Robbins' definition emphasizes scarcity and the allocation of scarce means with alternative uses, not government intervention.

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Which seminal definition of economics characterizes it as the science studying human behavior in relation to scarce means that possess alternative uses?

Answer: Lionel Robbins' definition emphasizing scarcity and alternative uses of means.

Explanation: Lionel Robbins' definition is precisely that economics studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses, highlighting the core issue of scarcity.

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What is the fundamental distinction between positive and normative economics?

Answer: Positive economics describes 'what is,' while normative economics advocates 'what ought to be.'

Explanation: Positive economics deals with objective, verifiable statements about economic reality ('what is'), whereas normative economics involves subjective value judgments and policy recommendations ('what ought to be').

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The term 'economics' originates from the Ancient Greek word 'oikonomia,' which translates to:

Answer: The management of a household or state

Explanation: The term 'economics' derives from the Ancient Greek word 'oikonomia,' a compound of 'oikos' (house) and 'nomos' (custom or law), signifying 'the management of a household' or state.

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The Classical Tradition

Adam Smith viewed political economy as a branch of the science of a statesman or legislator.

Answer: True

Explanation: Adam Smith indeed defined political economy as a branch of the science of a statesman or legislator, aiming to provide for the people's subsistence and the state's revenue.

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Jean-Baptiste Say defined economics solely as the science of production, ignoring distribution and consumption.

Answer: False

Explanation: Jean-Baptiste Say defined economics as the science of production, distribution, and consumption of wealth, not solely production.

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Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations' identified land, labor, and capital as the primary factors of production.

Answer: True

Explanation: Adam Smith's seminal work identified land, labor, and capital as the fundamental factors contributing to the wealth of nations.

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Adam Smith proposed that the division of labor is limited by the extent of the market.

Answer: True

Explanation: Adam Smith articulated the principle that the degree of specialization and efficiency gained through the division of labor is constrained by the size of the market.

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Thomas Robert Malthus predicted that population growth would consistently match the growth of food production.

Answer: False

Explanation: Thomas Robert Malthus theorized that population tends to grow geometrically, outpacing the arithmetic growth of food production, leading to potential crises.

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David Ricardo focused on the production aspects of wealth, similar to Adam Smith.

Answer: False

Explanation: David Ricardo's primary focus was on the distribution of income among classes and the dynamics of rent, differing from Adam Smith's broader emphasis on production and national wealth.

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David Ricardo is credited with proving the principle of comparative advantage in international trade.

Answer: True

Explanation: David Ricardo is renowned for articulating and demonstrating the principle of comparative advantage, a cornerstone of international trade theory.

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John Stuart Mill argued that markets are always fair in income distribution, even if efficient in allocation.

Answer: False

Explanation: John Stuart Mill distinguished between allocative efficiency and distributive fairness, arguing that markets, while potentially efficient, were not necessarily fair in distributing income.

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According to Adam Smith, what concept posits that individuals pursuing their own self-interest can unintentionally promote the broader societal interest?

Answer: The invisible hand

Explanation: Adam Smith's concept of the 'invisible hand' suggests that individuals acting in their own self-interest can inadvertently advance the public interest through market mechanisms.

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Thomas Robert Malthus's theory concerning population dynamics suggested that:

Answer: Population tends to grow geometrically, outpacing arithmetic food production growth.

Explanation: Thomas Robert Malthus theorized that human population exhibits a tendency for geometric growth, surpassing the arithmetic increase in food production, leading to potential resource constraints.

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David Ricardo's principal contribution to the theory of international trade is the principle of:

Answer: Comparative advantage

Explanation: David Ricardo is renowned for articulating and demonstrating the principle of comparative advantage, which posits that countries benefit from specializing in the production and export of goods where they possess a lower relative cost.

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John Stuart Mill differentiated between the efficiency of markets in resource allocation and:

Answer: Income distribution fairness

Explanation: John Stuart Mill distinguished between the market's efficacy in resource allocation and its role in income distribution, arguing that markets did not inherently ensure fairness in distribution.

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Neoclassical and Modern Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics analyzes individual economic agents like households and firms, while microeconomics studies aggregate economic phenomena.

Answer: False

Explanation: This statement reverses the scopes: microeconomics analyzes individual agents and markets, while macroeconomics studies aggregate economic phenomena.

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Alfred Marshall's definition of economics expanded the study to include 'man in the ordinary business of life,' not just wealth.

Answer: True

Explanation: Alfred Marshall's influential definition broadened the scope of economics to encompass 'man in the ordinary business of life,' acknowledging its dual nature as a study of wealth and humanity.

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Neoclassical economics integrated mathematical methods, influenced by the natural sciences, into economic analysis.

Answer: True

Explanation: The neoclassical school, emerging around the late 19th century, significantly integrated mathematical methods and a scientific approach, drawing parallels with the natural sciences.

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Neoclassical economics adopted the classical labor theory of value and rejected marginal utility.

Answer: False

Explanation: Neoclassical economics moved away from the classical labor theory of value, instead emphasizing marginal utility on the demand side and cost theory on the supply side.

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John Maynard Keynes' 'The General Theory' focused on long-run economic growth and stability.

Answer: False

Explanation: Keynes' 'The General Theory' primarily focused on the determinants of *short-run* economic fluctuations, particularly high unemployment, attributing it to insufficient effective demand, rather than long-run economic growth and stability.

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The IS-LM model formalizes Keynes' insights on the economy's short-run equilibrium.

Answer: True

Explanation: The IS-LM model, developed by John Hicks and Alvin Hansen, serves as a formalization of certain Keynesian insights concerning the economy's short-run equilibrium.

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Immediately after WWII, Marxian economics was the dominant view in the United States and its allies.

Answer: False

Explanation: In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Keynesian economics prevailed as the dominant perspective in the United States and its allied nations, whereas Marxian economics held sway in the Soviet Union and its associated states.

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Monetarism, led by Milton Friedman, argued that monetary policy and money supply shocks significantly cause economic fluctuations.

Answer: True

Explanation: Monetarism, prominently associated with Milton Friedman, asserted that monetary policy and fluctuations in the money supply were principal causes of economic instability.

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New classical economists introduced the concept of rational expectations, challenging the Keynesian paradigm.

Answer: True

Explanation: New classical economists, notably Robert Lucas, introduced the concept of rational expectations, which fundamentally questioned the effectiveness of traditional Keynesian stabilization policies.

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New Keynesian economics rejects rational expectations and emphasizes perfect market flexibility.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to this statement, New Keynesian economics *adopts* rational expectations but emphasizes market imperfections, particularly price and wage rigidities, as explanations for macroeconomic phenomena.

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The new neoclassical synthesis integrates rational expectations with the New Keynesian emphasis on nominal rigidities.

Answer: True

Explanation: The new neoclassical synthesis indeed combines the rational expectations framework of new classical economics with the New Keynesian emphasis on market imperfections, such as price and wage rigidities, to explain macroeconomic phenomena.

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The 2008 financial crisis led to a decreased focus on integrating the financial system into economic models.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 2008 financial crisis prompted an *increased* focus within macroeconomic research on integrating the financial system into economic models, alongside greater attention to behavioral economics and agent heterogeneity.

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The emergence of 'neoclassical economics' during the period of approximately 1870-1910 was notably characterized by:

Answer: The integration of mathematical methods, influenced by the natural sciences.

Explanation: The neoclassical school integrated mathematical methods and a scientific approach, drawing inspiration from the natural sciences, marking a significant shift in economic analysis.

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How did neoclassical economics fundamentally alter the understanding of value theory in comparison to classical economics?

Answer: It favored marginal utility theory on the demand side and cost theory on the supply side.

Explanation: Neoclassical economics superseded the classical labor theory of value with a marginal utility theory on the demand side and a more comprehensive cost theory on the supply side, establishing supply and demand as joint determinants.

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John Maynard Keynes' seminal work, 'The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money,' attributed high unemployment primarily to:

Answer: Insufficient 'effective demand'

Explanation: Keynes' 'The General Theory' primarily focused on the determinants of short-run economic fluctuations, particularly high unemployment, attributing it to insufficient 'effective demand'.

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The IS-LM model is recognized as a formalization of theoretical insights derived from which major economic school of thought?

Answer: Keynesian economics

Explanation: The IS-LM model, developed by John Hicks and Alvin Hansen, serves as a formalization of certain Keynesian insights concerning the economy's short-run equilibrium.

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Who is considered the principal proponent of Monetarism, a school of thought emphasizing the role of the money supply in driving economic fluctuations?

Answer: Milton Friedman

Explanation: Milton Friedman is recognized as the leading intellectual figure of Monetarism, which asserted that monetary policy and fluctuations in the money supply were principal causes of economic instability.

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What key concept did 'new classical economists' introduce that fundamentally challenged the prevailing Keynesian paradigm?

Answer: Rational expectations

Explanation: New classical economists, notably Robert Lucas, introduced the concept of rational expectations, which fundamentally questioned the effectiveness of traditional Keynesian stabilization policies.

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New Keynesian economics explains macroeconomic phenomena primarily by emphasizing:

Answer: Market failures, particularly price and wage rigidity.

Explanation: New Keynesian economics integrates rational expectations with an emphasis on market imperfections, specifically price and wage rigidities, as explanations for macroeconomic phenomena.

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The 'new neoclassical synthesis' is characterized by its integration of core elements from which two prominent macroeconomic theoretical frameworks?

Answer: New Classical and New Keynesian economics

Explanation: The new neoclassical synthesis integrates the rational expectations and optimizing framework of new classical theory with the New Keynesian emphasis on nominal rigidities and market imperfections.

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Microeconomic Concepts and Market Analysis

In microeconomics, production is measured as a stock, representing accumulated assets.

Answer: False

Explanation: In microeconomics, production is understood as a *flow* concept, measured as a rate of output per period, rather than a stock representing accumulated assets.

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Pareto efficiency is achieved when no one can be made better off without making someone else worse off.

Answer: True

Explanation: This statement accurately defines Pareto efficiency, a key concept in welfare economics for assessing resource allocation.

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The Production-Possibility Frontier (PPF) illustrates scarcity and demonstrates trade-offs through its upward slope.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Production-Possibility Frontier (PPF) illustrates scarcity and trade-offs through its *downward-sloping* curve, indicating that producing more of one good necessitates producing less of another, thereby representing opportunity cost.

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The law of demand states that as price increases, quantity demanded increases, assuming other factors are constant.

Answer: False

Explanation: The law of demand posits that, ceteris paribus, an increase in the price of a product leads to a decrease in the quantity demanded, and conversely.

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The law of supply suggests that as the price of a good increases, the quantity supplied decreases.

Answer: False

Explanation: The law of supply states that, ceteris paribus, as the price of a good increases, the quantity supplied by producers generally *increases*, reflecting the increased profitability associated with higher prices.

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Market equilibrium occurs when the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded.

Answer: False

Explanation: Market equilibrium is defined as the state where the quantity supplied precisely equals the quantity demanded, resulting in no market surplus or shortage.

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Ronald Coase suggested firms organize production when market transaction costs exceed internal organization costs.

Answer: True

Explanation: Ronald Coase's theory suggests that firms are organized for production when the costs of using the market mechanism (transaction costs) surpass the costs of internal organization.

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Information economics primarily studies problems arising from information symmetry.

Answer: False

Explanation: Information economics primarily addresses problems arising from *information asymmetries*, where one party in a transaction possesses superior relevant information compared to the other.

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Externalities are considered a form of market success where prices perfectly reflect all costs and benefits.

Answer: False

Explanation: Externalities represent a form of *market failure*, occurring when the market price of a good or service does not fully account for the external costs or benefits imposed on third parties.

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Welfare economics is a normative branch that evaluates the desirability and efficiency of resource allocation.

Answer: True

Explanation: Welfare economics employs microeconomic principles to assess the efficiency and equity of resource allocation, aiming to understand and potentially improve societal well-being.

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The Coase theorem suggests that well-defined property rights can resolve externality issues.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Coase theorem, a foundational concept in law and economics, suggests that externalities can be efficiently resolved through private bargaining when property rights are clearly defined and transaction costs are negligible.

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Which of the following represents a fundamental microeconomic concept concerning the transformation of inputs into outputs?

Answer: Production

Explanation: Production, in microeconomics, is defined as the process of transforming inputs, such as labor and capital, into outputs, which are goods and services.

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What fundamental economic concept does the Production-Possibility Frontier (PPF) illustrate?

Answer: The maximum combinations of two goods an economy can produce given resources.

Explanation: The Production-Possibility Frontier (PPF) illustrates scarcity by delineating the maximum attainable combinations of two goods an economy can produce with its available resources and technology.

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The 'law of demand' describes the relationship between price and quantity demanded, stating that generally:

Answer: As price increases, quantity demanded decreases.

Explanation: The law of demand posits that, ceteris paribus, an increase in the price of a product leads to a decrease in the quantity demanded, and conversely.

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Market equilibrium is achieved at the price where:

Answer: Quantity supplied equals quantity demanded.

Explanation: Market equilibrium is achieved at the price where the quantity supplied precisely equals the quantity demanded, corresponding to the intersection of the supply and demand curves.

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Ronald Coase's theory suggests that firms are formed when:

Answer: Internal organization costs are lower than market transaction costs.

Explanation: Ronald Coase posited that firms emerge when the costs associated with market transactions surpass the costs of internal organization and coordination.

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Which of the following exemplifies a 'market failure' as discussed in economic theory?

Answer: Information asymmetries

Explanation: Information asymmetries, where one party has more information than another, are a classic example of market failure, leading to inefficient outcomes.

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Heterodox and Specialized Economic Fields

Marxian economics posits that capital exploits labor through the theory of surplus value.

Answer: True

Explanation: Marxian economics centers on the labor theory of value and the concept of surplus value, which Karl Marx argued represented the exploitation of labor by capital.

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The Austrian School of economics advocates for extensive government intervention in economic activity.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Austrian School of economics is characterized by its advocacy for minimal government intervention, emphasizing individual action, property rights, and free markets.

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Ecological economics often takes an oppositional stance to general mainstream economic principles regarding substitution possibilities.

Answer: True

Explanation: Ecological economics, which studies the interplay between economies and ecosystems, often diverges from mainstream economics by questioning the substitutability between natural capital and human-made capital.

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Feminist Economics aims to promote gender equality and improve the well-being of marginalized groups.

Answer: True

Explanation: Feminist Economics critically examines economic systems and policies to promote gender equality and improve the well-being of marginalized groups, challenging traditional analyses that overlook gender dynamics.

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Growth economics studies factors like investment, population growth, and technological change to explain economic growth.

Answer: True

Explanation: Growth economics systematically studies the determinants of long-term economic growth, including capital accumulation, labor force expansion, and technological progress.

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Public economics focuses exclusively on international trade agreements and exchange rates.

Answer: False

Explanation: Public economics focuses on the economic activities of the public sector, including taxation, government spending, and their effects on efficiency and distribution, rather than exclusively on international trade and exchange rates.

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International economics studies the determinants of trade in goods and services across borders.

Answer: True

Explanation: International economics analyzes the motivations for and consequences of international trade, including the impact of trade policies, capital flows, and exchange rates on national economies.

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Labor economics analyzes the dynamics of wage labor markets and factors influencing wages and employment.

Answer: True

Explanation: Labor economics investigates the functioning of labor markets, including the determination of wages, employment levels, and the factors affecting labor supply and demand.

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Development economics primarily focuses on structural changes in high-income countries.

Answer: False

Explanation: Development economics primarily focuses on the economic aspects of development, poverty, and growth in *low-income* countries, often incorporating social and political factors.

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Political economy explores how economic interests shape political actions and policies.

Answer: True

Explanation: Political economy examines the intricate interplay between economic factors and political decision-making, analyzing how economic interests shape policy and how political structures affect economic outcomes.

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Energy economics incorporates concepts from biology, such as evolution, to analyze economic activity.

Answer: False

Explanation: Energy economics incorporates concepts from *thermodynamics*, such as entropy, to analyze the relationship between energy, economic activity, and environmental limits, rather than concepts from biology like evolution.

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Economic sociology analyzes economic phenomena within their broader social context.

Answer: True

Explanation: Economic sociology investigates economic activities by considering the influence of social structures, norms, institutions, and cultural factors on economic behavior and outcomes.

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Marxian economics posits that the exploitation of labor is primarily achieved through the concept of:

Answer: Surplus value

Explanation: Marxian economics centers on the concept of surplus value, which Karl Marx argued represented the exploitation of labor by capital, as workers receive less than the value they create.

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What is the principal focus of 'growth economics'?

Answer: Explaining the increase in output per capita over time.

Explanation: Growth economics investigates the factors that account for economic growth, defined as the sustained increase in output per capita over time.

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Which field of economics specifically studies the interactions between human economies and the natural ecosystems within which they operate?

Answer: Ecological economics

Explanation: Ecological economics investigates the interactions between human economies and the ecosystems in which they are situated, often diverging from mainstream principles regarding natural capital.

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What is the primary objective of Feminist Economics?

Answer: To promote gender equality and gender-aware analysis.

Explanation: Feminist Economics strives to produce economic research and policy analysis that is both inclusive and gender-aware, aiming to advance gender equality and enhance the well-being of marginalized groups.

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Economic Methodology and Resources

Professional economists commonly use tools from philosophy and literature analysis.

Answer: False

Explanation: Professional economists typically utilize quantitative tools such as calculus, linear algebra, statistics, game theory, and econometrics. While philosophical underpinnings exist, direct analysis from philosophy and literature is not a common methodological tool.

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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) is a database for accessing economic research papers and working papers.

Answer: True

Explanation: RePEc is a significant online repository and database that facilitates access to a wide array of economic research, including working papers and published articles, making it an essential resource for the academic community.

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Authority control databases help ensure consistency and link related information in Wikipedia articles.

Answer: True

Explanation: Authority control databases provide standardized identifiers for entities, thereby ensuring consistency and enabling the cross-linking of related information across various platforms and library catalogs, including Wikipedia.

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Which of the following is NOT typically listed among the common methodological tools employed by professional economists?

Answer: Literary criticism

Explanation: Professional economists typically utilize quantitative tools such as calculus, linear algebra, statistics, game theory, and econometrics. Direct analysis from philosophy and literature is not a common methodological tool.

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What is the significance of RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) within the discipline of economics?

Answer: It is a database for accessing economic research papers.

Explanation: RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) functions as a major online archive and database, offering access to an extensive collection of economic research papers, working papers, and journal articles, serving as an indispensable resource for economists globally.

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