Scarcity, Opportunity Cost and the Production Frontier · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Choosing costs something

Civics & Economics · Economics · ages 14-15
Name ______________________   Date ____________
  1. Opportunity cost is the single best alternative given up.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. What does scarcity mean?

    • Money buys everything
    • Wants exceed available resources
    • Resources never run out
  3. Which resource is scarce for rich and poor alike?

    • Time
    • Sand
    • Wishes
  4. What does moving along the frontier cost?

    • Some of the other good
    • Nothing, it is free
    • A shift of the curve
  5. What does a point inside the frontier show?

    • An unreachable dream
    • Wasted resources
    • The perfect mix
  6. Why does the frontier bend instead of running straight?

    • Rulers draw curves
    • Resources suit the two jobs differently
    • Points hide behind the axes
  7. What can push the whole frontier outward?

    • More resources, better tech, stronger skills
    • Higher price tags only
    • Fewer workers
  8. A government puts an extra billion into hospitals. What is the real cost?

    • Every listed want at once
    • Nothing, budgets are free
    • The best other use of that billion
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Choosing costs something W1-mt_p_c7nNzHEw-s1

  1. True · It names one best forgone use, not the whole list.
  2. Wants exceed available resources · Wants outrun labour, land, materials and time.
  3. Time · Everyone gets just 24 hours a day, however rich.
  4. Some of the other good · More of one good on the curve means fewer of the other.
  5. Wasted resources · Inside means the economy could make more of both goods.
  6. Resources suit the two jobs differently · Shifting ill-suited resources across costs more each time.
  7. More resources, better tech, stronger skills · Growth in means raises what the economy can make.
  8. The best other use of that billion · The cost is the single best forgone use, such as highways.
Worksheet · LightMySky