Assessment item 2
Assessment No. 2
Value: 20%
Due date: 21-Dec-2014
Return date: 11-Jan-2015
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
There will be an assessment test that will comprise of 4 short essay/calculating questions. You are to complete Assessment No.2 by the due date.
Assessment No.2 will focus on material covered in Weeks 2-5 of the subject. Use diagrams in your answer to provide a more comprehensive response.

Question 1 (20%)
Consider the market for the confectionery -Mars Bars-. Analyse the following situations and clearly state the affect on both the equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity. Examine each situation separately. Use a diagram for each a)-Snickers- a substitute drops the price by 20% b)average incomes in Australia increase by 20% c)cost saving robot technology introduced into confectionery industry d)-Mars Bars- drop their price by 15%

Question 2 (20%)
Suppose the price elasticity of demand for a particular brand of designer labels is elastic. If the brand owners wish to raise revenue from sales of these goods should they raise the prices of their goods or lower them? Layton et al 2012 p 127 question 1
.
Question 3 (30%)
Use the following demand schedule for a monopolist to calculate total revenue (TR), marginal revenue (MR) and Price Elasticity of Demand (PED). For each price, indicate whether demand is elastic, unit elastic or inelastic. Using the same data, graph the demand curve and the total revenue curve, the marginal revenue curve. Identify the elastic, unit elastic and inelastic segments along the demand curve. (Neat hand drawn diagrams are acceptable).
(Source: Layton et al 2012 p.206 question 6)

Price
($) Quantity demanded Total Revenue Marginal Revenue Price Elasticity of Demand
5.00 0
4.50 1
4.00 2
3.50 3
3.00 4
2.50 5
2.00 6
1.50 7
1.00 8
0.50 9
0.00 10
Question 4 (20%)
Examine the following table:
Price ($) Quantity demanded Quantity supplied
50 50 80
40 55 75
30 60 70
20 65 65
10 70 60
a) In the above market what is the initial market equilibrium?
b) If the government sets a price floor at $50 what will be the outcome in this market?
c) Why would the government decide to set a price floor?
Rationale
The purpose of this assessment is to provide an opportunity for you to assess whether you are keeping up with the material in the first few weeks of the subject and to assess your understanding of the material.
Marking criteria
Your mark will be the based on the percentage of questions you get correct on the Assessment applying the following rubrics.

Problem types/criteria (FL)
0% to 49% (PS)
50% to 64% (CR)
65% to 74% (DI)
75% to 84% (HD)
85% to 100%

Presentation Fail Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction
Work is set out in a clear and coherent manner which aids the development of the student’s arguments. The presentation is professional. Set out in a disorganised and incoherent manner. Shows some attempt to organise in a logical manner. Shows organisation and coherence. Carefully and logically organised. Shows a polished and imaginative approach to the topic.
Quantitative problems FL PS CR DI HD
Work applies principles of economics correctly to quantitative analysis. Frequent errors or unacceptable mistakes indicative of a lack of understanding of core principle(s). Applies understanding of relevant principles, shows workings but contains some major errors. Applies correct principles and calculations, substantiated with workings or diagrams in order to arrive at the right answer, shows workings but contains some minor errors. Applies correct principles and calculations, substantiated with workings or diagrams in order to arrive at the right answer, shows workings but contains few minor errors. Applies correct principles and calculations, substantiated with workings or diagrams in order to arrive at the right answer. There are negligible errors/no errors in calculations.
Conceptual problems FL PS CR DI HD
Work applies principles of economics correctly in discussing results, conclusions, and/or recommendations. Discussion reflects lack of basic understanding of relevant principles. Discussion reflects basic understanding, but not deep understanding of relevant principles. Discussion reflects good understanding of relevant principles. Discussion reflects excellent understanding of relevant principles. Principles are applied in the appropriate manner to arrive at the correct answer. The use of relevant principles shows creativity and imagination.
Presentation
See the presentation section
Requirements
Assignments should be submitted through Turnitin as well as hard copy at reception.