📈 EconomyUPSC 2018Fundamentals of Economy

If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then

athe opportunity cost is zero.
bthe opportunity cost is ignored.
cthe opportunity costs are transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.
dthe opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the Government.
✓ Correct answer: c) the opportunity costs are transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.
ExplanationOpportunity cost: refers to the value of the next best alternative foregone when a choice is made.Even if a com- modity is provided “free” to the public, resources (such as gov- ernment funds, labor, or infrastructure) are still required for its provision.Option (c) is correct : If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then the opportunity cost is trans- ferred from the cons-umers of the product to the tax-paying public.As per microeconomics, the opportunity cost is zero for free goods such as air and common goods such as fish/grazing land.For public goods such as street lights and defence, the op- portunity cost is involved (The government could have spent that much money on street lights rather than on the military).So, the opportunity cost is not zero.357

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