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Free Questions › CFA › Economics
Free CFA Economics Practice Questions & Answers
2,050 exam-style Economics questions. Pick your answer, hit Check answer, and see the worked solution — free to start, no signup.
100% free · No login to startQuestion 1621
A criticism of active fiscal policy is that:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It takes too long to implement
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Long implementation lags reduce effectiveness. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not true.
Question 1622
Despite long lags, capital spending is valuable because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It adds to productive potential
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Infrastructure increases long-term capacity. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1623
Indirect taxes are often used for social purposes because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — They can discourage harmful activities
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Taxes on alcohol/tobacco discourage consumption. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1624
Direct taxes affect behavior because they:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Reduce disposable income and affect work decisions
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Higher income taxes reduce incentives to work/save. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1625
Vertical equity means:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Higher incomes pay more taxes
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Vertical equity = richer pay more. ✘ Why others wrong: A: Horizontal equity. C & D: Opposite.
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Question 1626
Horizontal equity means:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — People in similar situations pay the same
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Horizontal equity = equal treatment for equals. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1627
A tax system that is too complex violates the principle of:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Simplicity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Complexity undermines simplicity. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not the simplicity principle.
Question 1628
A tax that treats similar taxpayers differently violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Horizontal equity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Horizontal equity requires equal treatment. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not the issue.
Question 1629
A tax that places a heavier burden on the rich supports:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Progressive taxation
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Progressive taxes increase burden with income. ✘ Why others wrong: A: Opposite. C & D: Not progressive.
Question 1630
A regressive tax means:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Lower incomes pay a higher percentage
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Regressive taxes burden lower incomes more. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1631
A tax that raises insufficient revenue violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Revenue sufficiency
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Taxes must fund government spending. ✘ Why others wrong: A, B, D: Not the revenue principle.
Question 1632
A tax that is easy to evade violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Simplicity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Simplicity includes enforceability. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not the main principle.
Question 1633
A tax that distorts investment decisions violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Efficiency
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Efficiency requires minimal distortion. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not the issue.
Question 1634
A tax that is perceived as unfair violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Fairness
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Fairness concerns equity across taxpayers. ✘ Why others wrong: A, B, D: Not fairness.
Question 1635
A tax that is too complex may reduce compliance, violating:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Simplicity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Complexity undermines ease of compliance. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not the primary principle.
Question 1636
A tax that discourages saving may violate:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Efficiency
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Efficiency requires minimal distortion of saving behavior. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not the issue.
Question 1637
A tax that treats unequal taxpayers equally violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Vertical equity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Vertical equity requires that taxpayers with different incomes pay different amounts. ✘ Why others wrong: B: Horizontal equity concerns equal treatment of equals. C & D: Not related to equity.
Question 1638
A tax that treats equal taxpayers differently violates:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Horizontal equity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Horizontal equity requires equal treatment for similar taxpayers. ✘ Why others wrong: B: Vertical equity concerns richer vs poorer. C & D: Not the issue.
Question 1639
A major argument for worrying about national debt is that high debt may:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Require higher taxes that reduce growth
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: High debt often forces governments to raise taxes, reducing incentives to work and invest. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Opposite or unrelated.
Question 1640
High national debt may lead to inflation if:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — The central bank prints money to finance deficits
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Monetary financing of deficits historically causes high inflation. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Do not cause inflation in this context.
Question 1641
Crowding out occurs when:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Government borrowing reduces private investment
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Government borrowing competes for savings, raising interest rates. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not definitions of crowding out.
Question 1642
Transfer payments are used to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Redistribute income
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Transfers support low-income households and redistribute wealth. ✘ Why others wrong: A: Transfers are not payments for production. C: Transfers are excluded from GDP. D: They increase spending, not reduce debt.
Question 1643
Capital expenditure increases:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Long-term productive capacity
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Infrastructure raises future output potential. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not the main effect.
Question 1644
Government spending on defense is justified because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It is a public good benefiting all citizens
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Defense is a classic public good. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1645
Government spending on welfare is justified because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It redistributes income to poorer households
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Welfare ensures minimum income levels. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not the purpose.
Question 1646
A desirable tax policy attribute is simplicity, meaning:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Tax liability should be easy to understand
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Simplicity reduces compliance costs. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not attributes.
Question 1647
Revenue sufficiency means:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Taxes must raise enough revenue to fund spending
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Revenue must cover government obligations. ✘ Why others wrong: B, C, D: Not definitions.
Question 1648
A conflict in tax policy arises because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Revenue sufficiency may conflict with fairness or efficiency
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Raising revenue may require policies that reduce fairness or efficiency. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 1649
Supply-side economists argue that high income taxes:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Reduce incentives to work and invest
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: High taxes reduce incentives for labor and investment. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Opposite or unsupported.
Question 1650
A major tax reform debate concerns whether:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — A flat tax should replace progressive taxes
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Flat vs progressive tax is a major debate. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not mainstream.
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