Question

Difficulty: EasyScale of Preference

Match each basic economic concept on the left with its correct definition or role in consumer decision-making on the right.

  • Scale of PreferenceA list of unsatisfied wants arranged in order of relative importance.
  • Priority RankingPlacing the most pressing needs at the top and less pressing ones at the bottom.
  • ChoiceThe act of selecting the most urgent want from a list of desires.
  • Opportunity CostThe real sacrifice or alternative forgone when a preferred want is satisfied.

Answer

Scale of Preference matches with a list of unsatisfied wants arranged in order of relative importance. Priority Ranking matches with placing the most pressing needs at the top and less pressing ones at the bottom. Choice matches with the act of selecting the most urgent want from a list of desires. Opportunity Cost matches with the real sacrifice or alternative forgone when a preferred want is satisfied.
A scale of preference is a list of unsatisfied wants ordered by importance. Ordering wants by urgency represents priority ranking. Selecting an item from the scale is making a choice, and the alternative given up in the process constitutes the opportunity cost.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary definition of a Scale of Preference.
Recognize that a scale of preference is a structured list of unsatisfied wants sorted by importance.
This establishes the fundamental framework of consumer choice under scarcity.
2
Differentiate between priority ranking, choice, and opportunity cost.
Priority ranking is the ordering mechanism; choice is the selection action; opportunity cost is the resulting sacrificed alternative.
Distinguishing these core concepts prevents confusing monetary expense with economic opportunity cost.

Key Concept

Scale of Preference
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