Week 4 Quiz
1. Historically speaking, when a country has been unable or unwilling to reform its extractive institutions, how have its citizens reacted, according to Acemoglu?
• by appealing to religious authorities
• by peacefully protesting
• by rebelling
• by leaving the country
2. Which of the following is true about Zimbabwe?
• (under “Introduction”) It was first recognized as a nation in 1923, and has had multiple leaders since.
• (under “People and Society”) It has one of the world’s 100 highest life expectancies at birth.
• (under “People and Society”) The vast majority of its population is illiterate.
• (under “Economy”) There is a severe unemployment (or underemployment) crisis in the country.
3. How did Mugabe ensure loyalty to his rule after Zimbabwe’s independence?
• by building monuments to old Zimbabwean heroes
• by providing political supporters with government jobs
• by giving students free college educations
• by handing businesses to white political opponents
4. llowing outcomes?
• and legislation intended to reward opposition and punish supporters
• a com mutually beneficial compromises to keep real challenges from emerging
• an alliance between the incumbents and election officials to ensure incumbents are reelected
• regulation plete inability to develop widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo
5. Which of the following is true about Sierra Leone?
• (under “People and Society”) It has one of the world’s lowest maternal mortality rates.
• (under “Economy”) Automobile manufacturing is one of its primary industries.
• (under “Introduction”) Around a third of its population was displaced during the civil war that ended in 2002.
• (under “People and Society”) Less than 10 percent of its population lives in urban areas.
6. Which of the following is given as a sign that the state of Sierra Leone was failing under Joseph Momoh?
• The country’s infrastructure was not maintained.
• Leadership claims were contested and it wasn’t clear who was in charge.
• Government-sponsored television and radio took over.
• Teachers and other government employees were being paid too much.
7. How did Sierra Leonean president Siaka Stevens regard the Sierra Leonean military?
• as a threat to his power that must be stamped out
• as a crucial defender of the nation’s freedom
• as a force that could project Sierra Leone’s power throughout Africa
• as a bunch of impotent weaklings not to be bothered with
8. Which of the following is true about Colombia?
• (under “Economy”) Based on GDP (purchasing power parity), it has one of the 50 smallest economies in the world.
• (under “Economy”) The vast majority of its exports go to China.
• (under “Economy”) One of its primary agricultural products is coffee.
• (under “People and Society”) The majority of Colombians live in the countryside.
9. In a state that is practically ruled by a paramilitary group, the paramilitary group will do which of the following?
• oppose political candidates in elections
• answer to local political representatives
• shut down the justice system
• exercise military control over an area
10. Paramilitary groups are especially interested in what kind of regions?
• regions that are rural and sparsely populated
• regions that are popular destinations for tourists
• regions that are very poor
• regions that are rich with natural resources
11. Which of the following is true about North Korea?
• (under “Government”) It is a democracy.
• (under “Economy”) Its GDP per capita (PPP) puts it among the richest third of all countries.
• (under “Economy”) One of its most important industries is military products.
• (under “People and Society”) Its life expectancy is higher than the life expectancy in South Korea (~80 years).
12. Which of the following was an outcome of the currency reform in North Korea?
• The personal savings of everyone in the country were wiped out.
• Wealth transferred from a small group of rogue elites back to the workers.
• Two zeros were added to the value of all of North Korea’s currency.
• People who had been profiting from black market transactions made out very well.
13. Extractive institutions tend to arise in which kinds of nations?
• nations that have laissez-faire economic policies
• nations that have political instability
• nations that are poor
• nations that have political power concentrated in the hands of a small group
14. Which of the following statements about countries and wealth is the most true, according to the text?
• Having a small elite will lead to a reduction in its power and wealth over time.
• Having a small political elite will lead to a small economic elite.
• Having a poor country will lead to the creation of an elite.
• Having a small economic elite will lead to a small political elite.
15. In which of the following ways does the Russian government exhibit characteristics of an extractive state? Choose the BEST answer.
• It has disbanded democratic governance for communism.
• The country often changes its electoral law to favor incumbents supported by the country’s ruling party.
• All members of the upper chamber of its parliament (the Duma) are hand-picked by the Russian president.
• It is a single-party state.
