One advantage market economies have over centrally-planned economies is that market economies a. provide an equal distribution of goods and services to households. b. establish a significant role for government in the allocation of resources. c. solve the problem of scarcity. d. are more efficient.

Shelby company produces three products: product x, product y, and product z. data concerning the three products follow (per unit): product x product y product z selling price $ 85 $ 65 $ 75 variable expenses: direct materials 25.50 19.50 5.25 labor and overhead 25.50 29.25 47.25 total variable expenses 51.00 48.75 52.50 contribution margin $ 34.00 $ 16.25 $ 22.50 contribution margin ratio 40 % 25 % 30 % demand for the company’s products is very strong, with far more orders each month than the company can produce with the available raw materials. the same material is used in each product. the material costs $8 per pound, with a maximum of 4,400 pounds available each month. required: a. compute contribution margin per pound of materials used. (round your intermediate calculations and final answers to 2 decimal places.) contribution margin per pound product x $ product y $ product z $ b. which orders would you advise the company to accept first, those for product x, for product y, or for product z? which orders second? third? product x product y product z