1: Economic methodology and the economic problem Flashcards
What is a normative statement?
A statement that cannot be scientifically tested.
A statement that cannot be scientifically tested.
Normative statement
Positive statement definition
A statement of fact that can be proven or disproven with evidence.
A statement of fact that can be proven or disproven with evidence.
Positive statement
What kind of words are often a clue that a statement is a normative one?
ought
should
better
worse
What is a value judgement?
When a judgement is made regarding how resources should be assigned based on a desirable outcome rather than pure objective reasoning.
When a judgement is made regarding how resources should be assigned based on a desirable outcome rather than pure objective reasoning.
Value judgement definition
What is meant by the term ‘economic welfare’?
the economic well being of an individual, group or society.
the economic well being of an individual, group or society.
What is this sentence referring to?
Economic welfare
What is a ‘need’
Something that is necessary for human survival such as food, water and warmth.
Something that is necessary for human survival such as food, water and warmth.
What is this sentence referring to?
‘Needs’
What is a ‘want’?
Something that is desired but not necessary for human survival.
Something that is desired but not necessary for human survival.
What is this sentence referring to?
‘Wants’
What is an economic system?
The set of institutions within a community that make up the decision making of what, how and for whom to produce.
The set of institutions within a community that make up the decision making of what, how and for whom things will be produced.
What is this a definition of?
An ‘economic system’
What are three ways an economic system can be defined based on the decision making on how its scarce resources are distributed?
1) Market economy
2) Command economy (planned economy)
3) Mixed economy
What is a ‘market economy’?
An economy where goods and serviced are exchanged through ‘price mechanism’ in a system of markets.
An economy where goods and serviced are exchanged through ‘price mechanism’ in a system of markets.
What is this statement referring to?
Market economies
What is a ‘command economy’?
An economy where the government allocates economic resources.
An economy where the government allocates economic resources.
What is this statement referring to?
A planned economy