1: Introduction to Markets Flashcards
Certius Paribus
All things being equal
Positive Statements
Can be tested by evidence
Normative Statements
Express an opinion on what ought to be
Value Judgements
A view of the rightness or wrongness of something based on a personal view
Economic Problem
Infinite human wants and needs but finite resources to satisfy
Opportunity Costs
The loss of other alternatives when another is chosen
Economic Agents
Producers
Governments
Consumers
Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF)
Explains constraints experienced by society. Only a finite amount of goods and services produced with a fixed amount of resources. (P1 for diagram)
Where is it imossible to produce at on a PPF?
Outside it
When are all factors of production being used on a PPF?
On the line
When are factors of production being underemployed on a PPF?
Inside it
What will happen to the PPF curve if there is economic growth?
It will shift outward
Where is productive efficiency achieved on the PPF curve?
Any point on the PPF curve
Where is allocative efficiency achieved on the PPF curve?
A specific point on the PPF curve that maximises social welfare
What are the two types of goods?
Consumer goods and capital goods. If the output of a consumer good increases the output of a capital good decreases. However, can depend on if a country invests in producing more capital goods -> shift PPF curve outwards
Division of Labour
When modern businesses divide their labour force, allocating specific tasks to individuals
Specialisation
Workers become more efficient at their task, improving the productivity of the entire production process. Proved by Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations (4800 pins with 10 specialised workers or 10-20 pins with unspecialised workers making the whole pin each)
Advantages of specialisation
Economies of scale
Reduces costs of training workers
Increase labour productivity
Disadvantages of specialisation
Less flexibility
Workers may become bored and less productive
Countries may become less self-sufficient
What are the functions of money
Unit of amount
Store of value
Deferred payment
Medium of exchange
Free market
Where people can buy and sell freely with no government intervention. Allocates scarce resources based on the price mechansim
Advantages of free market
Efficient
Rewards entrepreneurship
Consumers have greater choice due to more innovation
Disadvantages of free market
What is fair in the free market may not be fair in reality
Goods needed in society may not be produced if they don’t generate a profit
Monoplies may arise
Command economy
Resources allocated by the government
Advantages of a command economy
Can correct inequalities that exist in the free market
Reduction in unemployment
Break up monoplies
Disadvanatges of a command economy
Less efficient
Asymmetric infomation
Choice restriction
Mixed economy
Resources partly allocated by the government and partly allocated by firms
Who was Adam Smith?
Free market and ‘Invisible Hand’ believer
No monoplies and low barriers to entry and exit
Interaction of profit maximising firms and consumers would lead to mutually beneficial allocation of resources
Who was Karl Marx?
Believed free market has inequalities and workers are exploited
This lead to revolution and means of production would be seized
Gave rise to communism without explaining how it would work