1.1.5 +1.1.6 Specialisation and Division of labour, types of economies Flashcards
what is specialisation?
when an individual, firm, region, country concentrates on the production of a limited range of goods and services
what are the advantages of specialisation?
- increased quality and quantity
- more efficent use of resources
- higher output–> higher economic growth–> higher living standards
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what is the division of labour?
the specialisation of workers on specific tasks in the production process
production process broken into many seperate tasks
what are the disadvantages of specialisation?
- over reliance on industies which could be risky (if they collapse)
- ** reduced self sufficency ** due to increased interdependance
- natural resource depletion
over specialisation
why is output increased with division of labour?
a task is divided up into sections, workers can complete their tasks accuratley in less time
what are some of the advatnages of divion by labour?
- increased output per person (repetion of a task)
- lower supply costs per unit(gain in labour productivity)
- workers become more skilled through repetition (learning by doing)
- workers are easier and chaeper to train
- time is saved by workers focussing on a narrow range of tasks
what are the disadvantages of division of labour?
- unrewarding- repetive work, lowring motivation and productivity
- workers take less pride in work- quality may suffer
- increased employee turnover –
- unemployment risks for workers (strucutural)
what is the benefit of division of labour to firms and workers?
firms: greater quantity and quality of output
workers: higher skill levels potentially higher wages
what is productivity?
equation
what does increased productivity lead to?
- higher output and higher quality
- higher standard of living
- more efficent use of resources
what is productivity- definition?
the effectivness of producitive effort, measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input
what are the two methods of trading?
- bartering (negotiating a price/haglling)
- money
what are the 4 functions of money?
- medium of exchange: comonly accepted in exchange for gods and services
- measure of value: the price reveals a good’s value
- store of value: value is miantained and can be kept for a long time
- method of deffered payment: allows debt to be created (mortage)
what did Adam Smith have to say about divsion of labour?
- it increased output
- incraese in productiity came from workers being able to just focus on one task, but could lead to bordom
studied effects ina pin factory
What are the three different types of economies ?
Describe free market economies
- resources are allocated by markets using the price mechanism
- no goverment intervention (taxes, subsisdisation, regulations)
Describe command market economies
- all resources are alloctaed soley by the state
Describe what a mixed economy looks like
- resources are allocated using the price mechanism and the goveremnt (healthcare & transport )
- public and private sector