Chapter 1 Flashcards
Scarcity
the condition that results from society not having enough resources to produce all the things people would like to have
Economics
the study of how people try to satisfy what appears to be seemingly unlimited and competing wants through the careful use of relatively scarce resources
need
basic requirement for survival (food, clothing, shelter, etc.)
want
a way of expressing a need (need = food, want = pizza)
WHAT to Produce
a society can’t have everything its people want
HOW to Produce
- more equipment/fewer workers
- less equipment/more workers
FOR WHOM to Produce
workers, professional people, or gov’t employees
Factors of Production
resources required to produce things we would like to have
Land
natural resources not created by humans
Capital
the tools, equipment, machinery, and factories used in the production of goods and services
Financial Capital
money used to buy the tools and equipment used in production
Labor
people with all their efforts, abilities, and skills
Entrepreneurs
a risk taker in search of profits who does something new with existing resources
Production
process of creating goods and services
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
the dollar value of all final goods and services
Economic Products
goods and services that are useful, relatively scarce, and transferable to others
good
an item that is economically useful or satisfies an economic want
consumer good
final use by individuals
capital goods
manufactured goods that are used to produce other goods and services
service
work that is performed for someone
consumer
person who uses goods and services to satisfy wants and needs
paradox of value
the situation where some necessities have little monetary value, whereas some non-necessities have a much higher value
Utility
the capacity to be useful and provide satisfaction
Wealth
the accumulation of those products that are tangible, scarce, useful, and transferable from one person to another