Chapter 2 - The Economic Problem: Scarcity and Choice Flashcards
Capital
Things that are produced and then used in the production of other goods and services.
factors of production (or factors)
The inputs into the process of production. Another term for resources.
production
The process that transforms scarce resources into useful goods and services.
inputs or resources
Anything provided by nature or previous generations that can be used directly or indirectly to satisfy human wants.
outputs
Goods and services of value to households.
Opportunity Cost
The best alternative that we give up, or forgo, when we make a choice or decision.
theory of comparative advantage
Ricardo’s theory that specialization and free trade will benefit all trading parties, even those that may be “absolutely” more efficient producers.
Absolute advantage
A producer has an absolute advantage over another in the production of a good or service if he or she can produce that product using fewer resources.
comparative advantage
A producer has a comparative advantage over another in the production of a good or service if he or she can produce that product at a lower opportunity cost.
Consumer goods
Goods produced for present consumption.
Investment
The process of using resources to produce
new capital.
production possibility frontier (ppf )
A graph that shows all the combinations of goods and services that can be produced if all of society’s resources are used efficiently.
marginal rate of transformation (MRT)
The slope of the production possibility frontier (ppf ).
Economic growth
An increase in the total output of an economy. It occurs when a society acquires new resources or when it learns to produce more using existing resources.
command economy
An economy in which a central government either directly or indirectly sets output targets, incomes, and prices.
