Chapter 2.2 Flashcards
Contrast the economic factors that impact on commercial negotiations
Microeconomics
The economics of an individual, department or organisation
Macroeconomics
The economics of a nation, industry or market
Name 12 sources of information on micro and macroeconomics
- Office for national statistics
- Bank of England Statistics
- Gov.UK Statistics
- World bank
- Federal reserve economic data
- UN Comtrade
- Yahoo Finance
- Energy information administration
- BBC Market Data
- Trade Publications
- Communication with suppliers
- Trade unions
What does microeconomics consider
The factors that affect individual economic choices, the effect of changes in these factors on the individual decision makers, how their choices affect and are affected by markets and how prices and demand are determined in individual markets
Opportunity cost
The potential benefits foregone as a result of choosing one alternative over another
What is the key assumption underpinning microeconomics
Resources are limited and therefore scarce
What is the law of diminishing returns
If one keeps adding a variable factor of production (such as labour) to fixed factors (such as land), you will get proportionally less output from each additional unit of factor added until eventually overall output will start to decrease with each additional unit of factor added
What are the four factors of production
- Land
- Labour
- Capital
- Enterprise
ROM prices
A price with a ‘rough order of magnitude’. This is similar to a ballpark figure but is usually estimated to tens, hundreds, thousands etc
What does microeconomics say that prices are determined by?
The interaction of supply and demand
What is the price mechanism
This theory assumes situations where offerings are relatively standardised and producers have a good understanding of the prices that different producers charge
What can you do when it is more difficult to compare suppliers offerings
Access other data sources including previous price paid, to inform them of market prices
What is also known as ballpark pricing?
ROM prices
Is demand finite?
Yes
Name 6 factors that determine demand. for a good or service
- The necessity of the item for firms/existence/subsistence
- The price of the good or service
- The prices of other goods and services, especially substitutes and complements
- The income of buyers
- The tastes and preferences of buyers
- Expectation of buyers about the future
Describe the demand curve
When the price increases, the quantity demanded will reduce
When does a shift in the demand curve occur?
A shift occurs when an influencing factor other than price changes
What is supply in microeconomics
The quantity of goods and services offered to the market by producers
Name 6 determinants of supply
- the physical feasibility and time and energy required to produce the products
- Price
- Prices of other goods and services
- Relative revenues and costs of making the good or service
- The objectives of producers and their future expectations
- Technology and innovation
What is a movement along the supply curve brought about by?
A change in price
What is a shift in the supply curve be caused by?
A determinant other than price
In microeconomics how is equilibrium price determined?
When the quantity demanded is equal to the quantity supplied
Are there shortages and surpluses at equilibrium price
No
What does elasticity refer to?
The responsiveness of quantity demanded or quantity supplied to a change in price or another factor
When is the price of a product described as being elastic?
If a small change in price leads to a big change in demand
When is the price of a product described as being inelastic?
If a big change in price leads to a small change in demand
Name 7 examples of products with inelastic demand
- Electricity
- Fuel
- Basic foodstuffs
- Commuter transport
- Tobacco
6.Alcohol - Sugar based drinks
What is income elasticity
The responsiveness of the quantity of a product demanded, to changes in customers income
What is cross elasticity
The responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied of good X to a change in price of good Y
Describe market competition
Pure competition is perfect competition
Monopolistic competition is imperfect competition
Name 3 features of a perfectly competitive market
- There are many firms producing identical or very similar (homogeneous) goods or services
- There are no barriers to entry to the market or exit from the market - anyone can enter or leave easily
- Both producers and consumers have perfect knowledge of the marketplace, prices, costs of production and influences on demand and supply
Is it possible to increase profits through pricing in a perfectly competitive market
No - its impossible
Contract price adjustment
A legal clause whereby the contract price can be varied, either up or down, by reference to an agreed formula, e.g., inflation rate or some other recognised index
Why is a market with perfect competition the most attractive market to be buying from
As there are many suppliers all selling the same products, there is plenty of choice and competition
When does a monopoly exist?
When there is only one producer in the market
What can a monopoly refer to?
A single company that has a dominant presence in a market with market share above 30-50%