Chapter 6 - Prices Flashcards
What is price?
The monetary value of a product
What to prices serve as? And how do they work?
Prices serve as signals. High prices signal buyers to buy less and producers to produce more. Low prices signal buyers to buy more snd producers to produce less. (Drive prices up)
Prices help producers to do what?
Answer the three questions: what, how, and for who,
The price system is a…
Efficient allocator of economic resources.
Why are prices the best way to allocate? (4)
Neutral- they are equally fair for both the producer and consumer
Flexible- they can adapt to changing economic conditions
Familiar- everyone understands how it works
Efficient- because the market can determine on its own,
What is rationing?
A system of allocating goods and services without prices in which the government decides everyone’s fair share.
Used in WWII
4 problems with rationing?
- Perceived fairness
- Administrative expense- someone has to pay (printing/distribution/salaries)
- Distorted incentives
- Abuse and misuse- coupons are stolen, sold, and counterfeited (black market)
What are the opposite goals of buyers and sellers?
Buyers- good deals at low prices
Sellers- high prices and large profits
How do you know when the price is fair to both?
When the process is both competitive and the transaction is voluntary
7 Main Factor that Affect Prices?
- Product Cost
- Quality
- Service
- Competition
- Demand
- Taxes
- Uniqueness
When prices are too high you have a…
Surplus: a situation where quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded at a given price.
When prices are too low you have a shortage…
Shortage: a situation where quantity supplied is less than quantity demanded at a given price.
What is the thought question?
Is it a good idea to raise minimum raise.
What are the 4 pro higher minimum wage arguments?
- Increases the buying power of the poorest workers
- Raises the standard of living for the poorest workers
- It motivates workers to work harder
- It helps decreases spending on social welfare programs
What are the 4 anti arguments for minimum wage.
- It causes fewer workers to be hired which increases unemployment.
- It hurts small businesses.
- It discourages poor workers from getting job skill and better employment opportunities
- It forces buisnesses to raise prices.