Definitions Flashcards
Opportunity Cost
Represents the alternative use of resources.
Production possibility frontier
A graphical representation of all possible combinations of the production of two goods and services that an economy can produce at any given time.
Consumer goods and services
Items produced for the immediate satisfaction of individual and community needs and wants.
Capital Goods
Items that have not been produced for immediate consumption but will be used for the production of other goods
Factors of Production
Any resources that can be used in the production of goods and services. The four main types include; capital, labour, natural resources and enterprises
The business cycle
Refers to the fluctuations in the level of economic growth due to either domestic or international factors.
Recession
Is the stage of the business cycle where there is a decreasing economic activity (2 consecutive quarters of negative growth)
Leakages
Items that remove money from the economy from the circular flow of income - taxation (T), saving (S), imports (M)
Injections
Items into the circular flow model of income that increases aggregate income and the general level of economic activity - government expenditure (G), exports (X), investment (I)
Equilibrium within the circular flow of income
Occurs in the circular flow of income when the sum of all leakages is equal to the sum of all the injections in an economy.
Product market
Interaction of demand and supply for outputs of production
Mixed economy
Is an economic system where the decisions concerning production and distribution are made by a combination of market forces and government decisions
Consumer Sovereignty
consumers, through market demand collectively determine what is produced and the quantity of production.
Competition
Is the pressure on businesses firms in a market economy to lower prices or improve the quality of output to increase their sales of goods and services of consumers
APC
Average Propensity to Consume - is the portion of total income that is spent on consumption.
APS
Average Propensity to Save - is the proportion of total income that is not spent but is saved for future consumption
Consumption function
A graphical representation of the relationship between income and consumption for an individual or an economy.
MPC
Marginal Propensity to consume - a portion of each extra dollar of earned income that is spent on consumption
MPS
Marginal Propensity to save - is the portion of each extra dollar earned of income that is not spent but saved for future consumption.
Utility
The satisfaction or pleasure that individuals derive from the consumption of goods and services
Substitute
Is a good that consumers may choose to buy in place of another good - butter and margarine
Complement
A good that is used in conjunction with another good - petrol and cars
Social Welfare Payments
Payments are made to increase the incomes of individuals and families in need of assistance from the government.
Industry
Is the collection of firms involved in making a similar range of items that usually compete with each other - motor companies
Niche Market
A segment of a mass market for a good or service that can be defined by the specific tastes or characteristics of the target consumers.
Profit Motive
Refers to the process by which a business seeks to maximize profit by using the lower-cost combination of resources and charging the highest price possible
Productivity
Refers to the quantity of goods and services an economy can produce with a given amount of inputs - labour, capital
Production
The total amount of goods and services produced
Internal economies of scale
Cost-saving advantages that result from a firm expanding its scale of operations. (Below technical optimum)
Internal diseconomies of scale
Cost-saving disadvantages faced by a firm for expanding its scale of operations beyond a certain point (above technical optimum)
Technical Optimum
Is the most efficient level of production for a firm. The average cost is at its lowest possible point.
External Economies of scale
The advantages that accrue to a firm because of growth in the industry in which the firm is operating (not a result of the firm changing something)
External Diseconomies of scale
The disadvantages faced by a firm because of the growth of the industry, in which the firm is operating (not a result of the firm changing something)
Ethical Decision Making
This is when business decisions about production methods, employment and other matter are made taking into consideration the impacts on broader society and the environment, and not simply to maximise profits for the firm
Demand
The quantity of a good or service a purchaser is ready, willing and able to purchase at given prices at a given time
Contraction of Demand
A reduction in quantity demanded in response to an increase in price
Expansion of Demand
An increase in quantity demanded as a result of a decrease in price