Definitions Flashcards
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Demand
The amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at different prices
Market
The interaction between buyers and sellers in order to exchange goods or services
Inferior Good
An inferior good is a good whose demand decreases when consumer income rises and vice versa. It has a negative YED value
Normal goods
Goods that will increase in demand as income rises and vice versa. They have a YED greater than 0.
Substitute
A good that offers similar benefits to the consumer as another good. It has a positive XED value
Complementary goods
Goods that are consumed with each other. They have a negative XED value
Supply
The amount of a good or service that producers are willing and able to supply at different price
Joint supply
Goods that are supplied together from the production of one product.
Competitive supply
Two goods competing for the same resources for production
Indirect taxes
Taxes on spending of goods and services by consumers, collected by the supplier on behalf of the government.
Subsidies
Money given to firms by the government to (choose one)
- Reduce production costs
- Reduce prices
- Increasing supply
- Increase consumption,
- Increase investment and employment
- Protect domestic industries from imports
Opportunity Cost
The best alternative foregone when an economic decision is made
Consumer surplus
The difference between what consumers are willing and able to pay and the market price.
Producer surplus
The price received by a producer in excess of the price that the producer would be willing and able to offer for sale.
Allocative efficiency
Where resources are allocated in such a way that neither too much nor too little is produced from society’s point of view.
Price elasticity of demand
The responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price
Primary commodities
A raw or unprocessed material that is harvested or extracted
Cross price elasticity of demand
The responsiveness of the demand of one good to a change in the price of another good
Income Elasticity of Demand
A measure of the responsiveness of demand to a change in income.
Luxury good
A luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises. They are not necessary for living, but are deemed as highly desired within a culture or society
Price elasticity of supply
The responsiveness of quantity supplied to a change in price
Specific taxes
An indirect tax which is a fixed amount of tax per unit sold.
ad valorem taxes
An indirect tax which is a percentage of the selling price
Price Ceiling
A maximum price set by the government which is below the market equilibrium price.
Price Floor
A minimum price set by the government which is above the market equilibrium price.
Underground (Informal) Markets
Markets where there is economic activity that is unrecorded (illegal/not taxed) by the government.
Negative externalities of production
Harmful effects on third parties that arise when a good or service is produced.
Negative externalities of consumption
Harmful effects on third parties that arise when a good or service is consumed.
Positive externalities of production
Positive effects on third parties that arise when a good or service is produced..
Positive externalities of consumption
Positive effects on third parties that arise when a good or service is consumed.
Demerit goods
Goods or services considered to be harmful to people which are over-provided by the market and therefore over-consumed
Merit Goods
Goods and services considered to be beneficial society that would be underprovided by the market and under-consumed
Public good
Non-rivalrous and non-excludable goods that are available for all to consume, regardless of who pays and who does not.
Common access resources
Goods that are rivalrous but non-excludable
Sustainability
Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations
GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
The dollar value of all final goods and services produced within a country’s borders
GNI (Gross National Income)
Gross Domestic Product plus net income from abroad
Recession
It is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth
Consumption
The spending from households (consumers) on goods and services.
Saving
Income that is not spent, but stored in financial institutions
Investment
The spending by firms (or the government) on capital
Government Spending
All government expenditure on goods and services.
Green GDP
A modified measure of GDP that takes into account the costs of environmental damage
Net Exports
The value of exports minus the value of imports
Consumer confidence
A measure of the optimism of consumers about their future income and future economic conditions
Business Confidence
A measure of the expectations of businesses about the future economic conditions that affects the level of investment
Interest rates
The cost of borrowing money
Direct taxes
Taxes paid to the government on the income of households and firms
Aggregate demand
The total demand for all goods and services produced in an economy, compromising of C+ I+G+(X-M)
Aggregate supply
The total quantity of goods and services produced in an economy (real GDP) over a particular time period at different price levels
Long-run Aggregate Supply
The level of real output that an economy can produce when there is full employment. Represents potential output of an economy
Potential output
Total gross domestic product (GDP) that could be produced when the economy is at full employment
Recessionary Gap
When the economy is at an equilibrium below potential output
Inflationary Gap
When the economy is at an equilibrium above potential output.
Unemployment
People of working age who are actively seeking work but are without work
Underemployment
When a worker is either in a job below their skill level or are employed part-time but willing and able to work full-time
Cyclical Unemployment
Unemployment due to a lack of aggregate demand for goods and services
Seasonal Unemployment
A level of unemployment that is expected to occur at specific times of the year.
Frictional Unemployment
Short-term unemployment that can occur when a person enters or re-enters the workforce
Structural unemployment
Unemployment caused by a decline in demand for a particular type of labour
Natural Rate of Unemployment
Unemployment that still occurs when an economy operates at its potential. Includes frictional, seasonal and structural unemployment.
Inflation
A sustained increase in the price level.
Disinflation
Where the price level increases at a decreasing rate
Deflation
A sustained decrease in the price level.