Econ 101: Chapter 7 Flashcards
positive analysis
describes what is going to happen; forecasts the effects of the policy
positive analysis involves…
a purely objective analysis
normative analysis
assesses which is the better outcome, and which policy should be adopted.
normative analysis involves…
making a value judgment
efficiency criterion
favours the outcome that generates the most economic surplus.
economic surplus measures…
the benefits that follow from a decision minus the costs that are incurred.
(total benefits - total cost)
economic efficiency
an outcome is more economically efficient if it yields more economic surplus.
efficient outcome
yields the largest possible economic surplus.
efficient outcomes…
won’t make everyone happy.
economic surplus only rises when…
the gains to those helped are larger than the declines in surplus among those that are harmed.
when economic surplus rises, it is possible for…
those who benefit to compensate that who were harmed (ensures that everybody is better off)
This is quite rare in practice.
equity
assesses whether a policy will yield a fair distribution of economic benefits.
consumer surplus
the economic surplus you get from buying something
consumer surplus =
marginal benefit - price
consumer surplus describes…
the gain you get from buying something at a price below the highest price you are willing to pay.
total consumer surplus is…
the area below the demand curve and above the price, out to the quantity sold.
you earn consumer surplus on all but…
your last purchase.
producer surplus
the economic surplus you get from selling something
producer surplus =
price - marginal cost
producer surplus is gained when…
you sell something at a higher price than your marginal costs.
total producer surplus is…
the area above the supply curve and below the price, out to the quantity sold.
you earn producer surplus on all but…
your last sale.