exam 1 Flashcards
Economic
Way of thinking, study of choice
Cost-benefit principle
Suggest that action should only be taken if benefit > cost
• only do something when
Marginal benefit > marginal cost
Cost-benefit principle example
Store 1: Game cost $100
Store 2: Game cost $80
• what is the traveling cost to store 2?
• cost of traveling less or more than &20?
traveling cost = $10
10 < 20, yes ($10 profit)
traveling cost = $25
25 > 20, no ($5 cost)
Willingness to pay
Maximum amount buyer is willing to pay for something
• help convert non financial cost/benefit into money equivalent
Economic surplus
Measure how a decision improved well-being
• total benefit - total cost
Economic surplus example
Sony offer a paying job for $45000 / year
You would’ve accepted if its $ 35000 / year
Economic surplus = 45000-35000
= 10000
Framing effect
Decision affected by how a choice is presented
• clouds judgement
Framing effect example
Tee shirt
Shows original & sale price
Framing effect: makes u believe that since its on sale and cheaper, youre making profit
Opportunity cost principle
True cost of something is the most best alternative you have to give up
• every choice is a trade-off
Opportunity cost example
• you have 2 hrs of free time
You can..:
A) do hw
B) hangout
C) Netflix
D) nap
Do hw = giving up hangout (next best alternative)
Sacarcity
Resources are limited
Sunk cost
Cost that has been incurred and cannot be recovered
• ignore sunk cost
Sunk cost example
• You paid $10 for a movie, its 3 hours long
• You’ve been watching for 1 hr and its horrible
• Do you keep watching?
No, you already paid so you can’t get it back
But you can save 2 hours doing something better
Production possibility frontier
Shows different set of output that are attainable w scare resources
Marginal principle
Decision about qualities are best made incrementally
• break decision into small steps
• help maximize economic surplus
Marginal principle example
Deciding HOW MANY of something
• “how many worker should I hire?” NO
• “should i hire ONE more?” YES
• breaking “how many” into “1 more”
Marginal benefit
Extra benefit from 1 extra unit of good
Marginal cost
Extra cost from 1 extra unit
Rational rules
If something is worth doing, keep doing until marginal benefit = marginal cost
Interdependence principle
Best choice depends on
1. Your other choices
2. Choices other makes
3. Development in markets
4. Future expectation
• factor changing cause ur choice to change
- Your other choices
Interdependence principle
W limited resources, every choice made affect resources available for other decision
• ex: 24 hrs a day (limited time)
• amount of time available to study accounting depends on how much time is spent on studying econ
- Choices other makes
Interdependence principle
Choices made by other (business, people, gov) shape your choices
• your ability to date the Jack in ur class depends on the other people Jack might date in your class
• competing buyers in dating market
- Development in market
Interdependence principle
Change in prices & opportunity in one market affect choices you might make in other market
M
- Future expectancy
Interdependence principle
Present choice affect future choice
• ex: taking a class that fulfill prerequisite for future class
• shape ur future class choice
Principle connections
- Use marginal principle
• break it down - Apply cost benefit principle
• asset relevant cost & benefit
• mb > mc - Apply opportunity cost principle
• evaluate relevant cost & benefit - Interdependence principle
• help identify how change in factor affect choice
Individual demand
(graph) plot the quantity of an item that a consumer plan to buy at each price
• consumer
Graph
Price: vertical axis
Quantity: horizontal axis
Law of demand
Price fall = quantity demand rise
• downward sloping
Rational rule for buyers
Buy 1 more if marginal benefit > price
Diminishing marginal benefit
Benefit of a good declines as more is consumed by individual
• ex: eating Pizza
Slice 1: amazin
Slice 2: good
Slice 3: full
Slice 4: not good