ITB Final Flashcards
needs
things that are required in order to live
wants
things that add comfort and pleasure to life
goods
things you can see and touch; products purchased to meet your wants and needs
services
activities provided for the satisfaction of wants and needs, consumed at the same time they are produced
economic resources
things used to produce goods and services
scarcity
not having enough resources to satisfy every need
economic decision making
the process of choosing which needs and wants will be satisfied
trade-off
what you make when you have to give something up
opportunity cost
the value of the next best alternative you weren’t able to choose
economic system
the method a country uses to answer the 3 economic questions
command economy
an economy in which resources are owned and controlled by the government
market economy
in which the resources are owned and controlled by the people of the country
traditional economy
an economy in which goods and services are produced the way they have always been produced
mixed economy
an economy that combines the elements of command and market economies
capitalism
the private ownership of economic resources by individuals rather than by the government
consumer
a person who buys and uses goods and services
producer
an individual or organization that determines what products and services will be available for sale
demand
the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy
supply
the quantity of a good or service that businesses are willing and able to provide
market price
the point where supply and demand are equal
what is the basic economic problem?
scarcity
6 steps in the decision making process
- define the problem
- identify the choices
- evaluate each choice
- choose the best alternative
- act on choice
- review decision
3 economic questions
- What goods and services will be produced?
- How will the goods and services be produced?
- What needs and wants will be satisfied with the goods and services produced?
Principles of the US economic system
private property, freedom of choice, profit & competition
Natural resources
Raw materials supplied by nature
Human resources
people who produce goods and services
capital resources
the products and money used in the production of goods and services
private property
you can own, use, or sell things of value
freedom of choice
you can make economic decisions independently and must accept the consequences of those choices
GDP
the total value of all finals goods and services produced in a country during one year
personal income
salaries and wages as well as investment income and government payments to individuals
retail sales
the sales of durable and nondurable goods bought by consumers
business cycle
the movement of the economy from one condition back to another again and back again. the 4 phases are prosperity, recession, depression, and recovery
prosperity
the peak of the business cycle, people who want to work are working, businesses produce in record numbers, good wages, GDP increases
recession
demand begins to decrease, business lowers production, unemployment rises, GDP slows for 2 or more quarters of year
depression
phase is marked by prolonged period of high unemployment, weak consumer sales, and business failures
recovery
phase in business cycle which unemployment decreases, demand increases, and gdp rises
inflation
general increase in prices
price index
a number that compares cost of living prices in one year w prices in an earlier base year
deflation
a decrease in general level of prices
capital projects
spending by businesses for items such as: land, buildings, equipment, and new product development
stock
ownership in a corporation
bond
debt for organization, bondholders lend money to a company & are paid interest for use of their money
budget surplus
a financial situation that occurs when a government spends less than it takes in
budget deficit
a financial situation that occurs when a government spends more than it takes in
national debt
total amount owed by federal government
specialization of labor
training of workers to do a specific task
division of labor
workers are assigned specific elements of a manufacturing process
demand-pull inflation
when the demand for goods and services is greater than the supply
cost-push inflation
when production costs increase -> causing prices of products + services to increase
measure of inflation
CPI (consumer price index)
Why are inflation rates deceptive?
The CPI is based on a group of selected goods and services
Major influence on interest rates
supply and demand for money
equity
ownership
creditor
a person who purchases a corporate or government bond
imports
goods and services bought from other countries
exports
goods and services sold to other countries
balance of trade
the difference between a country’s total exports and imports
balance of payment
difference between the amount of money that goes out of a country and the amount that comes into a country
exchange rate
that value of a currency in one country compared with the value in another
infrastructure
a factor that supports international trade in industrialized countries: transportation, utility systems, & communication
trade barriers
restriction to free trade
quota
a government set limit on the quantity of a product that may be imported or exported within a given period
tariff
a tax that the government places on certain imported products
embargo
an action imposed by the government to stop the export or import of a product completely
multinational company (MNC)
an organization that does business in several countries
joint venture
an agreement between 2 or more companies to share a business project
money 3 values
- A store of value for future buying
- A medium of exchange for business transactions
- A unit of measure to value goods and services
domestic business
the making, buying, and selling of goods and services within a country.
international business / foreign trade
business activities needed for creating, shipping, and selling goods and services across national borders.
absolute advantage
When a country can produce a good or service at a lower cost than other countries
comparative advantage
a situation in which a country specializes in the production of a good or service at which it is relatively more efficient.
foreign debt
the amount a country owes to other countries.
trade surplus
If a country exports (sells) more than it imports (buys)
trade deficit
If a country imports more than it exports, unfavorable position
3 main factors affecting currency exchange rates
the country’s balance of payments, economic conditions, and political stability.
free - trade zone
a selected area where products can be imported duty-free and then stored, assembled, and/or used in manufacturing.
free-trade agreement
member countries agree to remove duties (also called import taxes) and trade barriers on products traded among them.
common market
member countries no longer encounter duties and other trade barriers. Companies are free to invest in each member’s country. Workers are allowed to move freely across borders.
4 main factors of international business environment
geography, cultural influences, economic development, and political and legal restrictions.
WTO (World trade organization)
settles trade disputes and enforces free-trade agreements between its members.