micro Flashcards
short run
period of time where at least one factor of production is fixed
long run
period of time where all factors of production are variable
law of diminishing marginal returns
short term law that says as a variable factor of production is added to a fixed factor eventually both the marginal and and average returns for the variable factor will begin to fall after rising initially
assumptions of the law of diminishing marginal returns
short run
each unit of input is identical
marginal utility
the additional welfare gained from consuming one extra unit of a good
LRAC curve
made up of the points of productive efficiency of the SRAC curves
what do the SRAC curves represent in the cost curve envelope
each SRAC curve represents a new premises, premises are opened because the firm is operating beyond its productive efficiency at a particular output, this increases productive efficiency but takes time
when is utility maximised
when the marginal is 0
law of diminishing marginal utility
marginal utility falls with consumption
rational behaviour
acting in pursuit of self interest/ attempting to maximise welfare, satisfaction or utility gained from goods or services
welfare
optimal allocation of resources and goods
for a country- the level of prosperity and quality of living standards inn economy
needs a value judgement
utility
satisfaction or economic welfare welfare an individual gains from consuming a good or service
increasing returns to scale
where an increase in factor inputs leads to a more than proportional increase in outputs
decreasing returns to scale
where an increase in factor inputs leads to a less than proportional increase in factor outputs
MES
minimum efficient scale, first point of output at which productive efficiency is achieved
invention
original creation
innovation
upgrade/ improved version
technological change
a term used to describe the overall effect of invention and innovation and the diffusion of technology in the economy (long run concept)
effects of technological change on methods of production
automation, move from labour to capital intensive, mass production, mechanisation, specialisation, move LRAC down
static efficiency
productive + allocative efficiency
dynamic efficiency
long run- leading to the development of new products and more efficient processes that improve productive efficiency (technological change)
technological change can lead to
new products, new markets, destruction of existing markets
creative destruction
capitalism evolving and renewing itself over time through new technologies and innovations replacing old ones
behavioural economics
method of economic analysis that applies psychological insights into human behaviour to explain how individuals make choices
bounded rationality
when making decisions an individuals rationality is limited by the information they have , their minds and the time they have
satificing
achieving a satisfactory outcome rather than the best possible outcome
bounded self control
limited self control in which individuals lack the self control to act in what they see as their best interests
cognitive bias
mistake in reasoning as a result of holding onto ones beliefs regardless of contrary information
social norms
from or patterns of behaviour considered acceptable by a society or group