Module 7 Flashcards
What is economics?
- Study of production, distribution, and consumption.
- Study of choices in the presence of scare resources.
What is microeconomics?
Study how individuals and companies make decisions to allocate scarce resources.
What is macroeconomics?
Study of an economy as a whole.
Ex: Factors that affect a country’s economic growth
What is the picture?
Supply and Demand Curve
What is price elasticity?
The degree of movement in the quantity demanded in response to change in price.
What are examples of inelastic goods?
Necessities (e.g., food, medicine, gas)
These things generally respond very little to price changes. You will continue to pay for them but you will complain more about it.
What are examples of elastic goods?
Luxuries (New cars, phones, etc.,)
These things generally slow down more when the prices of them incease.
Define what the equilibrium is?
Is the intersection of the supply and demand curves.
Prices should always move to equilibrium unless restricted by outside sources.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Total monetary value of all goods and services produced within the domestic US over the course of a given year.
What is real GDP?
GDP after accounting for inflation
What is the goal of monetary policy?
Affect economic activity by raising and lowering short-term interest rates because they affect consumer spending/demand
Who controls monetary policy?
The federal reserve (The Fed)
They are A Political and are a separate organization than the Gov’t
Who controls Fiscal policy?
Congress and the current administration/The President
What is the goal of the Fiscal policy?
Attempts to influence consumer demand through governmental policies.
What is in The Fed’s Monetary “Toolbox”
- Lowering or increasing the amount of required reserves that must be held by member banks
- Engaging in open-market operations
- Raising or lowering the discount rate
What are open-market operations?
- Most common monetary policy tool
- The Fed will buy additional Gov’t securities to expand economic activity - Attempting to increases money supply and drives down interest rates
- The Fed will sell Gov’t securites from its exsisting inventory to contract economic activity - Attempting to decrease money supply and drive up interest rate
What happens when The Fed buys additional Gov’t securities?
Attempting to increase money supply and drive down interest rates.
What happens when The Fed sells Gov’t securities?
Attempting to decrease money supply and drive up interest rates