part 3 compatative economics Flashcards
Traditional economics descriptions
- predominantly agriculture
- developing or 3rd world
- trade and barter oriented
- low gdp & pc (per capita =average income)
Traditional economics
Economic questions answered by custom
Command economy
- economic questions answered by the government
- very little economic choice
- no private ownership
- communism
- old Soviet Union, old communist China, cuba, and North Korea
Karl Marx
- 19th century german economist
- author of “communist manifesto” and “dad kapital”
- government should control economy and distribute good and services to the people
- founder of revolutionary socialism and commits
Communist manifesto
- Karl Marx
- marked reforms in China in the mid 1970’s
- fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
- collapse of the S.u. 1992
- free market capitalism ( without some mixed economics the only show in town)
Free Market (capitalist) economics
- economic questions answered by producers
- limited government
- private property
- wide variety of choices and products
- us and Japan
Adams Smith
- 18 century Scottish economist
- published the wealth of nations in 1776
- explained the workings of the free market within capitalist economics
- invisible hand of the market
- laissez faire
Laissez-faire
- leave it be
- government stays out of the business practices “hands off” to let the market place determine production, consumption and distribution
- individual freedom and choice are emphasized
Capitalism
More business means lower prices and higher quality products for consumers (us!) to buy
Principles of capitalism
- voluntary exchange
- private property
- consumer sovereignty
- profit motive
Voluntary exchange
Business and consumers must be free to buy or sell what and when they want
Private property
Individuals and businesses must be able to get the benefits of owning their own property. Government doesn’t control it
Consumer sovereignty
Consumers get to make free choices about what to buys and this helps drive production ( demand drives supply)
Profit motive
People want to make Or save money.
Their “self interest” motives capitalism
Principles of capitalism
Social safety net: “mixed economy” idea says the government shouldn’t allow people to suffer in economic crisis ( natural part of capitalism business cycle but provide security instead)
Mixed economy and socialism
- government and ownership and control of property, of decision making and companies
- government control business
- social “safety net” for people
- socialism
- common in Europe, Latin america and Africa
John may hard Keynes
- mixed economy: socialism
- the invisible hand doesn’t always work
- “the long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead or… The trouble is people eat in short run”
Keynesian economics
- government should intervene in economic emergencies through tax and spending ( fiscal policy) and changing the money supply (monetary supply)
- this is done to smooth out the business cycle ( expansion and recession) and keep inflation low
Wages
What companies pay employees for their labor
Salary
The amount of a pay a person gets over a year ( especially for “professional” jobs)
Wages description
- blue collar
- manufacturing work with hands
- usually the “labor” part of production
Salary
- white collar
- “office jobs”
- usually control production
Downsizing
Laying of employees to save costs
Outsourcing
Sending jobs and manufactures overseas or contracting to outside companies to save money
Bankruptcy
Government allows business to restructure its dep
Out of bank
Lose all your business, money, and profits
What is the current trend in the us?
That manufacturing jobs are declining
Labor unions
Organizations of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals
- wage protection
- work place safety
- benefits
- job protection
Collective bargaining
Representatives of the Union and the company negotiate a contract for the worker; usually they rely on compromise
Strikes
When an agreement don’t be reached workers stop work to try to force the hand of the company
