Scarcity, choice and the allocation of resources: Flashcards
What does the basic economic problem relate to?
Scarcity
Fundamental Economic problem?
Unlimited wants, limited resources
What are choices made over?
What to produce and in what quantity:
How to produce good?
Who to produce the good for?
Opportunity cost?
The cost of giving up the next best alternative
Economic good?
A good that has an opportunity cost in consumption as it uses up scarce resources
Free good?
A good that does not have an opportunity cost in consumption as it does not use up scarce resources
Who makes the decision in a free market or capitalist economy?
Solely by the interaction of consumers and firms
Who makes the decision in a command or centrally planned economy?
Solely by the planning department of governments