test 1 Flashcards
what is economics
how society uses its limited resources to satisfy its unlimited human wants.
what is the problem with economics
resource scarcity
why is economics a social science
concerned with how individuals, groups, societies respond to scarcity
what is macroeconomics
study of the behaviour of the economy as a whole. Nation-wide. Focuses on the aggregate economic values like inflation, national income and outputs. Measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) or gross national product (GNP) and unemployment
what is microeconomics
how specific industries function within the economy, individual units (firms, households)
what is opportunity cost
resources are scarce so every choice involves giving up another opportunity. Value of the best alternative that must be given up
what is the OC formula
OC= explicit cost + implicit cost - sunk cost
what is the explicit cost
direct outlay or spending of $ on a choice
EX.: decision to attend uni is the tuition fees or transportation costs that you must pay
what is the implicit cost
not a direct outlay, represents a value given up
EX.: while in uni, you give up the salary that you could be earning if you didn’t decide to attend
what is the sunk cost
irreversible cost irrelevant to a decision
EX.: Thomas wants to buy a resto, spends 1500$ to see if he can afford it, turns out secant afford it so that 1500$ is lost
what is the positive economic analyses
based on statements that can be tested by observing the facts . View the world as it is
what is the normative economic analyses
based on value judgement. View the world as it should be
what is scarcity
when human wants exceeds the productive capacity of existing limited resources
what are human wants
goods and services (commodities) that we wish to consume and that have value in return
what are resources
the inputs used in the production of the things that we want
what are natural resources (land)
nonhuman gifts of nature
what is labor
productive contributions made by workers
what is human capital
education and training of workers (increases productivity)
what is physical capital
available stocks of factories, equipment, machinery, and infrastructure used in production. Man-made
what is entrepreneurship
Human Resources that perform the functions of risk taking, organizing, and managing the other factors of production
is financial capital a productive resource
NO. it is the financial assets that measure one’s ownership and access to goods, services, and physical capital