Theme 1 - Intro to Markets and Market Failure Flashcards
Define ‘Ad valorem tax’
An indirect tax imposed on a good where the value of the tax is dependent on the value of the good
Define ‘Assymetric Info’
Where one party has more information than the other, leading to market failure
Define ‘Capital’
One of the four factors of production; goods which can be used in the production process
Define ‘Capital goods’
Goods produced in order to aid production of consumer goods in the future
Define ‘Ceteris paribus’
All other things remaining the same
Define ‘Command Economy’
All factors of production are allocated by the state, so they decide what, how and for whom to produce goods
Define ‘Complementary Goods’
Negative XED; if good B becomes more expensive, demand for good A falls
Define ‘Consumer goods’
Goods bought and demanded by households and individuals
Define ‘Consumer Surplus’
The difference between the price the consumer is willing to pay and the price they actually pay
Define ‘Cross elasticity of Demand (XED)’
The responsiveness of demand for one good (A) to a change in price of another good (B)
%change in QD of A (divided by)
%change in P of B
Define ‘Demand’
The quantity of a good/service that consumers are able and willing to buy at a given price at a given moment of time
Define ‘Diminishing Marginal Utility’
The extra benefit gained from consumption of a good generally declines as extra units are consumed; explains why the demand curve is downward sloping
Define ‘Division of Labour’
When labour becomes specialised during the production process so do a specific task in cooperation with other workers
Define ‘Economic Problem’
The problem of scarcity; wants are unlimited but resources are finite so choices have to be made
Define ‘Efficiency’
When resources are allocated optimally, so every consumer benefits and waste is minimised
Define ‘Enterprise’
One of the four factors of production; the willingness and ability to take risks and combine the three other factors of production
Define ‘Equilibrium price/quantity’
Where demand equals supply so there are no more market forces bringing about change to price or quantity demanded
Define ‘Excess Demand’
When price is set too low so demand is greater than supply
Define ‘Excess Supply’
When the price is set too high so supply is greater than demand
Define ‘Externalities’
The cost or benefit a third party receives from an economic transaction outside of the market mechanism
Define ‘External cost/benefit’
The cost/benefit to a third party not involved in the economic activity; the difference between social cost/benefit and private cost/benefit
Define ‘Free Market’
An economy where the market mechanism allocates resources so consumers and producers make decisions about what is produced, how to produce and for whom
Define ‘Freedom Rider Principle’
People who do not pay for a public good still receive benefits from it so the private sector will under-provide the good as they cannot make a profit
Define ‘Govt Failure’
When government intervention leads to a net welfare loss in society