Theme 1 - Nature of Economics Flashcards
Positive statement
Statements that are objective and can be tested with factual evidence.
Normative statements
Based on value judgements that are subjective and based on opinion rather than factual evidence.
Basic economic problem
Wants are unlimited and resources are finite, so choices have to be made.
Opportunity cost
The opportunity cost of a choice is the value of the next best alternative forgone.
What can PPFs show?
The maximum potential of an economy and the opportunity cost of using scarce resources.
The law of diminishing returns
When additional units of a variable input are added to fixed inputs after a certain point, the marginal product of the variable input declines.
Capital goods
Goods which can be used to produce other goods eg machinery.
Consumer goods
Goods which cannot be used to produce other goods, eg clothing
What are the 4 functions of money?
medium of exchange
measure of value
store of value
method of deferred payment
What is a free market economy?
Where governments leave markets to their own devices, so the market forces of supply and demand allocate scarce resources. No government intervention.
Why is Adam smith a free market economist?
He believes in the invisible hand theory. That prices are determined by the spending votes of consumers and businesses.
Why is Friedrich Hayek a free market economist?
He believes that government intervention makes markets worse.
What is a command economy?
Where governments allocates all of the scarce resources in an economy to where they think there is a greater need.
What did Karl Marx believe?
The free market is unstable. Profits created come from the exploitation of labour.
What is a mixed economy?
A balance between command and free market economies.
