U3 AOS1 Flashcards
What is microeconomics
= study of how individual c’er + bus behave in individual markets
What is macroeconomics
= study of economy as a whole or the “top down view” of the economy focussing on aggregate characters
What are needs
= items which are essential 2 survival
What are wants
= items which are x essential 2 survival h/r enhance our lives
What is relative scarcity
= basic economic whereby our unlimited needs + wants are x able 2 be fully satisfied as our resources are limited
-> forces eco. agents 2 make decisions
What is opportunity cost
= the value of the next best alternative foregone whenever a decision is made
What is allocative efficiency
= most efficient allocation of resources occurs when living standards + welfare are maxed + it is possible 2 further inc living standards by changing the way resources are allocated
What is productive / technical efficiency
= when it is x possible 2 inc output without inc inputs t/f max output from inputs
What is inter-temporal efficiency
= how well resources are allocated over different time periods so that living standards of current generations are x jeopardising future generations living standards
What is dynamic efficiency
= how quickly an economy can reallocate resources 2 achieve allocative efficiency, entails firms being adaptive + creative in responses 2 changing economic circumstances
What is a market
= main instrument 4 allocating scarce resources in Aus + method of answering 3 basic eco. Q’s
What are the 3 basic economic questions
1) What + how much 2 produce
2) How to produce
3) For whom 2 produce
What are the 4 preconditions of a perfectly competitive market (characteristics)
1) c’er sovereignty exists
2) lrg number of buyers + sellers = price takers
3) products are homogenous
4) ease of entry + exit
What are the 3 traditional viewpoints of consumers
1) c’er have ordered set of preferences
2) c’er make informed decisions
3) c’er act rationally
What is the market / price mechanism
= describes how the forces of D+S influence (relative) prices of g/s which then coordinates the way productive resources are allocated in the economy
What is demand
= willingness + ability of c’er 2 purchase g/s
What is the law of demand
- Qty demanded inc, price dec
- Qty demanded dec, price inc
What is the income effect
= dec consumption of g/s whose price has inc due 2 dec in c’ers purchasing power / inc in consumption of a g/s whose price has dec due 2 the inc in c’er purchasing power
What is the substitution effect
= dec consumption of a g/s whose price has inc due 2 the changed trade off : the fact that one must give up more of another g/s 2 get more units of the high priced g/s
What is disposable income
= income available 4 spending after the receipt of welfare benefits + deduction personal tax
What is discretionary income
= disposable income available 4 consumption following the payment of all “x-discretionary” / “x-avoidable” expenditures i.e related 2 food, clothing, shelter
What are the microeconomic demand side non-price factors
-> shift of demand curve
1) Changes in disposable income
2) The price of sub
3) The price of compliment
4) Preferences + tastes
5) Interest rates
6) Population demographics
7) C’er confidence (sentiment) = confidence in future state of the economy + job security
What is supply
= ability + willingness of p’ers 2 produce
What is the law of supply
- As $ inc the qty supplied inc
- As $ dec the qty supplied dec
What is the profit motive
= particularly given the higher the price, the inc chance of making profit
What are the microeconomic supply non price factors
-> result in shifts
1) changes in cost of production
2) number of suppliers
3) Technological change
4) productivity
5) climatic conditions
What is the equilibrium
= where qty demanded 4 g/s = 2 qty supplied of g/s
What is the 7 step process of answering changes in demand supply Qs
1) explain situation in your own words
2) supply / demand
3) inc or dec
4) shift curve left or right
5) if prices 2 remain at P1, shortage or surplus
6) market forces put upward or downward pressures on price 2 adjust 2 new equilibrium
7) overall impact on price qty
Distinguish b/n movement + shift
p.o.d = the factor causing the change
movement = influenced by prices changing that sees contractions + expansions along curve
shift = influenced by non price factors that physically shifts whole curve fav or unfav