unit 1. Flashcards
economic problem
when there is unlimited wants but limited resources to fulfil them, leading to scarcity
scarcity
when there is a lack of products/ services to fulfil the needs of the population
labour
the number of people available to make products/services
capital
the finance, machinery and equipment needed to manufacture the goods/services
enterprise
the skill and risk-taking ability of the managers and owners of the firm
opportunity cost
next best alternative given up by choosing another item
specialisation
when people and businesses concentrate on what they are best at
division of labour
when the production of process is split into different tasks and each worker performs one of the specific task only
advantage of division of labour
workers are trained in one task and specialised in that=increasing efficiency and output
less time wasted from one workbench to the other
disadvantages of division of labour
workers can be bored doing just one job=decrease efficiency
if one worker is absent no one else can do the job=production might be stopped
added value
the difference between selling price and the cost of bought-in materials
helps pay for operating expenses
helps make a profit if other costs are lesser than the added value
how to increase added value
- increasing the selling price=consumer may not want to buy at a higher price
- reducing cost of bought-in materials= consumer may think product is of low quality
classification of business
primary sector
secondary sector
tertiary sector
primary sector
this sector of this industry extracts and uses natural resources of Earth to produce raw materials used by other sectors in the industry
secondary sector
this sector of the industry manufactures goods using raw materials provided by the primary sector
tertiary sector
this sector of the industry provides services to consumers and to the other sectors of the industry
changes in sector importance
happens when primary product source depletes
developed economies are losing competitiveness
when higher disposable income and higher standards of living lead to more spending on services like travelling and fine-dining
private sector
businesses owned by private individuals and not the government
public sector
government of state owned and controlled businesses and organisations
privatisation
when public sector businesses are owned and managed by private sector to offer a more competitive and efficient good/service