Unit 1 Flashcards
Positive statement
Claim that attempts to describe the world as it is
FACT
Normative statement
Claims meant to prescribe how the world should be
OPINION
Economic system
An organized way of providing needs and wants to a society
Infinite demands, finite resources
3 Big Questions of Economics
- WHAT to produce
- HOW to produce it
- FOR WHOM to produce it for
3 economic systems
Traditional, command , market
Describe a traditional economy
The allocation of scarce resources and other economic activity stems from tradition
Roles are defined by customs
Advantages/disadvantages of a traditional economy
Advantages:
- everyone has a part
- jobs are filled
- everyone gets something
Disadvantages:
- no room for innovation or improvement
- dependent on the environment
- jobs aren’t given based on skill, if someone is bad at their job, they won’t be productive
Command economy
A central authority (government) decides what, how and for whom to produce
People have little choice
Ex. France under Louis XIV, North Korea, Soviet Union
Advantages and disadvantages of a command economy
Advantages: -everyone gets something -efficient Disadvantages: -no say in what you want -easily corrupt
Market economy
People and private firms decide what, how, and for whom to produce
Markets must exist in this economy
Examples: Walmart, BK, Ugg
Advantages and disadvantages of a market economy
Advantages: -able to target who you want -can make own decisions to benefit own business -improvement Disadvantages: -market failure can lead to crisis
Mixed economy
An economic system that adopts concepts from both command and market economies
All world economies are mixed to some degree
What did Adam Smith believe about economy?
- Self interest + competition (+ a little bit of morality) =best economic system
- Invisible hand
- Division of labor
- A country’s wealth is not a measure of how much gold or silver it has, but how many goods it produces
Division of labor (specialization)
-everyone works in a field where they have a comparative advantage
-people use their income to purchase goods
Advantages: if people are skilled, they will make innovations
Private property rights
Rights granted by the government
- Right to use the good
- Right to earn income from the good
- Right to transfer the good to others
