Unit 1 (Ch. 1, 2, 5) Flashcards
Economics
Study of how people and society deal with scarcity and choices
Microeconomics
Study of small economic units, such as individuals, firms, and industries
Macroeconomics
Study of large economics as a whole or economic aggregates
Theoretical economics
Scientific method used to make generalizations and abstractions to develop theories. Based on fact
Policy Economics
Theories applied to fix problems or meet economic goals. Based on fact
Positive Economics
Based on facts, avoids value judgements (what is)
Normative Economics
Includes value judgements (what is should be)
1 Key Assumption
Society’s wants are unlimited, but all resources are limited (scarcity)
2 Key Assumption
Due to scarcity choices are made. Each choice has a cost (trade off)
3 Key Assumption
Everyone’s goal is to make choices to maximize satisfaction. Everyone acts in their own self-interest.
4 Key Assumption
Make decisions by comparing marginal costs and marginal benefits of each choice (is it worth it)
5 Key Assumption
Real situations can be explained and analyzed with simple models and graphs
Marginal
Additional
Marginal Analysis
Making decisions based on additional benefit vs additional cost
Trade Off
All alternatives that we give up whenever we choose one course of action over others
Opportunity Cost
Most desirable alternative given up (second best choice)
Utility
Satisfaction - what you get when goods are consumed
Allocate
Distribute - people get what they want
Scarcity
When people have unlimited wants, but there are limited resources. Occurs at all times for all goods (forever)
Shortages
Occur when producers will not offer goods or services at current prices (temporary)
Price
Amount buyer or consumer pays
Cost
Amount seller pays to produce a good
Goods
Tangible things that satisfy needs and wants
Consumer Goods
Created for direct consumption (ex. Pizza)
Capital Goods
Created for indirect consumption (goods used to make consumer goods, ex. Ovens)
Services
Actions that one performs for another (ex. Teaching)
Accountants
People who only look at explicit costs
Explicit costs
Traditional out of pocket costs of decision making (ex. Going to kings dominion)
Economists
People who look at explicit and implicit costs
Implicit costs
Opportunity costs like forgone time and income (ex. Someone in NFL opens a taco shop instead of playing the sport)
Four Factors of Production
Producing requires resources - all resources classified as factors
Land, labor, capital, entrepreneurship
Land
All natural resources used to produce goods or services (gifts of nature)
Labor
Any effort a person devotes to a task that they’re paid for
Physical Capital
Any human made resource used to make goods or services
Entrepreneurship
Leaders that combine other factors to create goods and services (ex. Shark tank). Take initiative, are innovative, and act as risk bearers to make profits
Investment
Money spent by businesses to improve production (ex. new computers, factories, or phones for employees)
Human Capital
Any skills gained by worker through education and experience (ex. College)