ITB Final Flashcards
(203 cards)
needs
things that are required in order to live
wants
things that add comfort and pleasure to life
goods
things you can see and touch; products purchased to meet your wants and needs
services
activities provided for the satisfaction of wants and needs, consumed at the same time they are produced
economic resources
things used to produce goods and services
scarcity
not having enough resources to satisfy every need
economic decision making
the process of choosing which needs and wants will be satisfied
trade-off
what you make when you have to give something up
opportunity cost
the value of the next best alternative you weren’t able to choose
economic system
the method a country uses to answer the 3 economic questions
command economy
an economy in which resources are owned and controlled by the government
market economy
in which the resources are owned and controlled by the people of the country
traditional economy
an economy in which goods and services are produced the way they have always been produced
mixed economy
an economy that combines the elements of command and market economies
capitalism
the private ownership of economic resources by individuals rather than by the government
consumer
a person who buys and uses goods and services
producer
an individual or organization that determines what products and services will be available for sale
demand
the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy
supply
the quantity of a good or service that businesses are willing and able to provide
market price
the point where supply and demand are equal
what is the basic economic problem?
scarcity
6 steps in the decision making process
- define the problem
- identify the choices
- evaluate each choice
- choose the best alternative
- act on choice
- review decision
3 economic questions
- What goods and services will be produced?
- How will the goods and services be produced?
- What needs and wants will be satisfied with the goods and services produced?
Principles of the US economic system
private property, freedom of choice, profit & competition