Topic 1: Intro to Economics Flashcards

(80 cards)

1
Q

A social science concerned with using scarce resources to obtain maximum satisfaction of the unlimited material wants of society (Walstad and Bingham).

A

Economics

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2
Q

The study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people (Samuelson and Nordhaus).

A

Economics

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3
Q

A social science concerned with using scarce resources to obtain the maximum satisfaction of the unlimited material wants of society (McConnell and Brue).

A

Economics

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4
Q

The study of how people use their limited resources to try to satisfy unlimited wants (Parkin and Bade).

A

Economics

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5
Q

Why study Economics?

A

➢Economics is an integral part of our everyday life and it affects our daily life.

➢Understanding economics, human beings become better informed and better equipped to analyze the human behaviour.

➢Economics allows us to intelligently and confidently debate on government policies and consequences.

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6
Q

Social science studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited human wants.

A

Economics

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7
Q

Economics came from the Greek word ——

A

oikonomia

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8
Q

Oikonomia means

A

household management

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9
Q

It means making decisions about choices.

A

Allocation

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10
Q

It refers to a condition wherein most things that people want are available only in limited supply.

A

Scarcity

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11
Q

Common Elements of Economic Models

A
  1. Ceteris paribus assumption (other things being equal or constant).
  2. The assertion that economic agents are optimizers (they want to make the most of everything).
  3. The distinction between normative and positive economics.
    • Positive economics – explanation of economic phenomena
    • Normative economics – the application of positive economics to create policy
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12
Q

Ceteris paribus assumption

A

Other things being equal or constant

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13
Q

The assertion that economic agents are optimizers

A

They want to make the most of everything.

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14
Q

Explanation of economic phenomena

A

Positive Economics

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15
Q

The application of positive economics to create policy.

A

Normative economics

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16
Q

Types of Economic Resources

A

-Land
-Labor
-Capital
-Entrepreneurial Ability

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17
Q

One of the factors of production that include natural resources.

A

Land

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18
Q

Basic factor of production which are productive services embodied in human physical effort, skill, intellectual powers, and others.

A

Labor

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19
Q

Refers to durable goods to produce another goods. (buildings, plant and machinery, roads, computers, ships and many more)

A

Capital

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20
Q

The ability to use the three factors of production to produce the required goods and services.

A

Entrepreneurial Ability

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21
Q

2 Classifications of Economics

A

-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics

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22
Q

The study of how individual consumers and firms behave, and how the market system allocates scarce resources. It does not concern itself to the temporary fluctuations in the economy.

A

Microeconomics

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23
Q

Studies the economy as a whole. It seeks to explain why fluctuations happen and then investigate policies that can mitigate them. It studies three essential phenomena of the economy: growth of output, employment, and inflation. All of which rely on the interactions of the goods, labor, and assets markets of the economy.

A

Macroeconomics

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24
Q

Studies the economy as a whole. It seeks to explain why fluctuations happen and then investigate policies that can mitigate them. It studies three essential phenomena of the economy: growth of output, employment, and inflation. All of which rely on the interactions of the goods, labor, and assets markets of the economy.

A

Macroeconomics

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25
8 Economic Goals
-Economic Growth -Full employment -Economic Efficiency -Price level stability -Economic Freedom -An equitable distribution of income -Economic Security -Balance of trade
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High standard of living translated which is translated into the production of more and better quality of goods and services.
Economic Growth
27
There must be an available job for individuals who are willing and able to work.
Full Employment
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Makes use of the resources to maximize the benefit for the society.
Economic Efficiency
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It able to avoid huge price fluctuation.
Price level stability
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Freedom to do what economic activity to do.
Economic Freedom
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How people make decisions.
• People face tradeoffs. • The cost of something is what you give up to get it. • Rational people think at the margin. • People respond to incentives.
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How people interact with each other.
• Trade can make everyone better off. • Markets are usually a good way to organize economic activity. • Governments can sometimes improve economic outcomes.
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The forces and trends that affect how the economy as a whole works.
• The standard of living depends on a country’s production. • Prices rise when the government prints too much money. • Society faces a short-run tradeoff between inflation and unemployment.
34
The standard of living depends on
Country’s production
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Prices rise when
The government prints too much money
36
Society faces a short-run tradeoff between
Inflation and Unemployment
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The cost of something is
What you give up to get it
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Rational people think
At the margin
39
People respond to
Incentives
40
People face
Tradeoffs
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It can make everyone better off.
Trade
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Usually a good way to organize economic activity.
Markets
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—— can sometimes improve economic outcomes
Governments
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Ten Principles of Economics
1. People Face Tradeoffs 2. The Cost of Something Is What You Give Up to Get It 3. Rational People Think at the Margin 4. People Respond to Incentives 5. Trade Can Make Everyone Better Off 6. Markets Are Usually a Good Way to Organize Economic Activity 7. Governments Can Sometimes Improve Market Outcomes 8. The Standard of Living Depends on a Country’s Production 9. Prices Rise When the Government Prints Too Much Money 10. Society Faces a Short-run Tradeoff Between Inflation and Unemployment.
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Principle: To get one thing, we usually have to give up another thing. Food v. clothing Leisure time v. work Sleeping v. attending school Efficiency v. equity
People Face Tradeoffs
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It means society gets the most that it can from its scarce resources.
Efficiency
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It means the benefits of those resources are distributed fairly among the members of society.
Equity
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Principle: Decisions require comparing costs and benefits of alternatives. Whether to go to college or to work? Whether to study or go out on a date? Whether to go to class or sleep in?
The Cost of Something Is What You Give Up to Get It.
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The __________ of an item is what you give up to obtain that item.
Opportunity Cost
50
Principle: Making decisions requires trading off one goal against another.
People Face Tradeoffs
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____________ are small, incremental adjustments to an existing plan of action.
Marginal Changes
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Principle: People make decisions by comparing costs and benefits at the margin.
Rational People Think at the Margin.
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Principle: Marginal changes in costs or benefits motivate people to respond.
People Respond to Incentives
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Principle: The decision to choose one alternative over another occurs when that alternative’s marginal benefits exceed its marginal costs!
People Respond to Incentives
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Principle: People gain from their ability to trade with one another.
Trade Can Make Everyone Better Off
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Principle: Competition results in gains from trading. Trade allows people to specialize in what they do best.
Trade Can Make Everyone Better Off
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A _____________ is an economy that allocates resources through the decentralized decisions of many firms and households as they interact in markets for goods and services.
Market Economy
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Principle: Adam Smith made the observation that households and firms interacting in markets act as if guided by an “invisible hand.”
Markets Are Usually a Good Way to Organize Economic Activity
59
Principle: Because households and firms look at prices when deciding what to buy and sell, they unknowingly take into account the social costs of their actions. As a result, prices guide decision makers to reach outcomes that tend to maximize the welfare of society as a whole.
Markets Are Usually a Good Way to Organize Economic Activity
60
______ occurs when the market fails to allocate resources efficiently.
Market Failure
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Principle: When the market fails (breaks down) government can intervene to promote efficiency and equity.
Governments Can Sometimes Improve Market Outcomes
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Standard of living may be measured in different ways:
-By comparing personal incomes. -By comparing the total market value of a nation’s production.
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Market failure may be caused by an _________ which is the impact of one person or firm’s actions on the well-being of a bystander.
Externality
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Market failure may be caused by __________ which is the ability of a single person or firm to unduly influence market prices.
Market Power
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Principle: Almost all variations in living standards are explained by differences in countries’ productivities.
The Standard of Living Depends on a Country’s Production.
62
Principle: One cause of inflation is the growth in the quantity of money. When the government creates large quantities of money, the value of the money falls.
Prices Rise When the Government Prints Too Much Money
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________ is an increase in the overall level of prices in the economy.
Inflation
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The _________ is an economic theory that inflation and unemployment have a stable and inverse relationship.
Phillips curve
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___________ is the amount of goods and services produced from each hour of a worker’s time.
Productivity
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Principle: The inflation in the economy and the unemployment rate faces a trade-off over the short-run period as discussed by the SRPC (short-run Phillips curve). According to SPRC, when the inflation in the economy increases, it experiences a decline in the unemployment rate, and when the unemployment rate increases, the economy experiences a decrease in the inflation rate.
Society Faces a Short-run Tradeoff Between Inflation and Unemployment
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When individuals make decisions, they face ________ among alternative goals.
Tradeoffs
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Rational people make decisions by comparing
Marginal costs and marginal benefits
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People change their behavior in response to the ________ they face.
Incentives
68
_______ can be mutually beneficial
Trade
69
_________ are usually a good way of coordinating trade among people
Markets
70
It can potentially improve market outcomes if there is some market failure or if the market outcome is inequitable.
Government
71
The ultimate source of living standards
Productivity
72
The ultimate source of inflation
Money Growth
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3 Essential Phenomena of the Economy
Output Employment Inflation
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3 Essential Phenomena of the Economy
Output Employment Inflation