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Economics Test 1 Sarah Nation
economics chapter 1-3
146
Economics
Undergraduate 1
09/14/2010

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Term
Authority or Command System
Definition
An economic system that is controlled by a central authority which owns and allocates resources.
Term
Capital
Definition
The manufactured resource. The tools and equipment that aid in production.
Term
Economic efficiency
Definition

 

Gaining the most output to maximize consumer utility with a given amount of input.

Term
Entrepreneural Ability
Definition
This is the entity in a market economy that combines ladn labor and capital into a finished product or service.
Term
Factors of Production
Definition
The basic economic resoursce that are required in production-land, labor, capital and entrepreneural ability.
Term
Insatiable
Definition
The human condition where wants are incapable of complete satisfaction.
Term
Labor
Definition

 

the human resource. A certain amount of labor is required to produce and resource.

Term
Land
Definition
the natural resources that are required to produce any product.
Term
Market Economcy
Definition
System that allows free interaction between buyer and seller in the market place. It is characterized by private ownership of resources.
Term
Opportunity Cost
Definition
Due to scarcity, the choice of one product means giving up something else. It is the alternative not chosen.
Term
Production Possibilities Curve
Definition
A model that shows the trade-off that exists between two goods or services that could potentially be produced by a full-employement, full output economy assuming that all other resources are fixed.
Term
Productive efficiency
Definition
gaining the most output with a given amount of input but not relating output to consumer utility.
Term
The Economic Problem
Definition
the contrast between virtually unlimited human wants and the limited availability of resources.
Term
The Four Questions of Allocation
Definition
Every society must decide what to product, how much to produce, how to distribute wealth(for whom) and ways to insure efficiency within the economy.
Term
Traditional Economic System
Definition
As system that allow prevailing customs to determine the allocation of resources.
Term
Economics
Definition
Economics is the study of the choices, methods or systems used by societies to allocate scarce resources.
Term
Fallacy of Composition
Definition
The fallacy of composition exists when we conclude that something that is appropriate for an individual must be also appropriate for society. Example: If it is good for the individual it must be good for the overall economy.
Term
Marginal Analysis
Definition
Comparing the marginal (extra) costs to the marginal (extra) benefits as an aid to decision making. Example: Is the extra (marginal) benefit of a college degree greater than the marginal cost?
Term
Microeconomics
Definition
Microeconomics is a study of the allocation of resources in smaller units, specifically the individual consumer and the individual business unit or firm.
Term
Normative Economics
Definition
The description of the economy where opinion is utilized and value judgments are made. Example: because of government’s effective use of fiscal policy, unemployment has fallen to only 5.5%.
Term
Opportunity Cost Analysis
Definition
Anytime we receive a benefit from use of a resource, it comes at a cost because we could have used that resource for a different opportunity. All of our decisions come at a cost and this cost is compared to the benefit we receive in deciding if we should undertake the action.
Term
Policy Economics
Definition
Policy Economics is the application of the principles of economics to government policy actions. Government seeks to understand economic activities in order to influence economic activity.
Term
Positive Economics
Definition
The description of an economy by stating facts or using specific data. No opinion is involved. Example: the unemployment rate is 5.5%.
Term
Rational Analysis
Definition
The study of Economics involves the use of a logical pattern of thinking as well as analytical tools of analysis.
Term
Variable Analysis
Definition
Economists consider the variable relationships in their analysis with an emphasis on considering the relationship of one variable at a time. This is called ceteris paribus (Latin translated as meaning one at a time). Each variable is evaluated relative to itself rather than in combination with many other variables
Term
Demand
Definition
a schedule showing a series of prices and quantities that consumer would be willing and able to buy at a specific point in time.
Term
Determinates of Demand
Definition
changes in tastes, income, numbers of buyers, and related goods which cause a fundamental change in the way that consumers view a particular product or service.
Term
Determinates of Supply
Definition
changes in resource prices, technology, expectations, related goods, taxes and subsidies or the number of producers which cause a fundamental change in the way that producers view a particular product or service.
Term
Equilibrium
Definition
that point in an individual market where quantity demanded equals quantity supplied. It is always where the curves cross-the market is cleared with no surplus or shortage
Term
Law of Demand
Definition
this law assumes an inverse relationship between price and quantity. At a higher price, quantity demanded declines-at a lower price the quantity increases.
Term
Law of Supply
Definition
this law assumes a direct relationship between price and quantity. At a higher price, producers will produce more. At a lower price the quantitly will decline.
Term
Market Shortage
Definition
the quantity demanded is greater that the quantity supplied.
Term
Market Surplus
Definition
the quantity supplied is greater that the quantity demanded.
Term
Market system
Definition
where buyers and sellers meet. It provided for the free interation of buyer and seller in the market place.
Term
Price Ceiling
Definition

 

government sets a price that is below the equilibrium price

Term
Price Floor
Definition
government sets a price above the equilibrium price.
Term
Price Function
Definition
in a market, price measures scarcity. If the product is more scarce, price goes up—less scarce, it will go down. Price is an important meachanishm for allocating scarce resources in a market.
Term
Pure Competition
Definition
a large number of independantly acting buyers and seller in a market place where no one producer can unduly effect that market.
Term
Quantity Demanded
Definition
on a demand schedule, this is one amount that corresponds to one price. A change in price will change the quantity demanded.
Term
Quantity Supplied
Definition
on a supply schedule, this is one amount that corresponds to one price. A change in price will change the quantity supplied.
Term
Supply
Definition
a schedule showing a series of prices and quantities that producers would be willing and able to supply at a specific point in time.
Term
_____________ costs are present in a PPF/PPC when resources are not perfectly shift-able from one product to another (Example: from beef production to wine production).
Definition
increasing
Term
Robert Owen viewed social systems as primary in determining economic activity and he believed that ________ must be subordinated through government intervention.
Definition
technology
Term
Any point outside a specific PPC/PPF describes a combination of goods which is not attainable (not sustainable) for a ______ run of production.
Definition
long
Term
The transition away from ___________________ systems began as the manor life yielded to the city life in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe.
Definition
traditional & autocratic
Term
One of the current widely used models for visualizing economic allocation is the __________________________ . 
Definition
Production Possibilities Curve (also know as the PPF)
Term
A _____________ system involves a strong central authority making all choices and decisions relative to the economy.
Definition
command
Term
One of the Four Questions of Allocation is ______________ .  This question is largely answered in a market economy by individual productivity.
Definition
For whom
Term
The beginnings of academic thought about the Market economy can be found in _____________ .
Definition
England
Term
Keynesian Theory  was challenged beginning in the 1970’s by ___________ and other related New Classical Theories.
Definition
Monetary Theory
Term
David Ricardo’s most significant theory was ______________ , arguing that a nation will gain through trade by producing what is most efficient and exchanging with other nations.
Definition

Comparative Advantage
Term

In order to produce ________ economic good(s) or service(s) there must be some use of a land resourceeither direct or derived. 

 

Definition
any
Term
The Production Possibilities Model (or Curve/Frontier –PPC/PPF) assumes a constant ____________ as well as constant technology and resources.
Definition
timeframe
Term
____________ is the spending for Capital goods and must come from savings in a pervious time period.
Definition
investment
Term
The ____________ Anti-Trust Act was passed in 1890 to restrain the monopoly power which had been created in some sectors of the U.S. economy.
Definition
sherman
Term
_____________ costs are present in a PPF/PPC when resources are not perfectly shift-able from one product to another (Example: from beef production to wine production).
Definition
increasing
Term
_________ is not a factor of production.
Definition
money
Term
Definition
David Ricardo’s
Term

The evolution toward the ________________ system occurred in a gradual process as societies adapted to new technologies and the need for skilled labor.

 

Definition
market
Term
One of the Four Questions of Allocation is ______________.  Within a market economy this decision is made by consumer sovereignty, i.e. consumer wants.
Definition
what to produce
Term
“Opportunity Cost” is best illustrated by the PPF/PPC with a movement from one point ________ the frontier (curve) to another point _________ the curve.
Definition
on, on
Term
__________ viewed social systems as primary in determining economic activity and he believed that technology must be subordinated through government intervention.
Definition
Robert Owen
Term
The Depression of the __________ caused many to loose confidence in traditional classical theories of economics.
Definition
1930's
Term
The _____________________ assumes that a nation has only two goods and they are graphed with varying combinations along the X and Y axis.
Definition
Production Possibilities Curve (also know as the PPF)
Term
The Production Possibilities Model (or Curve/Frontier –PPC/PPF) assumes a constant timeframe as well as constant _____________________ .
Definition
technology and resources
Term
A point slightly outside a specific PPC/PPF describes a combination of goods which is ______________ for the short run by working resources in an “overtime” mode.
Definition
producable
Term
____________ approaches brought stability to the social as well as the economic system, but did not allow for much progress or change. 
Definition
traditional
Term
A new theory suggesting more government intervention emerged from ___________ during the 1930’s and became widely accepted in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Definition
John Keynes
Term
_________________ is the production of that combination of goods that  consumers’ desire the most (maximum utility) given a fixed amount of resource input.
Definition
economic efficiency 
Term
___________ believed that Utopian Socialism was a remedy for poverty. 
Definition
robert owen
Term
The subject of resource allocation was first considered in a comprehensive manner by _______________.
Definition
adam smith
Term
Silicon and other basic elements used  to make computer chips are derived from the factor of production we call __________ .
Definition
land
Term
David Ricardo’s most significant theory was ______________ , arguing that a nation will gain through trade by producing what is most efficient and exchanging with other nations.
Definition
Comparative Advantage
Term
what are the 4 questions of allocation?
Definition

1. what to produce

2. how to produce

3. who to produce for

4.efficency and power

Term
standard of living
Definition

The standard of living in a society is ultimately determined by the amount of

resources that are available and how effi ciently they are used.

Term
what are the factors of production
Definition
labor, capital, land, and entrepreneurship
Term

In order to produce and deliver any economic

good or service, there must be some use of natural resources.

Definition
land
Term

The term economic (or “real”) capital

describes the tools, facilities and equipment that aid in the production of all

products and services.

Definition
capital
Term
what are the 3 economic systems?
Definition
traditional, command, & market
Term

In a _____________

economic system the basic resources were

allocated by the customs and folkways long

used by a particular society or culture.

Definition
traditional
Term

which involved a strong

central government or leader making all decisions relative to resource allocation.

Definition

command system

Term

Within this system, the choices of producers

and consumers interact to determine the allocation of the four basic

resources.

Definition
market system
Term

father of economics,His best-known work, An Inquiry into

the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, was published in 1776 and

provided the theoretical foundation of free-market economics.

Definition
adam smith
Term

the “Worldly Philosophers” of 18th and 19th

century economics held widely varied but infl uential views on markets and

governments

Definition
Adam Smith,
Term

His most signifi cant theory was comparative

28

advantage, which argued that a nation will gain through trade by specializing

in the good which it produces most effi ciently.

Definition
David Ricardo
Term

became well known for his economic

views that population grew geometrically (i.e., 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.) while

food production grew only arithmetically (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). Thus, he predicted

that economic activity would evolve in cycles of misery and catastrophe.

Definition
Thomas Malthus
Term

 was a Welsh utopian socialist

who believed that socialism was a remedy for the poverty of the period.

Definition
Robert Owen,
Term

Within his Communist

Manifesto, published in 1848, he argued that capitalism itself would

lead to socialism and then to communism as armies of unemployed workers

would force economic change and a complete takeover of the economic

system by the government.

Definition
Karl Marx.
Term
Economics is the study of the _______ that we make in the allocation of scarce resources.
Definition
choices
Term
In choosing whether or not to go to a particular concert ... if the ___________ the marginal cost, then it would be “rational” to go.
Definition
marginal benefit (marginal utility) gained is greater than
Term
A real cost of choosing to attend a concert is not only the out-of-pocket $ $ $ cost, but also the ________________ (lost wages or maybe extra sleep). Every activity we undertake requires us to not pursue other opportunities.
Definition
opportunity
Term
__________ is when more money is paid for the same amount of goods and services than in a previous time period.
Definition
inflation
Term
Allocation of resources within the capitalistic system is accomplished through a ________ approach where buyers and sellers meet.
Definition
market
Term
The result of a change in Quantity Demanded as ________ change is shown by a movement along the demand line.
Definition
prices 
Term
As a person continues to consume more of an item, ________  s/he will get less additional satisfaction (utility).
Definition
at some point
Term

The meeting place for the buyer and seller.

Definition
the role of the market
Term
methods of analysis
Definition
descriptive, tabular, graphic
Term

 series of prices and individual quantities that
A series of prices and individual quantities that consumers are willing and able to buy at a particular point in time.

Definition
demand
Term
Determinates of demand 
Definition
tastes & preferences, number of buyers, expectations, income, related goods
Term

A series of prices and individual quantities that producers are willing and able to produce at a particular point in time.

Definition
supply
Term
determines in supply
Definition
technology, taxes & subsides, number of sellers, resource prices & availability, expectations, related goods
Term
at equilibrium...
Definition

Quantity demanded equals quantity supplied, no surplus no shortage--market is cleared, the curve crosses

Term
supply is provided by...
Definition
producers
Term
demand is provided by...
Definition
consumers
Term

assumes there is an inverse relationship between price and

the quantity demanded.

Definition
law of demand
Term

The amount of a product that consumers are willing and

able to purchase at a particular price is called the

Definition
quantity demanded
Term

income

effect,substitution effect,law of diminishing

marginal utility

Definition

three reasons why price and quantity demanded have an inverse

relationship 

Term

If the price of item A, a substitute for item B, decreases, then people will buy

more of A and less of B. Thus, the quantity demanded of A will increase when

its price decreases.

Definition
substitute effect
Term
law of diminishing marginal utility
Definition

Economists assume that at any given price a person

will continue to consume more and more of an item, but at some point that

person starts receiving less and less additional satisfaction (utility) from each additional unit consumed. Therefore, beyond some point, the consumer will

only purchase more of that item if the price of that item decreases.

Term
income effect
Definition

 If price decreases, a consumer is willing to buy more at the lower price.

At lower prices, the consumer has more purchasing power.

Term
changes in demand
Definition

A Demand line may shift right, representing an increase in a demand behavior,

or shift left, representing a decrease in that demand behavior.

Term
Normal goods
Definition

sometimes called “superior goods”) are items that

consumers will instinctively increase their purchases of when they have an

increase in income.

Term
inferior good
Definition

is one that consumers will buy less of when their incomes

increase for example used car

Term
substitute goods.
Definition

Two products that are viewed as replacements for each other such as coke and pepsi

 

-a change in the price of one will cause a

change in the demand of the other in the same direction

Term
complimentary goods
Definition

-Two goods that are purchased and consumed together shoe and shoe laces

 

-a change in the price of one will cause a change in the

demand of the other in the opposite direction

Term
law of supply
Definition

If price increases, then the quantity supplied will also

increase.

Term
x and y axis
Definition
quantity on y, price on x
Term
When prices are ____________, greater quantities will be provided by producers at all price levels all other things remaining the same.
Definition
higher
Term
The market clearing price where the quantity demanded by consumers equals the ____________ by producers.
Definition
quantity supplied
Term
____________ is defined as the quantity of goods and services that consumers are willing and able to purchase as a function of prices.
Definition
demand
Term
If market price is below the equilibrium price, this will result in a ________.
Definition
shortage
Term
If consumers expect prices to increase in the future, they would ________ their demand for an item now.
Definition
increase
Term
The market is cleared by finding a _________ at which producers are willing and able to supply and consumers are willing and able to buy.
Definition
price
Term
If the prices in the near future are expected to increase, ______ will be produced at each present price (shift right) in order to increase inventories.
Definition
more
Term
If a larger supply is demanded by consumers, suppliers are often able to ____________ the product price and provide a larger quantity.
Definition
increase
Term
If there is a shortage, suppliers will _________ their prices until the market price comes to equilibrium where quantity supplied is equal to the quantity demanded.
Definition
increase
Term
If people have ______ income, they will purchase more of a “normal”good.
Definition
more
Term
A minimum wage law (a price floor) increases the quantity of labor supplied, but reduces the quantity of labor demanded resulting in a(n) __________ of labor.
Definition
surplus
Term
The ______________ price ensures that those willing to pay that price will be given the product.
Definition
market clearing
Term
Allocation of ____________ within the capitalistic system is accomplished through a market approach where buyers and sellers meet.
Definition
most resources
Term
________________ is characterized by a very large number of both independent buyers and independent sellers resulting in the maximum possible competition.
Definition
pure competition
Term
If price decreases, a consumer is willing to buy __________.
Definition
more
Term
Examples of two goods that are complementary are software and hardware of computers.  If the price of computers were to increase, then _______ software will be purchased at every price level.
Definition
less
Term
When producers' costs decrease, there will be _______ product (shift right) at each price brought to the market.
Definition
more
Term
When prices are ____________, greater quantities will be provided by producers at all price levels all other things remaining the same.
Definition
higher
Term
In a market system, producers are continually seeking new opportunities to__________________.
Definition
satisfy consumer needs
Term
market-clearing price
Definition

where the quantity demanded by consumers becomes exactly equal to the

quantity supplied by producers.

Term
Prices function as a ____________ mechanism in determining the amount of product supplied and demanded.
Definition
rationing
Term
Definition
floor
Term
Fewer suppliers of airline transportation will shift the supply line _________.
Definition
left
Term

The quantity demanded is less than the quantity supplied at a market price __________ equilibrium price resulting in a surplus.

Definition
above
Term
In pure competition those producers willing to accept the equilibrium price, will have _______ of their product sold.
Definition
none
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