T1 1.1.1 - 1.4.2 Introduction to markets and market failure

ECONOMICS AS A SOCIAL SCIENCE (1.1.1)

ECONOMICS AS A SOCIAL SCIENCE (1.1.1)

Why is it impossible to conduct scientific experiments (3 issues, PET)

Practical issues - Impossible to control all variables

Ethical issues - Unfair in some cases to different people

Time - Economics changes very quickly therefore results can become outdated very fast

Why do economists use models

To simplify complex reality

To help governments and businesses make informed decisions

Show the relationships between different variables

POSITIVE AND NORMATIVE STATEMENTS (1.1.2)

POSITIVE AND NORMATIVE STATEMENTS (1.1.2)

What is a positive statement

A positive statement is a factual statement that can be tested, amended or rejected using available evidence

What is a normative statement

A normative statement is someone’s opinion which is made using value judgement and which cannot be tested using evidence

What are the 4 factors of production (CELL)

Capital

Enterprise 

Land

Labour

THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM (1.1.3)

THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM (1.1.3)

What is the economic problem

That we have unlimited wants as a society but only limited factors of production

Who chooses how these factors are used in a command economy and a free market society

In a free market society, supply and demand chooses

In a command economy, the government chooses

PPF’S (1.1.4)

PPF’S (1.1.4)

What does a production possibility frontier (PPF) show

A PPF shows the maximum potential combinations of output that can be produced in an economy when resources are fully and efficiently used

What is combined by firms into output

The 4 factors of production (Land, labour, capital and enterprise)

SPECIALISATION AND THE DIVISION OF LABOUR (1.1.5)

SPECIALISATION AND THE DIVISION OF LABOUR (1.1.5)

What is barter

Barter is how trade happened before the invention of money

What is the double coincidence of wants

For a trade to happen, both people must want what the other person has, at the same time and in the right amounts

What are the 4 functions of money

1. A medium of exchange

2. Measure of value

3. Store of value

4. A standard of differed payment 

How does division of labour increase productivity

Division of labour raises output per worker as people become proficient by learning by doing

What does this increased productivity help to achieve

Lower cost per unit which increases profit margins

What is the formula for Labour productivity

Labour productivity = Total output in given time / Number of units of labour used

Limitations of labour division

Low motivation

Boredom

Employees less punctual due to dissatisfaction

High worker turnover

Why can division of labour cause structural unemployment

Due to the division of labour creating a skill mismatch between what employers desire and what employees possess

Define specialsation

When we concentrate on a product or task (very general and not restricted to firms)

Specialisation positives

Higher output

Variety

A bigger scale

Competition and lower prices

ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (1.1.6)

ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (1.1.6)

What are the 4 types of economies

Command economy

Free market economy

Mixed economy

Traditional economy

Who allocates resources in a command economy and why could this be an issue

The government

They may not have a good idea of what the people want / need

Who allocates resources in a free market economy

The ‘invisible hand’ of the market through price mechanisms