MacroEconomics CH.2

Philosophers draw a distinction between ___________________, which describe the world as it is, and normative statements, which describe how the world should be.

positive statements

Philosophers draw a distinction between positive statements, which describe the world as it is, and ___________________s, which describe how the world should be.

normative statement

The slope of the _________________ is determined by the relative price of the two goods, which is calculated by taking the price of one good and dividing it by the price of the other good.

*budget constraint

The model that economists use for illustrating the process of individual choice in a situation of scarcity is the _________________, sometimes also called the opportunity set, a diagram which shows what choices are possible.

*budget constraint

The model that economists use for illustrating the process of individual choice in a situation of scarcity is the budget constraint, sometimes also called the _______________, a diagram which shows what choices are possible.

*opportunity set

The model that economists use for illustrating the process of individual choice in a situation of scarcity is the budget constraint, sometimes also called the _______________, a diagram which shows what choices are possible.

*opportunity set

Why is there scarcity?

*Because our unlimited wants exceed our limited resources

Scarcity exists because of:

*unlimited wants and limited resources.

Scarcity implies that:

*it is impossible to completely fulfill the unlimited human desire for goods and services with the limited resources available.

The choice on a production possibilities set that is socially preferred, or the choice on an individual’s budget constraint that is personally preferred, will display _____________________.

allocative efficiency

"If I didn't have class tonight, I would save the $4 campus parking fee and spend four hours at work where I earn $10 per hour." The opportunity cost of attending class this evening is:

$44

Which of the following would most likely shift the production possibilities curve inward?

a decrease in the average number of hours worked per week as the labor force chooses to enjoy more leisure time

The lesson of __________ is to forget about the money that’s irretrievably gone and instead to focus on the marginal costs and benefits of future options.

sunk costs

The law of ____________ explains why people and societies rarely make all-or-nothing choices.

*diminishing marginal utility

Economists refer to this pattern, the ___________, which means that as a person receives more of a good, the additional or marginal utility from each additional unit of the good declines

*law of diminishing marginal utility

As a person receives more of a good, the ________ from each additional unit of the good declines.

*marginal utility

In many cases, it is reasonable to refer to the ________________ as the price.

opportunity cost

Gomer decides to spend an hour playing basketball rather than studying. His opportunity cost is:

the benefit to his grades from studying for an hour

Most real-world choices aren't about getting all of one thing or another, instead, most choices involve _________________, which involves comparing the benefits and costs of choosing a little more or a little less of a good.

marginal analysis

Most choices involve _________________, which involves comparing the benefits and costs of choosing a little more or a little less of a good.

marginal analysis

The marginal benefit of a slice of pizza is the:

maximum amount that a consumer is willing to pay for the slice.

As depicted in _______________, it is necessary to give up some of one good to gain more of the other good.

the production possibilities frontier

The opportunity cost of an action:

is a subjective valuation that can be determined only by the individual who chooses the action.

The opportunity cost of attending university is likely to include all except which of the following?

the cost of haircuts received during the school term

Attending college is a case where the ________________ exceeds the monetary cost.

opportunity cost

The general pattern that consumption of the first few units of any good tends to bring a higher level of _______ to a person than consumption of later units is a common pattern.

utility

In deciding how many hours to work, Beulah will make a choice that maximizes her _______; that is, she will choose according to her preferences for leisure time and income.

utility

Marginal thinking is best demonstrated by:

choosing to spend one more hour studying economics because you think the improvement in your score on the next quiz will be worth the sacrifice of time.