microeconomics Definitions

Ad-valorem tax

An indirect tax imposed on a good where the value of the tax is dependant of the good

Asymmetric Information

When one party has more information than the other, leading to market failure

Capital

One of the four factors of production; goods which can be used in the production process

Capital goods

Goods produced in order to aid production of consumer goods in the future

Ceteris Paribus

All other things remaining equal

Command Economy

All factors of production are allocated by the state, so they decide what, how and for whom to produce goods.

Complementary Goods

Negative XED; if good B becomes more expensive, demand for good A falls

Consumer Goods

Gods bought and demanded by households and individuals

Consumer surplus

The difference between the price the consumer is willing to pay and the price they actually pay

Cross elasticity of demand (XED)

The responsiveness of demand for good A to a change in the price of good B

%change in QD of A / %change in P of B

Demand

The quantity of a good/service that consumers are able an willing to buy at a given moment of time

Diminishing Marginal Utility

The extra benefit gained from consumption of a good generally declines as extra units are consumed; explains why the demand curve is downward sloping

Division of labour

When labour becomes specialised during the production process so do a specific task in cooperation with other workers

Economic problem

The problem of scarcity wants are unlimited but resources are finite so choices have to be made

Efficiency

When resources are allocated optimally, so every consumer benefits and waste is minimised

Enterprise

One of the four factors of production; the willingness and ability to take risks and combine the three other factors of production

Equilibrium price / quantity

Where demand equals supply so there are no more market forces bringing about change to price or quantity demanded

Excess demand

When price is set too low so demand is greater than supply

Excess supply

When price is set too high so supply is greater than demand

Externality

The cost or benefit a third party receives from an economic transaction outside of the market mechanism

Free market

An economy where the market mechanism allocates resources so consumers and producers make decisions about what is produced and how to produce and for whom

Free rider principle

People who do not pay for a public good still receive benefits from it so the private sector will under-provide the good as they cannot make a profit

Government Failure

When government intervention leads to a net welfare loss in society

Habitual Behaviour

A cause of irrational behaviour; when consumers are in the habit of making certain decisions

Incidence of tax

The tax burden on the taxpayer

Income elasticity of demand (YED)

The responsiveness of demand to a change in income

%change in QD / %change in Y

Indirect tax

Taxes on expenditure which increase production costs and lead to a fall in supply

Inferior goods

YED<0, goods which see a fall in demand as income increases

Information Gap

When an economic agent lacks the information needed to make a rational, informed decision

Information provision

When the government intervenes to provide information to correct market failure

Labour

One of the four factors of production; human capital

Land

One of the four factors of productions; natural resources such as oil, coal, wheat, physical space

Luxury goods

YED>1; an increase in income causes an even bigger increase in demand

Market failure

When the free market fails to allocate resources to best interest of society, so there is an inefficient allocation of scarce resources

Market forces

Forces in free markets which act to reduce prices when there is excess supply and increase them when there is excess demand

Maximum price

A ceiling price which a firm cannot charge above

Minimum price

A floor price which a firm cannot charge below

Mixed economy

Both the free market mechanism and the government allocate resources

Negative externalities of production

When the social costs of producing a good are greater than the private costs of producing the good

Non-excludable

A characteristic of public goods; someone cannot be prevented from using the good

Non-renewable resources

Resources which cannot be readily replenished or replace at a level equal to consumption

Non-rivalry

A characteristic of public goods; one person’s use of the good does not prevent someone else from using it

Normal goods

YED>0 demand increases as income increases

Normative statement

Subjective statements base on value judgements and opinions; cannot be proven or disproven

Opportunity cost

The value of the next best alternative

Perfectly price elastic good

PED/PES + Infinity; quantity demanded/supplied falls to 0 when price changes

Perfectly price inelastic good

PED/PES=0; quantity demanded/supplied falls to 0 when price changes

Positive externalities of consumption

Where the social benefits of consuming a good are larger than the private benefits of consuming that good

Positive statement

Objective statements which can be tested with factual evidence to proven or disproven

Possibility production frontier PPF

Depicts the maximum productive potential of an economy, using a combination of two goods or services, when resources are fully and efficiently employed.

Price elasticity (PED)

The responsiveness of demand to a change price

%change in QD/ %change in P

Price mechanism

The system of resource allocation based on free market movement of prices, determined by the demand and supply curves

Private cost/benefit

The cost/ benefit to the individual participating in the economic activity

Private goods

Goods that are rivalry and excludable

Producer surplus

The difference between the price the producer is willing to charge and the price they actually charge

Public goods

Goods that are non-excludable and non rivalry

Rationality

Decision-making that leads to economic agents maximising their utility

Regulation

Laws to address market failure and promote competition between firms

Renewable resources

Resources which can be replenished, so the stock of resources can be maintained over a period of time

Scarcity

The shortage of resources in relation to the quantity of human wants

Social cost/benefit

The cost/benefit to society as a whole due to the economic activity.

Social optimum position

Where social costs equals social benefits, the amount which should be produced/consumed in order to maximise social welfare

Specialisation

The production of a limited range of goods by a company/country/individual so they aren’t self-sufficient and have to trade with others

Specific tax

A tax imposed on a good where the value of the tax is dependent on the quantity that is bought

State provision of goods

Through taxation, the government provides public goods or merit goods which are under provided in the free market.

Subsidy

Government payments to a producer to lower their costs of production and encourage them to produce more

Substitutes

Positive XED, if good B becomes more expensive, demand for good A rises

Supply

The ability and willingness to provide a particular good/services at a given price at a given moment in time

Trade Pollution permits

Licenses which allow businesses to pollute up to a certain amount. The government controls the number of licenses and so can control the pollution. Businesses are allowed to sell and buy the permits which means there may be incentive to reduce the amount

Utility

The satisfaction derived from consuming a good

Weakness at computation

A cause of irrational behaviour; when consumers are bad at making calculations, estimating probabilities and working out future benefits/costs.