Copy of Econ Quiz Review

Chapter 1:

Define:

Incentives:

        Rewards or penalties that motivate behavior

Invisible Hand

The theory that even though there is no individual person in charge of a market, the market functions on its own without someone making all the decisions. selfish actions can benefit the economy. Sellers are trying to make money buyers are buying what they want.

The Great Economic Problem

How to arrange our limited resources to satisfy as many demands as possible

Opportunity Costs

The cost of

Marginal

A little bit more or less. One more or one less

What are examples of incentives?

Money, time, food, grades, success, sex, power, love, fame

Do they matter?

        Yes, they enforce the market equilibrium

What is the great economic problem?

        How to use our limited resources to satisfy as many demands as possible

What are trade-offs?

        What you gain or lose from a trade.

What does it mean to think on the margin?

        Thinking about the super small changes

\ Chapter 2:

Define:

Absolute Advantage

        Being able to produce a good using less resources than someone else

        Best in every way

Comparative Advantage

        Producing goods for the least opportunity cost

        May not produce as well but they aren’t giving up as much to produce

Production Possibilities Frontier

        All of the combinations of goods that a country can produce with productivity and supply of inputs

What are the benefits of trade?

Increases productivity, creates value, allows specialization.  Eencourages specialization and encourages scaling

When does trade make people better off?

When both parties benefit from the trade.

How does trade increase productivity?

Specialization: Making just one thing a million times is faster than learning and making a bunch of little things

How do trade, division of knowledge, and specialization all connect?

By utilizing trade more specialization can occur. They have a greater knowledge about their speciality.

Without trade, there is no….?

specialization

\ Chapter 3:

Define:

The demand curve

Function that shows how much is demanded at each price

The supply curve

Function that shows how much is supplied at each given price

Quantity demanded

The quantity that buyers buy at that price

Quantity supplied        

The quantity that sellers sell at that price

What are demand-shifters?

Pippet: population, income, price of substitutes,price of complements, expectations, taste

What are supply-shifters?

New tech, taxes, changes in opportunity, entry or exit of producers, expectations

As price changes, how does quantity demanded change?

As price increase quantity demanded decreases

As price changes, how does quantity supplied change?

As price increases quantity supplied increases

If supply decreases, how does the curve shift?

To the left

If demand increases, how does the curve shift?

To the right

Why does the demand curve shift down and to the left?

The lower the price is the higher the demand is

Why does the supply curve shift up and to the right?        

At a higher price sellers are willing to produce more

How does demand differ from quantity demanded?

        Demand moves the curve as a whole, quantity demanded is a change in price

What determines the quantity supplied?

        The price

\ Chapter 4:

Define:

Equilibrium:

Price at which the quality supply and the quantity demanded are the same.

Shortage

        When the demand is higher than the quantity supplied

Surplus

        When the quantity supplied is more than quantity demanded

Gains from trade

        Consumer and producer surplus

Consumer surplus

        The difference between the market price and what the consumer is willing to pay

Producer surplus

        The difference between the market price and the price they are willing to sell at

How does price respond to surplus?

        Price decreases

How does price respond to shortage?

        Price increases

Buyers compete with…

        buyers

Sellers compete with….

        sellers

What do prices tell us? Why do they matter?

        They indicate the demand and value of the product and how much a consumer wants it.

\ Chapter 5:

Define:

Price Floors

        A defined minimum price required for goods or services above the equilibrium

Price Ceilings

        The maximum price a product is allowed to be below the equilibrium causes shortage

Lost gains from trade

        The loss of consumer and producer surplus

Deadweight loss

        Pretty much the same as lost gains from trade

        What you are missing out on if you are not at equilibrium, no surplus

What are potential impacts of price ceilings?

        Bribes, lines, shortage, lower quality,

Potential impacts of price floors?

        Surpluses, deadweight loss, misallocation of resources

Example of a price ceiling

        Rent control

Example of a price floor

        Minimum wage

\ Chapter 6:

Define:

Real

        Adjusted for inflation

Nominal        

        Numbers not adjusted for inflation

Finished goods

        Products that are ready to be sold to customers

Intermediate goods

        A good used to make a different finished good

Consumer price index

The average change in prices paid by consumers for a bunch of different goods and services

GDP

        Gross domestic product:value of finished goods and services produced in a country

GDP per capita

        Gross domestic product divided by population

Business Fluctuations

        The normal ups and downs in business, ie seasonal,

What is the national spending approach?

Consumptions + investments + gov spending +(exports minus imports)

What are the weaknesses of GDP?

Doesn’t count for underground economy, distribution of wealth, environmental damage, health, unpriced goods or services

What does GDP per capita show vs normal GDP? Why do we ever use GDP per capita?

Measures a standard of living. Easier to compare countries.

\