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Introduction to Economics
1) The document is an introduction to economics that covers topics such as the definition of economics, needs and wants, types of economics (micro and macro), factors of production, the economic problem, utility, and production possibility frontiers. 2) It defines economics as the study of how individuals and societies make choices about scarce resources. It also discusses how people balance needs versus wants. 3) The two main types of economics - microeconomics and macroeconomics - are introduced along with the factors of production needed for an economy.
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Introduction to Economics
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- 2. AGENDA 1) What isEconomics? 2) Needs – Wants 3) Types of Economics 4) Factors of production 5) The Economic Problems 6) Utility 7) Production Possibility Frontier
- 3. IMAGINE HOW WOULDBE LIFE LIKE 10000 YEARS AGO?
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- 6. PROTECT YOURSELF FROMOTHER ANIMALS
- 7. DO THE SAMETHING EVERYDAY.
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- 9. A social sciencethat studies and influences human behavior Economics is the study of what constitutes rational human behavior in the endeavor to fulfill needs and wants. What is Economics?
- 10. 10 Adam Smith (1723- 1790) ◦ Author of the famous book "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" The Foundation of Economics
- 11. THE FOUNDATION OF ECONOMICS 11 Economics ◦ the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses - Robbins
- 12. NEEDS AND WANTS Needs:-“STUFF” we must have to survive. • E.g.:- Food, Clothing and Shelter Wants:- “STUFF” we would really like to have. • E.g. :- Fancy Food, big screen TV, jewelry. These are also known as Luxuries. People try to balance needs and wants.
- 13. 13 Economics Micro Macro Types ofEconomics
- 14. 14 Micro Economics • MicroEconomics studies how the individual parts of the economy make decisions to allocate limited resources • Microeconomics studies: – how individuals use limited resources to meet unlimited needs – the consequences of their decisions – the behavior of individual components like industries, firms and households. – how individual prices are set – what determines the price of land, labour and capital – inquire into the strengths and weaknesses of the market mechanism.
- 15. 15 Macro Economics • Macroeconomicsstudies about the functioning of the economy as a whole • It examines the economy through wide-lens. • Macroeconomics studies about • the total output of a nation • the way the nation allocates its limited resources of land, labor and capital • the ways to maximize production levels • the techniques to promote trade • After observing the society as a whole, Adam Smith noted that there was an "invisible hand" turning the wheels of the economy: a market force that keeps the economy functioning.
- 16. 16 The Factors ofProduction Product Land Labour Capital Organization
- 17. 17 The Factors of Production Landincludes the “gifts of nature,” or natural resources not created by human effort. Capital includes the tool,equipment,and factories used in production. Labour includes people with all their efforts and abilities. Entrepreneurs are individuals who start a new business or bring a product to market.
- 18. 18 Economy Market Command Mixed Typesof ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
- 19. 19 In a puremarket economy there is no government involvement in economic decisions. Market Economies Contd….
- 20. 20 The Government letsthe market answer the following three basic economic questions: 1. What ? Consumers decide what should be produced in a market economy through the purchases they make. 2.How ? Production is left entirely up to businesses. Businesses must be competitive in such an economy and produce quality products at lower prices than their competitors. 3.For whom ? In a market economy, the people who have more money are able to buy more goods and services.
- 21. 21 In a commandeconomy the Government takes economic decisions. Command Economies Contd….
- 22. 22 In a commandeconomy the Government answers the three basic economic questions. 1. What? A central planning committee decides what products are needed. 2. How? Since the Government owns all means of production in a command economy, it decides how goods and services will be produced. 3. For Whom ? The Government decides who will get what is produced in a command economy. Command Economies
- 23. 23 In the Mixedeconomies the Government and the Market work together in decision making Mixed Economies Contd…
- 24. THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM UnlimitedWants Scarce Resources – Land, Labour, Capital Many Uses of Resources 24
- 25. THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM Whatgoods and services should an economy produce? – should the emphasis be on agriculture, manufacturing or services, should it be on sport and leisure or housing? How should goods and services be produced? – labour intensive, capital intensive? Who should get the goods and services produced? – Even distribution? More for the rich? For those who work hard? 25
- 26. WHAT IS UTILITY? Satisfaction Cannot be measured • Marshall – Utility can be measured in Utils 26
- 27. OPPORTUNITY COST Definition –the cost expressed in terms of the next best alternative sacrificed The cost of anything in terms of other things given up or sacrificed. 27
- 28. PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY FRONTIERS PPF Showsthe different combinations of goods and services that can be produced with a given amount of resources No ‘ideal’ point on the curve Any point inside the curve – suggests resources are not being utilised efficiently Any point outside the curve – not attainable with the current level of resources Useful to demonstrate economic growth and opportunity cost 28
- 29. PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY FRONTIERS 29 Capital Goods ConsumerGoods Yo Xo A BY1 X1 Assume a country can produce two types of goods with its resources – capital goods and consumer goods If it devotes all resources to capital goods it could produce a maximum of Ym. If it devotes all its resources to consumer goods it could produce a maximum of Xm Ym Xm If the country is at point A on the PPF It can produce the combination of Yo capital goods and Xo consumer goods If it reallocates its resources (moving round the PPF from A to B) it can produce more consumer goods but only at the expense of fewer capital goods. The opportunity cost of producing an extra Xo – X1 consumer goods is Yo – Y1 capital goods.
- 30. 30 Production Possibility Frontiers CapitalGoods Consumer Goods Yo Xo A .B CY1 X1 Production inside the PPF – e.g. point B means the country is not using all its resources It can only produce at points outside the PPF if it finds a way of expanding its resources or improves the productivity of those resources it already has. This will push the PPF further outwards.