This document provides an overview of microeconomics and macroeconomics. It begins by defining microeconomics as dealing with individual economic units like consumers and firms, while macroeconomics analyzes aggregate measures for an entire economy such as gross national product and unemployment levels. Several economists' definitions of macroeconomics are also given emphasizing its focus on overall economic dimensions and goals of full employment and growth. The key differences between micro and macroeconomics are then outlined regarding the nature and objectives of their study as well as subject matter. Finally, some basic microeconomic issues are briefly described such as scarcity and choice, production methods, distribution, efficiency, resource utilization, and economic growth.

1. Micro Vs
Macro
Economics

2. Introduction to Micro and Macro Economics
 The whole economic theory is broadly divided into
two parts – Micro economics and Macro economics.
 Micro economics deals with the analysis of an
individual unit and Macro economics with
economy as a whole.

3. Micro economics deals with the economic
behavior of individual units such as
consumers, firms, and resource owners;
while macro economics deals with
behavior of economic aggregates such as
gross national product and the level of
employment.

4.  According to K.E. Boulding –” Macro- economics deals not with
individual quantities but with aggregate of these quantities, not
with individual incomes, but with national income, not with
individual prices but with price level, not with individual output but
with national output.”
 According to Gardner Ackley – “ Macro –economics deals with the
economic affairs in the large. It concerns the overall dimensions of
economic life. It studies the character of the forest independently
of trees which compose it.”
 Since the main objective of macro –economics is to study the
principles, problems and policies related to full employment and
growth of resources.

5. Difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics
Micro and macroeconomics differ as follows
Nature of the study of Economic Units:
Microeconomics studies the individual or small economic variables of the economy
such as individuals consumption, saving investment and income, but
macroeconomics deals with aggregates like national income, full employment and
price level.
Objectives:
Microeconomics studies principles, problems and policies concerning the optimum
allocation of resources whereas macroeconomics studies the problems, policies and
principles relating to full employment and growth of resources.
Subject Matter:
The subject matter of microeconomics deals with the determination of price,
consumer’s equilibrium, distribution and welfare, etc, whereas the subject matter
of macroeconomics studies full employment, price level, national income, trade
cycles, etc.

6. Basic Microeconomic Issues:
Scarcity and Choice:
Scarcity and choice are the basic problems in economics. This concept was
introduced by Prof. Lionel Robins, a British economist in the decade of
1930s.
Scarcity
 The common meaning of scarcity refers to unavailability ( i.e. not easily
found) in the market of a certain commodity.
 The conceptual meaning of scarcity, in economics, is however different.
A commodity is scarce because it commands value. It commands price.
 We have to pay for any goods and services we want to consume. In
addition, the resources that we have are also always limited.

7.  A commodity is scarce, in economic sense, not because it is rare or
unavailable in the market, but because the means to have it are
limited.
 We have limited resources at our disposal, so there is a problem of
scarcity.
 Human wants are unlimited, but the means or resources to satisfy
them are always limited.
 Scarcity explains this relationship between limited resources and
unlimited wants and the problem therein.
 Economic problems arise because the goods we need are scarce.
These scarce goods have many uses.
 Again, these uses are tempting and competing with each other.
There is a problem of choice- choice between alternative uses.
 Therefore, scarcity and choice guide the whole course of economic
activities.

8. Problem of choosing production method:
 After the determination of the commodity to be produced, the problem
arises to choose the appropriate method of its production.
 Any of the methods between labor intensive and capital intensive
techniques can be used in the production process.
 But the choice is needed to determine the economic and useful method for
the available condition of resources in the economy.
Problem of distribution:
 The production of goods and services is the return of the factors of
production.
 So, the income derived from the sell of these commodities distributes
among these factors. When the problem of determining the remuneration of
the factors of production is created, then the economic problem arises.

9.  The choice is needed to solve this problem by providing remuneration
according to their contribution.
 Except this, the choice is needed to choose the sector of distribution of
income to decrease inequality for social welfare.
Problem of economic efficiency:
 Economic efficiency is the process of utilizing the resources in such a way
that the satisfaction or utility can be maximized.
 The choice is needed to determine how the limited resources should be
used in efficient sector among different areas of its use.
Problem of full utilization of resources:
 The availability of the factors of production is limited and its alternative use
is possible. Thus, choice is necessary to determine how and in which
sector these scarce resources must be used so that they are fully
employed.

10. Problem of economic growth:
 In developing countries, the level of economic
development is very low. The necessity of these
countries is to reach in high level by increasing the level
of development.
 But due to the scarcity of resources for development
works, the economic problem arises.
 To employ these limited resources in more return
providing sector, the choice is needed.
 In this way, the problem of scarcity of resources for
every sector of economic activities and to choose them
for optimum utilization is the basic economic problem.

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