This document provides an overview of business systems and economics. It discusses key concepts like economic systems, factors of production, and different types of market structures. It also summarizes the US economic system, including how supply and demand determine prices through equilibrium. Private enterprise, competition, and evaluating economic goals of stability, employment and growth are also covered at a high level.

1. Chapter 1 Understanding the U.S. Business System

2. Outline The Concept of Business and the Concept of Profit Economic Systems Around the World The U.S. Economic System Evaluating Economic Systems

3. The Concept of Business and the Concept of Profit Business An organization that provides goods or services to earn profits Profits The difference between a business’s revenues and its expenses

4. Economic Systems Around the World Economic System A nation’s system for allocating its resources among its citizens

5. Factors of Production Resources used in the production of goods and services Four traditional factors of production: Natural Resources Labor Capital Entrepreneurs Newer perspectives include: Physical Resources Information Resources

6. Factors of Production Natural Resources Materials supplied by nature (such as land, water, mineral deposits, and trees) Labor (or Human Resources) Physical and mental capabilities of people as they contribute to economic production Capital Funds needed to create and operate a business enterprise

7. Factors of Production Entrepreneur Person who starts a new business or makes the decisions that expand a small business Physical Resources Tangible things organizations use in the conduct of their business Information Resources Data and other information used by a business

8. Types of Economic Systems Planned Economy Centralized government controls all or most factors of production and makes all or most production and allocation decisions Market Economy Individuals control production and allocation decisions through supply and demand

9. Planned Economies Communism Planned economic system in which the government owns and operates all major sources of production Socialism Planned economic system in which the government owns and operates selected major sources of production

10. Market Economies Market Mechanism for exchange between buyers and sellers of a particular good or service Input Market Firms buy resources from supplier households Output Market Firms supply goods and services in response to demand on the part of households Capitalism Market economy that provides for private ownership of production and encourages entrepreneurship by offering profits as an incentive

11. “ Pure Market Economy” 1- OUTPUT MARKETS Goods Services INPUT MARKETS Labor Capital Entrepreneurs Physical Resources Information Resources HOUSEHOLDS Demand products in output markets Supply resources in input markets FIRMS Supply products in output markets Demand resources in input markets DEMAND DEMAND SUPPLY SUPPLY

12. Mixed Market Economies Privatization Process of converting government enterprises into privately owned companies Socialism Planned economic system in which the government owns and operates only selected major sources of production Economic system featuring characteristics of both planned and market economies

13. The U.S. Economic System Understanding the complex nature of the U.S. economic system is essential to understanding the environment in which U.S. businesses operate.

14. Markets, Demand, & Supply Demand The willingness and ability of buyers to purchase a good or service Supply The willingness and ability of producers to offer a good or service for sale

15. The Laws of Demand & Supply Law of Demand Principle that buyers will purchase (demand) more of a product as its price drops and less as its price increases Law of Supply Principle that producers will offer (supply) more of a product for sale as its price rises and less as its price drops

16. The Laws of Demand & Supply Demand and Supply Schedule Assessment of the relationships between different levels of demand and supply at different price levels Demand Curve Graph showing how many units of a product will be demanded (bought) at different prices Supply Curve Graph showing how many units of a product will be supplied (offered for sale) at different prices

17. The Laws of Demand & Supply Market Price (or Equilibrium Price) Profit-maximizing price at which the quantity of goods demanded and the quantity of goods supplied are equal Surplus Situation in which quantity supplied exceeds quantity demanded Shortage Situation in which quantity demanded exceeds quantity supplied

18. Demand & Supply 1- 1- Demand and Supply Schedules Quantity of Quantity of Price Pizzas Demanded Pizzas Supplied $2 2000 100 $4 1900 400 $6 1600 600 $8 1200 800 $10 1000 1000 $12 800 1200 $14 600 1300 $16 400 1600 $18 200 1800 $20 100 2000

19. Demand & Supply Quantity of Pizzas Demanded Price of Pizzas Demand Curve   1- 1- 200 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 1000 - 1200 - 1400 - 1600 - 1800 - 2000 - $20 - 18 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 -

20. Demand & Supply Quantity of Pizzas Supplied Supply Curve   1- 1- 200 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 1000 - 1200 - 1400 - 1600 - 1800 - 2000 - $20 - 18 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 - Price of Pizzas

21. Demand & Supply Quantity of Pizzas per Week Demand Curve Supply Curve Equilibrium Price  1- 1- 200 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 1000 - 1200 - 1400 - 1600 - 1800 - 2000 - $20 - 18 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 - Price of Pizzas

22. Private Enterprise Economic system that allows individuals to pursue their own interests without undue governmental restriction Four elements of private enterprise: Private Property Rights Freedom of Choice Profits Competition

23. Private Enterprise Private Property Rights The right to buy, own, use, and sell almost any form of property Freedom of Choice The right to sell your labor to the employer you choose, purchase products you want to buy, choose what to produce or who to hire, etc. Profits Anticipated profits play a large part in individuals’ choices of what goods or services to produce Competition Vying among businesses for the same resources or customers

24. Degrees of Competition Pure Competition Market or industry characterized by numerous small firms producing an identical product Monopolistic Competition Market or industry characterized by numerous buyers and relatively numerous sellers trying to differentiate their products from those of competitors Oligopoly Market or industry characterized by a handful of (generally large) sellers with the power to influence the prices of their products

25. Degrees of Competition Monopoly Market or industry in which there is only one producer, which can therefore set the prices of its products Natural Monopoly Industry in which one company can most efficiently supply all needed goods or services

26. Evaluating Economic Systems Nearly every economic system has three broad goals: Stability Full Employment Growth

27. Economic Goals Stability Condition in which the balance between the money available in an economy and the goods produced in it are growing at about the same rate Inflation Phenomenon of widespread price increases throughout an economic system Recession Period characterized by decreases in employment, income, and production Depression Particularly severe and long-lasting recession

28. Economic Goals Full Employment Everyone who wants to work has an opportunity to do so Unemployment Level of joblessness among people actively seeking work Knowledge Workers Skilled employees in high-tech industries Growth Increase in the amount of goods and services produced by a nation’s resources

29. Assessing Economic Performance Gross National Product (GNP) The value of all goods and services produced by an economic system in a year regardless of where the factors of production are located Real Gross National Product (real GNP) Gross national product adjusted for inflation and changes in the value of a country’s currency Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The value of all goods and services produced in a year by a nation’s economy through domestic factors of production

30. Assessing Economic Performance Productivity Measure of economic growth that compares how much a system produces with the resources needed to produce it Balance of Trade The difference between a country’s exports to and imports from other counties Budget Deficit Situation in which a government body spends more money than it takes in National Debt Total amount that a nation owes its creditors

31. Managing the U.S. Economy Fiscal Policies Government economic policies that determine how the government collects and spends its revenues Monetary Policies Government economic policies that determine the size of a nation’s money supply

32. The Global Economy in the 21st Century The United States was riding the crest of a long-term economic boom. Growth has been strong, and unemployment and inflation remain low. Now are we in a recession? What forces will drive the economy for the next decade?

33. Three Major Forces The information revolution will continue to enhance productivity across all sectors of the economy, but most notably in such information-dependent industries as finance, media, and wholesale and retail trade. New technological breakthroughs in such areas as biotechnology will create entirely new industries. Increasing globalization will create much larger markets while also fostering tougher competition among global businesses; as a result, companies will need to focus even more on innovation and cost cutting.

34. Projected Trends & Patterns The economy will maintain strong and consistent growth rates, perhaps exceeding 3 percent per year. New technological breakthroughs in such areas as biotechnology will create entirely new industries. Inflationary surges and large budget deficits will become less likely. Countries that encourage free trade, innovation, and open financial systems will prosper. The most successful businesses will be those that are able most effectively to master new technologies and keep abreast of their competitors.