Economics Chapter 1 Flashcards
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Economics Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the disagreement among economists typically revolves around?

  • Microeconomics
  • Positive economics
  • Normative economics (correct)
  • Macroeconomics
  • If economists examine the relationship between the price of a good and sales of that good while ignoring other related factors, they are using which of the following?

  • Ceteris paribus (correct)
  • Macroeconomics
  • Normative economics
  • Microeconomics
  • Which discipline studies the decision-making process of customers, workers, households, and business firms on an individual basis?

    Microeconomics

    Economic principles are generalized statements that ______ consumer behavior.

    <p>look at typical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of positive economics?

    <p>Cause-and-effect relationships and facts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ____ problem refers to the need to make choices because economic wants exceed economic means.

    <p>economizing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As a result of our ______ incomes and ______ wants, it is in our self-interest to economize.

    <p>limited; insatiable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ______ economic resources means limited goods and services.

    <p>Scarce</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do combinations of output that fall inside the production possibilities curve represent?

    <p>Goods that are attainable and less total outcome than points on the curve</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the cause of a society's increasing opportunity costs with respect to the production of goods?

    <p>Resources that are not fully interchangeable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The assumption behind purposeful behavior is that ______.

    <p>people act in such a way as to rationally pursue their own interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When people get satisfaction from charitable giving, they are ______.

    <p>acting out of rational self-interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Because consumers behave in a rationally self-interested manner, the consumer will purchase a good or service ______.

    <p>when the marginal benefit is greater than the marginal cost</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Economic principles are generalizations that are ______.

    <p>expressed as the tendencies of average consumers, workers or firms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a world of scarcity, ______.

    <p>the decision to obtain the marginal benefit (MB) of a specific option always includes the marginal cost (MC) of forgoing something else</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A statement about economic behavior or the economy that enables prediction of the probable effects of certain actions is known as a(n) ______.

    <p>economic principle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _____ is the discipline that examines the performance and behavior of an economy as a whole.

    <p>Macroeconomics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When economists consider the output of all U.S. businesses as a single entity, they are treating them as a(n) ______.

    <p>aggregate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    True or false: Positive economics encourages value judgments.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Normative economics is ______.

    <p>based on value judgments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    True or false: Everyone except for the super wealthy has a finite, or limited, amount of income.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    For better or worse, people have ______.

    <p>virtually unlimited wants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a budget line?

    <p>A curve showing various combinations of two products a consumer can purchase with a specific amount of income.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does every point on a budget line graph represent?

    <p>All combinations of goods that can be purchased with a given income</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following combinations are unattainable given a consumer's budget line?

    <p>Combinations that fall beyond the budget line</p> Signup and view all the answers

    True or false: A decrease in income will shift the budget line to the left.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _____ lists the different combinations of two products that can be produced with a specific set of resources, assuming full employment.

    <p>Production Possibilities Table</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Points lying ______ the production possibilities curve represent greater, but unachievable levels of output with current inputs than that at any point on the curve.

    <p>outside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Positive economics ______ value judgments, tries to establish ______ statements about economic behavior, and deals with ______ economic events.

    <p>avoids; scientific; actual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes the combination of goods that lie on the production possibilities curve?

    <p>They are attainable; they utilize the economy's available resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An increase in income will ______.

    <p>shift the budget line to the right</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are ways of expressing the meaning of ceteris paribus?

    <p>Both A and B</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A consumer's ____ line or constraint shows various combinations of two products that can be purchased with a specific amount of income.

    <p>budget</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are issues most explored in microeconomics?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The straight-line budget constraint indicates ______ opportunity cost.

    <p>constant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Trade-offs arising from limited resources give rise to ______.

    <p>opportunity costs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Consumers must make choices about what to buy and what to forgo to fulfill wants because ______.

    <p>consumers' incomes are limited</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A production possibilities curve (PPC) illustrates the attainable combination ______.

    <p>of two goods that can be produced given a specific set of resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A production possibilities curve with an increasing slope is the result of which of the following?

    <p>The law of increasing opportunity costs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When an economy produces a good such that the marginal benefit equals the marginal cost, this indicates that ______.

    <p>resources are being allocated efficiently</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Points lying ______ the production possibilities curve are attainable but reflect less total output than can be produced.

    <p>inside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true of positive economics?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Economic Concepts and Definitions

    • Normative economics involves disagreements among economists regarding value judgments.
    • Ceteris paribus is a key principle that means "other things being equal," allowing economists to isolate the effects of one variable.
    • Microeconomics studies decision-making processes of individuals, such as consumers and businesses, rather than entire economies.
    • Economic principles generalize consumer behavior based on typical patterns of individuals and markets.

    Economic Relationships

    • Positive economics focuses on factual cause-and-effect relationships without value judgments.
    • The economizing problem arises when economic wants surpass available resources, necessitating choices.
    • Limited incomes and insatiable wants drive people to choose goods and services that maximize satisfaction.
    • Scarcity implies limited economic resources, leading to constrained goods and services.

    Production and Opportunity Costs

    • Output combinations inside the production possibilities curve signify attainable levels of production but are not optimal.
    • Increasing opportunity costs occur because resources are not fully interchangeable among different goods.
    • Purposeful behavior assumes individuals act rationally to pursue their interests, including satisfaction from charitable acts.
    • Rational self-interest guides consumers to purchase goods when marginal benefits outweigh marginal costs.

    Budget Constraints

    • A budget line illustrates combinations of two goods available for purchase with a specific income level.
    • Points on a budget line represent all attainable combinations of goods under current financial limits; combinations beyond this line are unattainable.
    • A decrease in income shifts the budget line left, indicating fewer goods can be purchased.
    • An increase in income results in a rightward shift of the budget line, expanding purchasing possibilities.

    Production Possibilities and Efficiency

    • The Production Possibilities Table outlines various production combinations possible with given resources, assuming full employment.
    • Points outside the production possibilities curve indicate unattainable output levels with current inputs.
    • Efficient resource allocation is achieved when production occurs at a point where marginal benefit equals marginal cost.
    • Points inside the production possibilities curve signify underutilization of resources and less total output.

    Key Economic Terms

    • Economic principles serve as predictive statements about the economy's behavior, based on empirical evidence.
    • Macroeconomics studies the performance of the economy as a whole, often involving aggregates of all businesses.
    • The straight-line budget constraint represents constant opportunity costs, while trade-offs from limited resources lead to the identification of opportunity costs.

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    Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 1 of Economics. Explore terms like normative economics and ceteris paribus, and understand the foundational principles that shape economic decision-making. Ideal for beginners looking to reinforce their understanding of economics.

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