EconomicsEconomics El Dorado High School

Spring, 2015 Mr. Ruiz

EconomicsChapter One

What is Economics?

1.Section One: Scarcity and the Factors of Production

2.Section Two: Opportunity Cost

3.Section Three: Production Possibilities Curve

Key Terms to Remember throughout Key Terms to Remember throughout This ChapterThis Chapter

Economics Needs Wants Scarcity Shortage Goods Services Factors of Production

Land Labor Capital

▪ Human Capital ▪ Physical Capital

Entrepreneur

Trade-off Guns or Butter Opportunity Cost Thinking at the Margin Production Possibilities Curve (PPC) Production Possibilities Frontier Efficiency Underutilization Cost Law of Increasing Costs

Section 1:

What is Economics? Economics is the study of how

people seek to satisfy their needs and wants by making choices.

Needs vs. Wants:

1. Needs: Things that are necessary for survival. (Water, air, food, shelter)

2. Wants: Things not essential for survival. (IPod, TV, cell phone, Xbox, etc..)

The Economic PerspectiveThe Economic Perspective(The economic way of thinking)(The economic way of thinking)

Scarcity and Choice: Human/property resources are

scarce.

Goods and services we produce must also be limited, “We can’t have it all.”

We must decide what we will have and what we must forgo.

The economic axiom, “ There is “ There is no free lunch.”no free lunch.”

Scarcity vs. Shortage

Scarcity: There are limited quantities of resources to meet unlimited wants.

Limited quantities vs. Unlimited wants

All the goods (physical objects) and services ( actions or activities performed) that are produced are scarce.

Scarcity vs. Shortage

Shortage occurs when production of goods/services will not or cannot be provided at the same price; can be temporary or long term.

On the other hand, scarcity exist when needs/wants exceed the resource supply.

Factors of Production:The (3) groups of resources used to make all goods and services

(aka, Factor resources)

1. Land

2. Labor

3. Capital

Natural resources (water, forests, coal, etc..)

Efforts devoted by people to a task for compensation (payment)

Human made resources used to produce other goods/services (2) categories:

Physical capital: Buildings, tools, & machinery

Human capital: Knowledge & skills gained through education & experience

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur: Ambitious individuals willing to combine the factors of production (land, labor, &

capital) to create new goods and services

Opportunity cost: The most desirable alternative given up as a result of a decision.

Example: Buying new shoes instead of going to the movies and dinner. The opportunity cost is the movies/dinner.

Guns or Butter: Concept that explains the trade-offs countries may face. ( A country that decides to apply its resources for more military goods (guns) will sacrifice its resources devoted to consumer goods (butter) and vice versa.

Section 2:

Opportunity Cost

Retrieved from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gunsandbutter.asp

Trade-Offs & Thinking at the Margin Trade-Offs: The alternatives that we give up

whenever we choose one course of action over another.

Example: If you spend more time at work, you give up spending time with your friends and/or going to see a movie.

Thinking at the Margin: Deciding and whether to do or use one

additional unit of some resource Good example provided (Figure 1.3, pg.

11) :

One hour extra study time =C Two hours extra study time =BThree hours extra study time=A

Production Possibilities Curve

Production Possibilities Curve (Graph) PPC:

Basically, shows alternative ways to make use of an economy’s resources; it help relate, (compare) the value of one thing from the value of another.

An example of PPC with point A reflecting the area that is unattainable.

The blue line on the graph displaying the

possible combinations is know as the Production Possibilities Frontier.

Efficiency, Growth, and Cost

The PPC graph may point out vital information regarding the status of any given economy:

It can identify if the efficiency of an economy’s resources are being maximized in the production of goods and services or recognize an economy’s underutilization of resources ( i.e., any point inside the frontier line).

It can also identify unattainable production as a result of limited resources

It can recognize economic growth by an entire shift to the right of the PPC

It can help illustrate the cost (not in money, but in opportunity cost) of the decisions made with regards to the use of resources.

“It doesn’t have to end like this!”

Rational behavior in a world ruled by scarce resources and opportunities?