Chapter 1 Limits Alternatives and Choices Mc GrawHillIrwin

Chapter 1 Limits, Alternatives, and Choices Mc. Graw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2009 by The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter Objectives • Economics defined • Role of economic theory • Microeconomics vs. macroeconomics • Resource scarcity and the economizing problem • Production possibilities model 1 -2

Economics Defined • Economic wants exceed productive capacity • Social science concerned with making optimal choices under conditions of scarcity 1 -3

The Economic Perspective • Thinking like an economist • Key features: – Scarcity and choice – Purposeful behavior – Marginal analysis 1 -4

Scarcity and Choice • • Resources are scarce Choices must be made There is no free lunch Opportunity cost 1 -5

Purposeful Behavior • • Rational self-interest Individuals and utility Firms and profit Desired outcomes 1 -6

Marginal Analysis • • Marginal benefit Marginal cost Marginal means extra Comparison of marginal benefit and marginal cost 1 -7

Economic Models • • • The scientific method Cause and effect Economic principles Simplification of reality Other-things-equal assumption Graphical expression 1 -8

Macro vs. Micro • Macroeconomics – Aggregate • Microeconomics – Individual Units • Positive Economics • Normative Economics 1 -9

Individual’s Economizing Problem • • • Limited income Unlimited wants A budget line Tradeoffs & opportunity costs Make best choice possible Change in income 1 -10

A Budget Line DVDs Books $20 $10 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 10 Income = $120 Quantity of DVDs $120 Budget 8 Unattainable 6 Income = $120 4 2 0 =6 Pdvd = $20 Pb = $10 = 12 Attainable 2 4 6 8 10 12 Quantity of Paperback Books 14 1 -11

Society’s Economizing Problem • Scarce resources – Land – Labor – Capital – Entrepreneurial Ability • Factors of production 1 -12

Production Possibilities Model • Illustrate production choices • Assumptions: – Full employment – Fixed resources – Fixed technology – Two goods 1 -13

Production Possibilities Table Production Alternatives Type of Product Pizzas A B C D E 0 1 2 3 4 10 9 7 4 0 (in hundred thousands) Industrial Robots (in thousands) Plot Points to Create Graph… 1 -14

Industrial Robots Production Possibilities Curve A’ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 B’ Unattainable A B Economic Growth C’ C D’ D Now Attainable E’ E 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pizzas 1 -15

Industrial Robots Production Possibilities Curve A’ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 B’ Unattainable A B Law of Increasing Opportunity Cost C’ C D’ Shape of the Curve D Attainable E’ E 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pizzas 1 -16

Industrial Robots Production Possibilities Curve A’ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 B’ Unattainable C’ U D’ Under or Unemployment E’ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pizzas 1 -17

The Future Economy • Consequences of unemployment • Economic growth – More resources – Better quality resources – Technological advances 1 -18

Future Possibilities Future Curve Current Curve P Goods for the Presentville Goods for the Future Compare Two Hypothetical Economies Future Curve F Current Curve Goods for the Present Futureville 1 -19

International Trade • • Production point Consumption point Specialization Preview 1 -20

Marginal Benefit & Marginal Cost Optimal Allocation of Resources 15 a c MC MB = MC e 10 5 0 b 1 d MB 2 3 Quantity of Pizza 1 -21

LAST Word: Pitfalls to Sound Economic Reasoning • • • Biases Loaded terminology Fallacy of composition Post hoc fallacy Correlation but not causation 1 -22

Key Terms • • • • economics economic perspective opportunity cost utility marginal analysis scientific method economic principle other-things-equal assumption macroeconomics aggregate microeconomics positive economics normative economics economizing problem • • • budget line economic resources land labor capital investment entrepreneurial ability factors of production consumer goods capital goods production possibilities curve law of increasing opportunity costs 1 -23 • economic growth

Next Chapter Preview… The Market System and the Circular Flow 1 -24