Thinking Like an Economist

Transcription

1 Thinking Like an Economist CHAPTER 2

2 Every field of study has its own terminology Mathematics axioms integrals vector spaces Law torts Promissory estoppel venues Psychology id ego cognitive dissonance

3 Every field of study has its own terminology Economics Supply Opportunity cost Elasticity Comparative advantage Demand Consumer Surplus Deadweight loss

4 Economics trains you to.... Think in terms of alternatives. Evaluate the cost of individual and social choices. Examine and understand how certain events and issues are related.

5 The Economist as a Scientist The economic way of thinking... Involves thinking analytically and objectively. Makes use of the scientific method.

6 The Scientific Method Uses abstract models to help explain how a complex, real world operates. Develops theories, collects, and analyzes data to prove the theories. Observation, Theory and More Observation!

7 The Role of Assumptions ECONOMISTS MAKE ASSUMPTIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE WORLD EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. THE ART IN SCIENTIFIC THINKING IS DECIDING WHICH ASSUMPTIONS TO MAKE. ECONOMISTS USE DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS TO ANSWER DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

8 The Economic Way of Thinking Includes developing abstract models from theories and the analysis of the models. Uses two approaches: Descriptive (reporting facts, etc.) Analytical (abstract reasoning)

9 Economic Models E C O N O M I S T S U S E M O D E L S T O S I M P L I F Y R E A L I T Y I N O R D E R T O I M P R O V E O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G O F T H E W O R L D T W O O F T H E M O S T B A S I C E C O N O M I C M O D E L S I N C L U D E : The Circular Flow Model The Production Possibilities Frontier

10 The Circular-Flow Model THE CIRCULAR-FLOW MODEL IS A SIMPLE WAY TO VISUALLY SHOW THE ECONOMIC TRANSACTIONS THAT OCCUR BETWEEN HOUSEHOLDS AND FIRMS IN THE ECONOMY.

11 The Circular-Flow Diagram Revenue Goods & Services sold Market for Goods and Services Spending Goods & Services bought Firms Households Inputs for production Wages, rent, and profit Market for Factors of Production Labor, land, and capital Income

12 The Circular-Flow Diagram Firms Produce and sell goods and services Hire and use factors of production Households Buy and consume goods and services Own and sell factors of production

13 The Circular-Flow Diagram Markets for Goods & Services Firms sell Households buy Markets for Factors of Production Households sell Firms buy

14 The Circular-Flow Diagram Factors of Production Inputs used to produce goods and services Land, labor, and capital

15 The Production Possibilities Frontier THE PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES FRONTIER IS A GRAPH SHOWING THE VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF OUTPUT THAT THE ECONOMY CAN POSSIBLY PRODUCE GIVEN THE AVAILABLE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY.

16 The Production Possibilities Frontier Quantity of Computers Produced 3,000 D 2,200 2,000 C A 1,000 B ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced

17 The Production Possibilities Frontier Quantity of Computers Produced 3,000 D 2,200 2,000 C A 1,000 B Production possibilities frontier ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced

18 Concepts Illustrated by the Production Possibilities Frontier Efficiency Tradeoffs Opportunity Cost Economic Growth

19 Quantity of Computers Produced 4,000 3,000 The Production Possibilities Frontier An outward shift in the production possibilities frontier 2,100 2,000 A E ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced

20 Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Microeconomics focuses on the individual parts of the economy. How households and firms make decisions and how they interact in specific markets Macroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole. How the markets, as a whole, interact at the national level.

21 Two Roles of Economists When they are trying to explain the world, they are scientists. When they are trying to change the world, they are policymakers.

22 Positive versus Normative Analysis Positive statements are statements that describe the world as it is. Called descriptive analysis Normative statements are statements about how the world should be. Called prescriptive analysis

23 Positive or Normative Statements?? A N I N C R E A S E I N T H E M I N I M U M W A G E W I L L C A U S E A D E C R E A S E I N E M P L O Y M E N T A M O N G T H E L E A S T - S K I L L E D.?

24 Positive or Normative Statements? H I G H E R F E D E R A L B U D G E T D E F I C I T S W I L L C A U S E I N T E R E S T R A T E S T O I N C R E A S E.???

25 ?? Positive or Normative Statements? T H E I N C O M E G A I N S F R O M A H I G H E R M I N I M U M W A G E A R E W O R T H M O R E T H A N A N Y S L I G H T R E D U C T I O N S I N E M P L O Y M E N T.??

26 Positive or Normative Statements??? S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S S H O U L D B E A L L O W E D T O C O L L E C T F R O M T O B A C C O C O M P A N I E S T H E C O S T S O F T R E A T I N G S M O K I N G - R E L A T E D I L L N E S S E S A M O N G T H E P O O R.?

27 Economists in Washington serve as advisers in the policymaking process of the three branches of government: Legislative Executive Judicial

28 Why Economists Disagree They may disagree on theories about how the world works. They may hold different values and, thus, different normative views.

29 Examples of What Most Economists Agree On A ceiling on rents reduces the quantity and quality of housing available. Tariffs and import quotas usually reduce general economic welfare.

30 Summary In order to address subjects with objectivity, economics makes use of the scientific method. The field of economics is divided into two subfields: microeconomics and macroeconomics.

31 Summary Economics relies on both positive and normative analysis. Positive statements assert how the world is while normative statements assert how the world should be. Economists may offer conflicting advice due to differences in scientific judgments or to differences in values.

32 Graphical Review

33 The Circular-Flow Diagram Revenue Goods & Services sold Market for Goods and Services Spending Goods & Services bought Firms Households Inputs for production Wages, rent, and profit Market for Factors of Production Labor, land, and capital Income

34 The Production Possibilities Frontier Quantity of Computers Produced 3,000 D 2,200 2,000 C A 1,000 B ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced

35 The Production Possibilities Frontier Quantity of Computers Produced 3,000 D 2,200 2,000 C A 1,000 B Production possibilities frontier ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced

36 Quantity of Computers Produced 4,000 3,000 The Production Possibilities Frontier An outward shift in the production possibilities frontier 2,100 2,000 A E ,000 Quantity of Cars Produced