Basic Economic ConceptsScarcity, Opportunity Cost & PPC

Capitalism Characteristics

Supply and Demand

SCARCITY

Economics is the study of limited resources and unlimited needs and wants

Scarcity leads to making choices Opportunity Cost is what is sacrificed when

one choice is made over the “next best alternative”

Every decision has an opportunity cost

Opportunity Cost to every decision!

SCARCITY

Marginal decision making = the result of an additional change

Marginal benefits vs. marginal costs is the basis for making the decision

Examples:

1 more hour of sleep vs. eating breakfast

Part time job vs. goofing off

College vs. full time job

Production Possibilities Curve Illustrates scarcity, choices & opportunities

costs Points on the curve show production amounts

possible for 2 goods

Capital goods

Consumer Goods

Point A

Capital Goods

Consumer Goods

X = Point possible,

but inefficient

Point A

Y = Point Not Possible

CAPITALISM – MARKET ECONOMY Ownership of all resources is in the hands of

individuals Decision making is by individuals in the

market Voluntary exchange of goods and services Self interest influences all decisions – to the

benefit of society Competition is the regulating mechanism

CAPITALISM – MARKET ECONOMY Markets and Prices coordinate the millions of

decisions System is facilitated by:

Specialization Use of money Technology Active, but limited government involvement

CAPITALISM – MARKET ECONOMY Basic Questions every society must ask:

What goods & services to produce? How to produce? How much to produce? For whom to produce? How will changes be implemented?

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

CAPITALISM – MARKET ECONOMY Lesson on property rights – Power point

Supply and Demand

Go to Power Point on S & D

Problem Areas in AP Economics Investment – term defined as business

spending for capital equipment, machinery, factories, inventories, etc.

Personal investment is NOT used in Macro Investment decisions are MB vs MC MB = rate of return business will receive

(profit motive = revenue – cost = profit) MC = interest rate that must be paid to

borrow funds for Ig (gross private investment)

Problem Areas in AP Economics Real Interest rate – cost of borrowing the money

to buy the capital goods (machinery) If rate of return is greater than the cost of the

interest, the investment will be profitable Ex: 10% rate of return is greater than 7% interest =

profitable decision Even if capital is financed by savings, it gives up

interest earned on $$$savings REAL interest is used – inflation adjusted $$

(nominal rate – inflation rate = real interest rate)

Problem Areas in AP Economics Investment Demand Curve shows amount

of Ig at each real interest rate amount Ig Demand Curve shifts (left or right) when

other factors change: Costs of production Business taxes Technology changes Excessive inventories (no need for new production) Expectations for future business conditions

Problem Areas in AP Economics Key Graphs to know and teach:

Circular Flow PPC Supply and Demand Foreign Exchange Rates (S & D) Investment Demand Business Cycles AD/AS (Short Run and Long Run)

Problem Areas in AP Economics Key Graphs to know and teach:

Loanable Funds (S & D) + AD/AS (Fiscal Policy) Money Market + Ig Demand + AD/AS (Monetary

Policy) Phillips Curve (Long Run and Short Run) Laffer Curve Cost Curves (Micro)