Micro Econ Chap02

8/11/2019 Micro Econ Chap02

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2Thinking Like anEconomist


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Copyright 2004 South-Western/Thomson Learning

Thinking Like an Economist

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.


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The economist as a scientist

The economic way of thinking . . . Involves thinking analytically and objectively. Makes use of the scientific method.


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The Scientific Method: Observation,Theory, and More Observation Uses abstract models to help explain how a

complex, real world operates.

Develops theories, collects, and analyzesdata to evaluate the theories.


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The Role of Assumptions

Economists make assumptions in order tomake the world easier to understand.

The art in scientific thinking is decidingwhich assumptions to make.

Economists use different assumptions toanswer different questions.


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Economic Models

Economists use models to simplify realityin order to improve our understanding ofthe world

Two of the most basic economic modelsinclude: The Circular Flow Diagram

The Production Possibilities Frontier


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Our First Model: The Circular-FlowDiagram The circular-flow diagram is a visual model

of the economy that shows how dollars flowthrough markets among households and

firms.


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Figure 1 The Circular Flow

Copyright 2004 South-Western

Spending

Goods and services bought

Revenue

Goods and services sold

Labor, land, and capital

Income

= Flow of inputsand outputs

= Flow of dollars

Factors of production

Wages, rent, and profit

FIRMS Produce and sell goods and services

Hire and use factors of production

Buy and consume goods and services

Own and sell factors of production

HOUSEHOLDS

Households sell Firms buy

MARKETS FOR

FACTORS OF PRODUCTION

Firms sell Households buy

MARKETS FOR

GOODS AND SERVICES


10/29Copyright 2004 South-Western/Thomson Learning

Our First Model: The Circular-FlowDiagram 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



Our First Model: The Circular-FlowDiagram Markets for Goods and Services

Firms sell Households buy

Markets for Factors of Production Households sell Firms buy



Our First Model: The Circular-FlowDiagram Factors of Production

Inputs used to produce goods and services Land, labor, and capital



Our Second Model: The ProductionPossibilities Frontier The production possibilities frontier is a

graph that shows the combinations ofoutput that the economy can possibly

produce given the available factors ofproduction and the available productiontechnology.


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Figure 2 The Production Possibilities Frontier

Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning

Production possibilities

frontier

A

B

C

Quantity of

Cars Produced

2,200

600

1,000

300

0

700

2,000

3,000

1,000

Quantity of Computers

Produced

D



Our Second Model: The ProductionPossibilities Frontier Concepts Illustrated by the Production

Possibilities Frontier Efficiency

Tradeoffs Opportunity Cost Economic Growth

i 3 A Shif i h d i ibili i


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Figure 3 A Shift in the Production PossibilitiesFrontier


E

Quantity of

Cars Produced

2,000

700

2,100

750

0

4,000

3,000

1,000

Quantity of Computers

Produced

A



Microeconomics andMacroeconomics 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.

Economy-wide phenomena, including inflation,unemployment, and economic growth



The economist as policy advisor

When economists are trying to explain theworld, they are scientists.

When economists are trying to change theworld, they are policy advisor.



Positive versus normative analysis

Positive statements are statements thatattempt to describe the world as it is. Called descriptive analysis

Normative statements are statementsabout how the world should be. Called prescriptive analysis



Positive versus normativeanalysis Positive or Normative Statements?

An increase in the minimum wage will cause adecrease in employment among the least-

skilled. POSITIVE

Higher federal budget deficits will causeinterest rates to increase. POSITIVE

?

?

?



Positive or Normative Statements? The income gains from a higher minimum

wage are worth more than any slight

reductions in employment.NORMATIVE

State governments should be allowed to collectfrom tobacco companies the costs of treatingsmoking-related illnesses among the poor.

NORMATIVE

?

?

Positive versus normativeanalysis

?



Economists in Washington

. . . serve as advisers in the policymakingprocess of the three branches ofgovernment:

Legislative Executive Judicial


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WHY ECONOMISTSDISAGREE They may disagree about the validity of

alternative positive theories about how theworld works.

They may have different values and,therefore, different normative views about

what policy should try to accomplish.


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Table 2 Ten Propositions about Which MostEconomists Agree



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Summary

Economics is divided into two subfields: Microeconomists study decision-making by

households and firms in the marketplace.

Macroeconomists study the forces and trendsthat affect the economy as a whole


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Summary

A positive statement is an assertion abouthow the world is.

A normative statement is an assertionabout how the world ought to be.

When economists make normativestatements, they are acting more as policy

advisors than scientists.


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Summary

Economists who advise policymakers offerconflicting advice either because ofdifferences in scientific judgments or

because of differences in values. At other times, economists are united in the

advice they offer, but policymakers may

choose to ignore it.

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