SECTION 1 : SCARCITY AD THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
SECTION 2 : OPPORTUNITY COSTSECTION 3 : PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY
CURVES
Chapter 1: What is Economics?
Section 1 Objectives
Explain why scarcity and choice are the basis of economics.
Describe what entrepreneurs do. Define the three factors of production and
the differences between physical and human capital.
Explain how scarcity affects the factors or production.
You have one minute…
Create a list of items you would buy from the supermarket if money were no object.
Scarcity and Choice
Need: something essential for survival Examples:
Want: something we desire but not necessary for survival Examples:
Goods: physical objects Examples:
Services: actions or activities that a person performs Examples:
Scarcity
Needs Wants
Scarcity and Economics
Forces people to make choices Limited amounts of goods and services are
available to meet unlimited wants Economics: the study of how people seek to
satisfy their needs and wants by making choices Individually In groups Government
Entrepreneurs
People who decide how to combine resources to create new goods and services
Must assemble the Factors of Production Land – natural resources Labor – effort people put forth to complete a task Capital – anything used to produce other goods and
services Physical capital Human capital
Section 2: Opportunity CostObjectives
Explain why every decision involves trade-offs.
Summarize the concept of opportunity cost. Describe how people make decisions by
thinking at the margin.
Trade-Offs
Bell Ringer: Page 8 Define trade-0ffs. List 3 trade-offs you
have made.
Trade-Offs
Trade-off: the act of giving up one benefit in order to gain another greater benefit
Individuals Businesses Governments
“guns or butter” “Like Santa with a wish list that cannot be satisfied, the country
enters the New Year with a needs list that far exceeds our revenue sources. It appears once again that is time to wage the debate of guns or butter…Citizens are simultaneously confronted with funding a war abroad and dealing with rising health costs, increased fuel costs and declining human services at home.” – Charles Bogue, “Guns or Butter,” Napa Valley Register
Writing: Trade-offs
Think about the quote we just read. In our current time, what should the government spend money on?
How to write for Mrs. Miles 5-8 paragraphs Introduction – Attention grabber, background
information, thesis statement Middle Paragraphs – point, counter-point, point IN
ALL MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS. Do not write a counter-point as its own paragraph. Do not write a point as its own paragraph.
Closing – Sum up your main points, restate your thesis Go!
Writing
“Like Santa with a wish list that cannot be satisfied, the country enters the New Year with a needs list that far exceeds our revenue sources. It appears once again that is time to wage the debate of guns or butter…Citizens are simultaneously confronted with funding a war abroad and dealing with rising health costs, increased fuel costs and declining human services at home.” – Charles Bogue, “Guns or Butter,” Napa Valley Register
In our current time, what should the government spend money on? Guns or butter? Explain acknowledging competing viewpoints.
Introduction Point, Counter-point, Point Point, Counter-Point, PointPoint, Counter-Point, Point Closing
Opportunity Cost
Opportunity Cost: the most desirable alternative given up as the result of a decision
What are some examples?
Thinking at the Margin
Thinking at the margin – whether to do or use some additional resource When is enough enough?
Cost/Benefit Analysis – sacrifice vs. gain Marginal cost – cost of adding one unit Marginal benefit – benefit of adding one unit
Decision Making at the Margin
Problem: Options Benefit Opportunity
Cost
Section 3
Bell ringer: How does a nation decide what and how much to produce?
Section 3: Production Possibility Curves
Objectives: Interpret a production possibilities curve. Explain how production possibilities curves show
efficiency, growth, and cost. Explain why a country’s production possibilities
depend on resources and technology.
Production Possibility Curves
Graph that shows alternative ways to use an economies productive resources
Capeland (it’s not a real place) (video) Watermelons or shoes?
21 million tons of watermelons 15 million pairs of shoes
Efficiency, Growth, and Cost
Efficiency The use of resources in such a way as to maximize the
output of goods and services Underutilization
The use of fewer resources than the economy is capable of using
Law of increasing costs As production shifts from making once good or service
to another, more and more resources are need to increase production of the second good or service
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