question
Profit motive
answer
driving force that encourages people and organizations to improve their material well-being; characteristic of capitalism and free enterprise. (pg 74).
Ex: a business might be willing to absorb lower profits and even losses in the present to strengthen its position and increase its market share so it can earn higher profits in the future.
Ex: a business might be willing to absorb lower profits and even losses in the present to strengthen its position and increase its market share so it can earn higher profits in the future.
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Scarcity
answer
fundamental economic problem facing all societies resulting from a combination of scarce resources and people's virtually unlimited needs and wants. (pg 7)
Ex: Natural disasters can lead to scarce availability in resources like gas.
Ex: Natural disasters can lead to scarce availability in resources like gas.
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Opportunity cost
answer
cost of the next best alternative use of money, time, or resources, when one choice is made rather than another. (pg 17)
Ex: a company can produce either 40 pounds of coffee or 8 pounds of cashew nuts, the opportunity cost of producing 1 pound of cashew nuts is 5 pounds of coffee (40/8)
Ex: a company can produce either 40 pounds of coffee or 8 pounds of cashew nuts, the opportunity cost of producing 1 pound of cashew nuts is 5 pounds of coffee (40/8)
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Value
answer
monetary worth of a good or service as determined by the market. (pg 8)
Ex: a piece of pizza costs $1.25
Ex: a piece of pizza costs $1.25
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Paradox of Value
answer
apparent contradiction between the high value of a nonessential item and the low value of an essential item. (pg 8)
Ex: some objects like water have a very low monetary value and some objects like diamonds have a very high monetary value.
Ex: some objects like water have a very low monetary value and some objects like diamonds have a very high monetary value.
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Wealth
answer
sum of tangible economic goods that are scarce, useful, and transferable from one person to another; excludes services. (pg 9)
Ex: a nation's wealth comprises all tangible items -- including natural resources, factories, stores, houses, motels, theaters, furniture, clothing, books, highways, video games, and even basketballs -- that can be changed.
Ex: a nation's wealth comprises all tangible items -- including natural resources, factories, stores, houses, motels, theaters, furniture, clothing, books, highways, video games, and even basketballs -- that can be changed.
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Utility
answer
ability or capacity of a good or service to be useful and give satisfaction to someone. (pg 8)
Ex: one person may get a great deal of satisfaction from a home computer; another may get very little. One may enjoy and rock concert; another may not.
Ex: one person may get a great deal of satisfaction from a home computer; another may get very little. One may enjoy and rock concert; another may not.
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nondurable good
answer
item that wears out or lasts for fewer than three years when used regularly. (pg 8)
Ex: Food, writing paper, and most clothing items
Ex: Food, writing paper, and most clothing items
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durable good
answer
good that lasts for at least three years when used regularly. (pg 8)
Ex: tools such as robot welders and tractors, and consumer goods such as automobiles.
Ex: tools such as robot welders and tractors, and consumer goods such as automobiles.
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Labor
answer
people with all their abilities and efforts; one of the four factors of production; does not include the entrepreneur. (pg 16)
Ex: this category includes all people except a unique group of individuals called entrepreneurs, whom we single out because of their special role in the economy. Factors such as birthrates, immigration, famine, war, and disease have had a dramatic impact on the quantity and quality of labor.
Ex: this category includes all people except a unique group of individuals called entrepreneurs, whom we single out because of their special role in the economy. Factors such as birthrates, immigration, famine, war, and disease have had a dramatic impact on the quantity and quality of labor.
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Allocation
answer
distribution (pg 50)
Ex: sometimes the distribution of resources happens entirely in a free market comprised of self-directed individuals.
Ex: sometimes the distribution of resources happens entirely in a free market comprised of self-directed individuals.
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Four Factors or Production
answer
Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneur (pg 15)
Ex: in order to create a product, the four factors of production are needed. To make clothing, you need resources from the land, labor (people) to make the clothes, capital (equipment) to make the clothes, and entrepreneurs to sell the clothes.
Ex: in order to create a product, the four factors of production are needed. To make clothing, you need resources from the land, labor (people) to make the clothes, capital (equipment) to make the clothes, and entrepreneurs to sell the clothes.
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capital good (aka capital)
answer
tool, equipment, or other manufactured good used to produce other goods and services; a factor of production. (pg 15)
Ex: a bulldozer is a capital good used in construction. when it was built in a factory, it was the result of production involving other capital goods.
Ex: a bulldozer is a capital good used in construction. when it was built in a factory, it was the result of production involving other capital goods.
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comparative advantage
answer
country's ability to produce a given product relatively more efficiently than another country; production at a lower opportunity cost. (pg 498)
Ex:oil producing nations have a comparative advantage in chemicals. Their locally-produced oil provides a cheap source of material for the chemicals when compared to countries without it.
Ex:oil producing nations have a comparative advantage in chemicals. Their locally-produced oil provides a cheap source of material for the chemicals when compared to countries without it.
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consumer good
answer
good intended for final use by consumers other than businesses. (pg 8)
Ex: shoes, shirts, or an automobile
Ex: shoes, shirts, or an automobile
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Circular Flow of Economic Activity
answer
The circular flow diagram shows the high degree of economic interdependence in our economy. In the diagram, the factors of production and the products made from them flow in one direction. The money consumers spend on goods and services flows in the opposite direction. (pg 25)
Ex: creating a shirt has to go through many factors of production before it is available to the consumer.
Ex: creating a shirt has to go through many factors of production before it is available to the consumer.
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Choice
answer
Choices can be made by society as a whole, or by individuals in the society. Either way, the alternative and their opportunity costs are important, so it pays to examine these concepts closely.(pg 18)
Producers have to make the choice on what types of factors of production they want to use. (pg 15)
Ex: they need to decide what land, equipment, labor and entrepreneurs they want to employ of use.
Consumers have to make choices and decisions based on the idea of Trade-Offs, Opportunity Cost for Consumers, Consumer rights, and consumer responsibilities. (pg 18)
Ex: do you stand in a long line for a new phone when you know the stock is scarce?
Producers have to make the choice on what types of factors of production they want to use. (pg 15)
Ex: they need to decide what land, equipment, labor and entrepreneurs they want to employ of use.
Consumers have to make choices and decisions based on the idea of Trade-Offs, Opportunity Cost for Consumers, Consumer rights, and consumer responsibilities. (pg 18)
Ex: do you stand in a long line for a new phone when you know the stock is scarce?
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Distribution
answer
the same thing as allocation. The way something is divided among people, groups, families, or individuals. (pg 401 - distribution of income)
Ex: Money is distributed to individuals that work for businesses at different rates depending on their job.
Ex: Money is distributed to individuals that work for businesses at different rates depending on their job.
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Economic Efficiency/Inefficiency
answer
Efficiency means that a tax should be relatively easy to administer and reasonably successful at generating revenue. Economic Inefficiency would be when the tax is not easy to administer and isn't very successful at generating revenue. (pg 403)
Ex: something is efficient if new info and material is given out immediately and if there is a delay it is considered inefficient. If something has a smooth and easy process it can also be considered efficient. If it's not smooth and easy than it is inefficient.
Ex: something is efficient if new info and material is given out immediately and if there is a delay it is considered inefficient. If something has a smooth and easy process it can also be considered efficient. If it's not smooth and easy than it is inefficient.
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Entrepreneurs
answer
risk-taking individuals who introduce new products or services in search of profits; one of the four factors of production. They are often thought of as being the driving force in an economy because they are the people who start new businesses or bring new products to the market. (pg 16)
Ex: Shark Tank contestants
Ex: Shark Tank contestants
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Entrepreneurship
answer
the process of designing, starting and running a new business. Often start as small businesses and people who create these are called entrepreneurs. (pg 16)
Ex: Steve Jobs started out with a small idea and goal for his Apple business and his entrepreneur skills made him extremely successful today.
Ex: Steve Jobs started out with a small idea and goal for his Apple business and his entrepreneur skills made him extremely successful today.
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Service
answer
work or labor performed for someone; economic product that includes haircuts, home repairs, and forms of entertainment. (pg 8)
Ex: as well as the examples above, these also include the work of doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
Ex: as well as the examples above, these also include the work of doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
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Market
answer
meeting place or mechanism through which buyers and sellers of an economic product come together; may be local, regional, national, or global. (pg 24)
Ex: Factor markets and Product markets
Ex: Factor markets and Product markets
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Factor Market
answer
markets in which productive resources are bought and sold. (pg 24)
Ex: one participates in a factor market when you sell your labor to an employer in exchange for the wages the employer pays you.
Ex: one participates in a factor market when you sell your labor to an employer in exchange for the wages the employer pays you.
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Product Market
answer
market in which goods and services are bought and sold. (pg 25)
Ex: one is participating in a product market whenever one puts money into a soft drink machine: money goes in, soda comes out.
Ex: one is participating in a product market whenever one puts money into a soft drink machine: money goes in, soda comes out.
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Economic growth
answer
increase in a nation's total output of goods and services over time. important because (1) of scarcity, everybody currently wants more goods and services than they have now. (2) if the population is growing, there will be even more people wanting goods and services to satisfy their wants and needs in the future. (pg 21)
Ex: as more cars are being made and used throughout the nation, there will be an increase in gas sales and mechanic services.
Ex: as more cars are being made and used throughout the nation, there will be an increase in gas sales and mechanic services.
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productivity
answer
measure of the amount of output produced in a specific time period with a given amount of resources; normally refers to labor, but can apply to all factors of production (pg 22)
Ex: productivity goes up whenever more can be produced with the same amount of resources. for example, if a company produced 5,000 pencils in an hour, and then it produced 5,100 in the next hour with the same amount of land, labor, and capital, then productivity went up in the second hour. productivity is often discussed in terms of labor, but it applies to all factors of production.
Ex: productivity goes up whenever more can be produced with the same amount of resources. for example, if a company produced 5,000 pencils in an hour, and then it produced 5,100 in the next hour with the same amount of land, labor, and capital, then productivity went up in the second hour. productivity is often discussed in terms of labor, but it applies to all factors of production.
question
production possibilities curve
answer
diagram representing all possible combinations of goods and/or services an economy can produce when all productive resources are fully employed. (pg 16, 497)
Ex: aka frontier. one can produce 40 cars and 300 pieces of clothing but if they want to increase the number of cars they produce they need to decrease the pieces of clothing they produce.
Ex: aka frontier. one can produce 40 cars and 300 pieces of clothing but if they want to increase the number of cars they produce they need to decrease the pieces of clothing they produce.
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division of labor
answer
division of work into a number of separate tasks to be performed by different workers; same as specialization. (pg 23, 538)
Ex:a worker who performs a few tasks many times a day is likely to be more proficient than a worker who performs several different tasks in the same period. an assembly line has many people doing different tasks to get the whole job done.
Ex:a worker who performs a few tasks many times a day is likely to be more proficient than a worker who performs several different tasks in the same period. an assembly line has many people doing different tasks to get the whole job done.
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Adam Smith/"Wealth of Nations"
answer
Adam Smith's famous book is called "The Wealth of Nations". In his book, he refers specifically to the abilities and skills of a nation's people as the source of its wealth. (pg 9)
Ex: For Smith, if a country's material possessions were taken away, its people, through their efforts and skills, could restore these possessions. On the other hand, if a country's people were taken away, its wealth would deteriorate.
Ex: For Smith, if a country's material possessions were taken away, its people, through their efforts and skills, could restore these possessions. On the other hand, if a country's people were taken away, its wealth would deteriorate.
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Economic Systems
answer
organized way a society provides for the wants and needs of its people (pg 39)
Ex:socialism, communism, and capitalism.
Ex:socialism, communism, and capitalism.
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Traditional economy
answer
economic system in which the allocation of scarce resources, and other economic activity, is the result of ritual, habit, or custom (pg 38)
Ex: older times. depend on fishing, hunting, gathering and everyone always has a role.
Ex: older times. depend on fishing, hunting, gathering and everyone always has a role.
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Command economy
answer
economic system characterized by a central authority that make most o the major economic decisions (pg 39)
Ex: all decisions are determined by the government. The government chooses what gets produced, what people get to buy, how things are produced, and everything else about production and buying. People don't have freedom in what they want to buy or sell.
Ex: all decisions are determined by the government. The government chooses what gets produced, what people get to buy, how things are produced, and everything else about production and buying. People don't have freedom in what they want to buy or sell.
question
Market economy
answer
economic system in which supply, demand, and the price system help people allocate resources and make the WHAT, HOW, and FOR WHOM to produce decisions; same as free enterprise economy. (Pg 45)
Ex: Government decision is limited and people have freedom in choice of what they buy and sell. People are also able to own things as private property rather than everything being owned by the government.
Ex: Government decision is limited and people have freedom in choice of what they buy and sell. People are also able to own things as private property rather than everything being owned by the government.
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Voluntary Exchange
answer
act of buyers and sellers freely and willingly engaging in market transactions; a characteristic of capitalism and free enterprise. (pg 73)
Ex: going to the mall and giving the cashier money to buy a product. both the company and buyer are better off.
Ex: going to the mall and giving the cashier money to buy a product. both the company and buyer are better off.
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private property rights
answer
fundamental feature of capitalism, which allows individuals to own and control their possessions as they wish; includes both tangible and intangible property. (pg 73)
Ex: If someone had a beach house and wanted to claim land as their own, they have the right to do so.
Ex: If someone had a beach house and wanted to claim land as their own, they have the right to do so.
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private property goods
answer
the goods that people own that they are allowed to call their own and have possession of. (pg 193)
Ex: Private beach property
Ex: Private beach property
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Roles of Government
answer
The government has 4 main roles in a free enterprise economy. Those roles are to become a protector, provider, regulator, and consumer. (pg 85)
Ex: The government protects people from misleading labels, unsafe foods and drugs, and dangerous hazards. They also provide businesses and companies with the supplies they need as well as public things in local areas like libraries and transportation. They regulate things like communication and banking as well as consume scarce resources to fulfill their role.
Ex: The government protects people from misleading labels, unsafe foods and drugs, and dangerous hazards. They also provide businesses and companies with the supplies they need as well as public things in local areas like libraries and transportation. They regulate things like communication and banking as well as consume scarce resources to fulfill their role.
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Roles of Consumer
answer
In a free enterprise system, consumers ultimately determine what businesses produce. (pg 83)
Ex: in recent years, producers have had outstanding successes with products ranging from fast foods to social media platforms. Other products, for example, including Harley Davidson perfume, flower-flavored PEZ, and Dr.Care's aerosol toothpaste, were rejected by consumers and were no longer produced. Consumers always want to new and improved products, so when something new comes out, they want it or something better.
Ex: in recent years, producers have had outstanding successes with products ranging from fast foods to social media platforms. Other products, for example, including Harley Davidson perfume, flower-flavored PEZ, and Dr.Care's aerosol toothpaste, were rejected by consumers and were no longer produced. Consumers always want to new and improved products, so when something new comes out, they want it or something better.
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Roles of entrepreneur
answer
In a free enterprise system, the entrepreneur in the person who organizes and manages the land, capital, and labor in order to seek the reward called profit. They are the ones who start new businesses. they are there to stimulate activity within the market and sell their product. makes economy successful and may sometimes even attract other firms to the industry. (pg 83,83)
Ex: Mark Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur that invented Facebook. he, as well as many other successful entrepreneurs, changed the way we communicate, shop, and work.
Ex: Mark Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur that invented Facebook. he, as well as many other successful entrepreneurs, changed the way we communicate, shop, and work.
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Business Types/Forms of business organizations
answer
There are 4 different forms of business organizations. The first one is a Sole Proprietorship. A Sole proprietorship, or a proprietorship, is an unincorporated business owned and run by a single person who has rights to all profits and unlimited liability for all debts of the firm; most common form of business organization in the United States. The next one is a Partnership. A partnership is an unincorporated business owned and operated by two or more people who share the profits and have unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the firm. Another for of business organization is a corporation. A corporation is a form of business organization recognized by law as a separate legal entity with all the rights and responsibilities of an individual, including the right to buy and sell property, enter into legal contracts, and to sue and be sued. The last type of business organization is a Franchise. This is a business investment that involves renting or leasing another successful business model. (pg 212-220)
Ex: Proprietorship - lemonade stand
Partnership - Spotify and Uber, Lilly Pulitzer and Swell
Corporation: Google and General Electric (GE)
Franchise: McDonald's, Subway, 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut.
Ex: Proprietorship - lemonade stand
Partnership - Spotify and Uber, Lilly Pulitzer and Swell
Corporation: Google and General Electric (GE)
Franchise: McDonald's, Subway, 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut.
question
land
answer
natural resources or "gifts of nature" not created by human effort; one of the four factors of production (pg 15).
Ex: mineral deposits, forests, fish stocks, etc.
Ex: mineral deposits, forests, fish stocks, etc.
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capital
answer
tools, equipment, and factories used in the production of goods and services; one of the four factors of production. (pg 15).
Ex: cars, patents, software, machines, tractors, etc.
Ex: cars, patents, software, machines, tractors, etc.
question
cost benefit analysis
answer
comparison of the cost of an action to its benefits. (pg 26, 195)
Ex: If someone is determining what type of paint to use on their walls, they will evaluate the cost and the pros and cons of each product to see which is the best choice for their circumstances.
Ex: If someone is determining what type of paint to use on their walls, they will evaluate the cost and the pros and cons of each product to see which is the best choice for their circumstances.
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Medicare
answer
federal health insurance program for senior citizens, regardless of income (pg 88, 405).
Ex: money and discounts on medication and other things that can be given to someone who needs help paying for medical procedures, or even just need help with keeping up with a healthy lifestyle.
Ex: money and discounts on medication and other things that can be given to someone who needs help paying for medical procedures, or even just need help with keeping up with a healthy lifestyle.
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Inflation
answer
sustained rise in the general level of prices of goods and services (pg 89, 375).
Ex: in the 1900's bread only cost cents and now in the 2000's it costs right around $3-$4.
Ex: in the 1900's bread only cost cents and now in the 2000's it costs right around $3-$4.
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Fixed income
answer
income that does not increase overtime (pg 89).
Ex: treasury bonds, certificates of deposit, corporate bonds, etc.
Ex: treasury bonds, certificates of deposit, corporate bonds, etc.
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Firms
answer
a business organization, such as a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, that sells goods or services to make profit. (pg 212-220)
Ex: Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Nike, Ikea, etc.
Ex: Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Nike, Ikea, etc.
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household
answer
basic unit of consumer sector consisting of all of the people who occupy a house, apartment, or separate living quarters. (pg 342).
Ex: My house, your house, my condo cottage
Ex: My house, your house, my condo cottage
question
marginal analysis
answer
an examination of the additional benefits of an activity compared to the additional costs incurred by that same activity. (pg 184)
Ex: a bakery might use this to determine the potential benefits to an increase in cookie production. It will cots more money to make more cookies, so will it be beneficial enough to follow through with the higher production?
Ex: a bakery might use this to determine the potential benefits to an increase in cookie production. It will cots more money to make more cookies, so will it be beneficial enough to follow through with the higher production?
question
opportunity cost
answer
cost of the next best alternative use of money, time, or resources, when one choice is made rather than another. (pg 498).
Ex: if someone decides to spend their money and time going to the zoo, they can't spend that time on doing homework or spend that money on something else like food or clothing.
Ex: if someone decides to spend their money and time going to the zoo, they can't spend that time on doing homework or spend that money on something else like food or clothing.
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productive resources
answer
resources used to make goods and services. (pg 543-546)
Ex: trees
Ex: trees
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profit
answer
difference between the revenue from sales and the full opportunity cost of resources involved in producing the sales (pg 73).
Ex: the money and business has left after paying bills and expenses.
Ex: the money and business has left after paying bills and expenses.
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private goods
answer
products that are paid for and consumed individually.(pg 193)
Ex: pizza, healthcare
Ex: pizza, healthcare
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public goods
answer
economic products that are paid for and consumed collectively (pg 193).
Ex: highways, national defense, police and fire protection.
Ex: highways, national defense, police and fire protection.
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wants
answer
something we would like to have but is not necessary for survival (pg 8).
Ex: a new purse, a bike
Ex: a new purse, a bike
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needs
answer
basic requirement for survival. (pg 8).
Ex: Food, clothing, shelter
Ex: Food, clothing, shelter
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gross domestic product
answer
GDP: monetary value of all final goods, services, and structures produced within a country's national borders during a one-year period (pg 10, 337).
Ex: When GDP goes up, that is good for our economy because it means that the monetary value of our goods in going up.
Ex: When GDP goes up, that is good for our economy because it means that the monetary value of our goods in going up.
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trade-offs
answer
alternative that must be given up when one choice is made rather than another (pg 18).
Ex: Someone might want to go out to dinner with their friends, but that means their would be missing their favorite TV show.
Ex: Someone might want to go out to dinner with their friends, but that means their would be missing their favorite TV show.
question
competition
answer
the struggle among sellers to attract consumers (pg 74).
Ex: Starbucks vs Tim Hortons, McDonald's vs Wendy's
Ex: Starbucks vs Tim Hortons, McDonald's vs Wendy's
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free enterprise characteristics
answer
free enterprise: an economic system in which privately owned businesses have the freedom to operate for a profit with limited government intervention. (pg 28)
Ex: Someone might sell handmade bracelets online and get most of the profit, besides stuff that has to do with taxes.
Free enterprise economy: market economy in which privately owned businesses have the freedom to operate for a profit with limited government intervention. (pg 72).
Ex: a clothing company where the products, prices, and services are determined by the market and the owner, not the government.
Ex: Someone might sell handmade bracelets online and get most of the profit, besides stuff that has to do with taxes.
Free enterprise economy: market economy in which privately owned businesses have the freedom to operate for a profit with limited government intervention. (pg 72).
Ex: a clothing company where the products, prices, and services are determined by the market and the owner, not the government.
question
economic model
answer
simplified version of a complex concept or behavior expressed in the form of a graph, figure, equation, or diagram. (pg 26, 161).
Ex: Circular Flow Diagram, any graph, figure, or equation, used to represent and process of data.
Ex: Circular Flow Diagram, any graph, figure, or equation, used to represent and process of data.
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Human capital
answer
sum of people's skills, abilities, health, and motivation (pg 22).
Ex: getting a college education, teachers natural intelligence, firefighter training.
Ex: getting a college education, teachers natural intelligence, firefighter training.
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economic interdependence
answer
mutual dependence of the economic activities of one person, company, region, or nation on those of another person, company, region, or nation (pg 24).
Ex: We, in the US, buy and sell goods from China when they make our products. If one country is out of natural gas or oil, we will trade them for something else.
Ex: We, in the US, buy and sell goods from China when they make our products. If one country is out of natural gas or oil, we will trade them for something else.
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Standard of living
answer
quality of life based on ownership of necessities and luxuries that make life easier. (pg 28)
Ex: Poverty, Class, income, and resources availability can all contribute to ones quality of life.
Ex: Poverty, Class, income, and resources availability can all contribute to ones quality of life.
question
Mixed economy
answer
economic system that has some combination of traditional, command, and market economies (pg 48, 86)
Ex: A country had most control over their economy but they also get the help of the government when it comes to determining minimum wage. It's not all controlled by the people or all controlled by the government, it's a mix of both.
Ex: A country had most control over their economy but they also get the help of the government when it comes to determining minimum wage. It's not all controlled by the people or all controlled by the government, it's a mix of both.
question
Consumer Sovereignty
answer
role of consumer as ruler of the market in determining the types of goods and services produced (pg 83).
Ex: if consumers really like to buy pizza but not hot dogs, the company will produce more pizza and less hot dogs.
Ex: if consumers really like to buy pizza but not hot dogs, the company will produce more pizza and less hot dogs.
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Modified Free Enterprise Economy
answer
free enterprise market economy where people carry on their economic affairs freely, but are subject to some government intervention and regulation. (pg 86)
Ex: companies and businesses can do whatever with what they sell, how they sell things, and how much they sell for but they must pay their employees at minimum wage.
Ex: companies and businesses can do whatever with what they sell, how they sell things, and how much they sell for but they must pay their employees at minimum wage.
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Minimum wage
answer
lowest legal wage that can be paid to most workers (pg 88, 263)
Ex: The minimum wage in Michigan in $9.45 per hour.
Ex: The minimum wage in Michigan in $9.45 per hour.
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Social Security
answer
federal program of disability and retirement benefits that covers most working people (pg 88).
Ex: everyone has their own unique social security number and once someone hits a certain age they will begin to receive social security benefits.
Ex: everyone has their own unique social security number and once someone hits a certain age they will begin to receive social security benefits.