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A common thread between economics and other sciences such as physics is that
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real-world observations often lead to theories
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Because it is difficult for economists to use experiments to generate data, they generally must
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use whatever data the world gives them
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One difficulty economists face that some other scientists do not is that
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experiments are often difficult in economics
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Economists make assumptions
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to make the world easier to understand
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If an economist develops a theory about international trade based on the assumption that there are only two countries and two goods,
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the theory can be useful in helping economists understand the complex world of international trade involving any countries and many goods
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When economists attempt to simplify the real world and make it easier to understand they make
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assumptions
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When scientists make good assumptions, they
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greatly simplify the problem without substantially affecting the answer
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Good economic models
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omit many details to allow us to see what is truly important
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The circular-flow diagram is a
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visual model of how the economy is organized
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In a circular-flow diagram,
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income payments flow from firms to households, and sales revenue flows from households to firms
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Another name for goods and services produced by firms is
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output
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Another term for factors of production is
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inputs
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Refer to Figure 2-1. Which arrow shows the flow of the factors of production?
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C
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Refer to Figure 2-1. Which arrow shows the flow of income payments?
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D
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Any point on a country's production possibilities frontier represents a combination of two goods that an economy
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can produce using all available resources and technology
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If an economy is producing efficiently
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there is no way to produce more of one good without producing less of the other
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The opportunity cost of obtaining more of one good is shown on the production possibilities frontier as the
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amount of the other good that must be given up
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The production possibilities frontier is bowed outward if
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resources are not perfectly shiftable
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Refer to Figure 2-8. What is the opportunity cost of moving from point A to point B?
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20 barrels
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Microeconomics is the study of
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how individual households and firms make decisions
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Macroeconomics is the study of
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economy-wide phenomena
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Economists view positive statements as
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descriptive, making a claim about how the world is
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When economists are speaking as policy advisors, they are more likely to use
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normative statements