Definition of knowledge economy The sector of the economy which is increasingly based on knowledge-intensive activities, creating a greater reliance on intellectual capital rather than physical inputs. The OECD state the knowledge economy is associated with: High-tech manufacturing (computer, electronics, aerospace), Service sector industries, such as education healthcare and software design Business services such as …
Homo Economicus is a hypothetical concept that humans are: Self-interested Know what they want Make rational choices to maximise their utility. These choices are based on the concept of marginal utility. This concept of a rational economic man is an important cornerstone of neo-classical economic theory. It creates a framework to model how consumers and …
Economic growth per capita looks at the average increase in real GDP per person. We could have economic growth of 3% a year. But, if population growth is also 3%, then average incomes – Real GDP per capita will remain the same. If the population declines by 2% a year, but real GDP increases 1% …
Hysteresis is a concept which states that history affects the value of a current issue. In economics, hysteresis states that historical rates of unemployment are likely to influence the current and future rates of unemployment. If there is a recession and rise in cyclical unemployment, this temporary unemployment can affect the underlying structural rate and …
Definition of a free good. A free good is a good with zero opportunity cost. This means it can be produced by society in as much quantities as needed with little or zero effort.
Utility is a concept given to how much satisfaction/happiness a person gains from a particular action. Utility derived from the philosophy of utilitarianism. An early advocate of Utilitarianism was Jeremy Bentham who argued that utility was the accumulation of pleasure and avoidance of pain. The concept was refined by others such as J.S. Mill who …
What are the advantages and disadvantages for a developing economy, such as Ghana if it is dependent on primary products? Definition of Primary products: Raw materials and resources used in the productive process. Examples include metals, agricultural products and minerals. Advantages of Producing Primary Products For many developing economies, their main comparative advantage will be …
Discrimination in the labour market occurs when employers make decisions on wages and employment based on prejudices, such as race, gender, religion. It can lead to variations in wages for the same job and different employment rates. Kenneth Arrow defined discrimination as: “the valuation in the market-place of personal characteristics of the worker that are …