– Positive economics: based on facts and testable theories e.g. inflation is 2% – Normative economics: based on opinion – Opportunity cost: is the sacrifice foregone of the next best alternative – Demand curve will shift to the right if real incomes rise, price of substitute rises, price of complement falls, changes in taste Giffen …
This is a policy of setting prices close to average cost. It is a way to maximise sales, whilst maintaining normal profits. It is sometimes known as sales maximisation. It will be used by firms who are seeking to increase market share and who don’t seek to maximise profits. Average cost pricing will occur in …
Competitive markets are characterised by: Many firms as opposed to a small number Low barriers to entry and exit. – Contestable market Low profits of incumbent firms Relatively low prices. In economics we have a formal model of perfect competition. But, in the real world perfect competition is a rarity because it assumes perfect information …
The Neo-Classical Theory of Firms makes the following assumptions Firms are profit maximisers. Firms will maximise profits where MR=MC In the short run, firms are subject to diminishing returns. In the short run, capital is fixed, therefore MC is upwardly sloping after diminishing returns sets in. Prices are flexible. If there is a shortage of …
The 1980s was a decade of divides. The proud industrial heartlands of the north suffering irreversible decline. The City of London enjoying an unprecedented boom. In the early 80s, Unemployment soared to the highest level since the Great Depression, manufacturing fell off a cliff. But not everyone suffered in the 80s. Financial liberalisation and tax …
We Can’t Afford a Trump Trade WarWatch this video on YouTube In 1930, the US economy entered a deep recession and President Hoover responded by passing the Smoot Hawley tariff bill which saw average US tariffs almost double. The aim was to help US manufacturers from foreign competition. But, the bill was a disaster, …
Summary: Wage inflation is an increase in nominal wages, meaning workers receive higher pay. Wage inflation tends to cause price inflation and higher growth. The impact of wage inflation depends on whether it is a real increase (higher than inflation) or just nominal increase (same wage increase as inflation). The effect also depends on labour …
The fundamental economic problem is the issue of scarcity but unlimited wants. Scarcity implies there is only a limited quantity of resources, e.g. finite fossil fuels. Because of scarcity, there is a constant opportunity cost – if you use resources to consume one good, you cannot consume another. Therefore, an underlying feature of economics is …