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AP Microeconomics Flashcards

AP Microeconomics vocab from 5 Steps to a 5 Book

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8477449219EconomicsThe study of how people, firms, and societies use their scarce productive resources to best satisfy their unlimited material wants.0
8477449220ResourcesFactors of production, 4 categories: labor, physical capital, land/natural resources, and entrepreneurial ability1
8477449221ScarcityThe imbalance between limited productive resources and unlimited human wants2
8477449222Opportunity CostThe most desirable alternative given up as the result of a decision3
8477449223Marginal Benefit (MB)The additional benefit received from the consumption of the next unit of a good or service4
8477449224Marginal Cost (MC)The additional cost incurred from the consumption of the next unit of a good or a service5
8477449225Marginal AnalysisThe rational decision maker chooses an action if MB ≥ MC6
8477449226Law of Increasing CostsThe more of a good that is produced, the greater the opportunity cost of producing the next unit of that good7
8477449227Absolute AdvantageExists if a producer can produce more of a good than all other producers8
8477449228Comparative AdvantageExists if a producer can produce a good at lower opportunity cost than all other producers9
8477449229SpecializationWhen firms focus their resources on production of goods for which they have comparative advantage10
8477449230Productive EfficiencyProduction of maximum output for a given level of technology and resources. All points on the PPF are productively efficient11
8477449231Allocative EfficiencyProduction of the combination of goods and services that provides the most net benefit to society. The optimal quantity of a good is achieved when the MB = MC of the next unit and only occurs at one point on the PPF12
8477449232Economic GrowthOccurs when an economy's production possibilities increase. This can be a result of more resources, better resources, or improvements in technology.13
8477449233Market Economy (Capitalism)An economic system based upon the fundamentals of private property, freedom, self-interest, and prices14
8477449234Law of DemandHolding all else equal, when the price of a good rises, consumers decrease their quantity demanded for that good15
8477449235Absolute pricesThe price of a good measured in units of currency16
8477449236Relative PricesThe number of units of any other good Y that must be sacrificed to acquire good X. Only relative prices matter17
8477449237Substitution EffectThe change in quantity demanded resulting from a change in the price of one good relative to other goods18
8477449238Income EffectThe change in quantity demanded that results from a change in the consumer's purchasing power (or real income)19
8477449239Determinants of DemandConsumer income, prices of substitute and complementary goods, consumer tastes and preferences, consumer speculation, and number of buyers in the market all influence demand20
8477449240Normal GoodsA good for which higher income increases demand21
8477449241Inferior GoodsA good for which higher income decreases demand22
8477449242Substitute GoodsTwo goods are consumer substitutes if they provide essentially the same utility to consumers23
8477449243Complementary GoodsTwo goods are consumer complements if they provide more utility when consumed together than when consumed separately24
8477449244Law of SupplyHolding all else equal, when the price of a good rises, suppliers increase their quantity supplied for that good25
8477449245Determinants of SupplyCosts of inputs, technology and productivity, taxes/subsidies, producer speculation, price of other goods that could be produced, and number of sellers all influence supply26
8477449246Market EquilibriumExists at the point where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded27
8477449247ShortageExcess demand; a shortage exists at a market price when the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied28
8477449248SurplusExcess supply; exists at a market price when the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded.29
8477449249Total WelfareThe sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus30
8477449250Consumer surplusThe difference between your willingness to pay and the price you actually pay. It is the area below the demand curve and above the price31
8477449251Producer surplusThe difference between the price received and the marginal cost of producing the good. It is the area above the supply curve and under the price32
8477449252Price elasticityEd = (%dQd)/(%dP). Ignore negative sign33
8477449253Price elastic demandEd > 1, meaning consumers are price sensitive34
8477449254Price inelastic demandEd < 135
8477449255Unit elastic demandEd = 136
8477449256Perfectly inelasticEd = 0, no response to price change37
8477449257Perfectly elasticEd = ∞, infinite change in demand to price change38
8477449258Determinants of elasticitySubstitutes, cost as percentage of income, and time to adjust to price changes all influence price elasticity39
8477449259Total RevenueTR = P * Qd40
8477449260Total Revenue TestTotal revenue rises with a price increase if demand is price inelastic and falls with a price increase if demand is price elastic41
8477449261Income ElasticityEi = (%dQd good X)/(%d Income)42
8477449262LuxuryEi > 143
8477449263Necessity0 < Ei < 144
8477449264Cross-Price Elasticity of DemandEx,y = (%dQd good X) / (%d Price Y). If Ex,y > 0, goods X and Y are substitutes. If Ex,y < 0, goods X and Y are complementary45
8477449265Price Elasticity of SupplyEs = (%dQs) / (%dPrice)46
8477449266Excise TaxA per unit tax on production results in a vertical shift in the supply curve by the amount of the tax47
8477449267Incidence of TaxThe proportion of the tax paid by the consumers in the form of a higher price for the taxed good is greater if demand for the good is inelastic and supply is elastic48
8477449268Dead Weight LossThe lost net benefit to society caused by a movement away from the competitive market equilibrium49
8477449269SubsidyHas opposite effect of an excise tax, as it lowers the marginal cost of production, forcing the supply curve down50
8477449270Price floorA legal minimum price below which the product cannot be sold. If a floor is installed at some level above the equilibrium price, it creates a permanent surplus51
8477449271Price CeilingA legal maximum price above which the product cannot be sold. If a floor is installed at some level above the equilibrium price, it creates a permanent shortage52
8477449272Law of Diminishing Marginal UtilityThe marginal utility from consumption of more and more of that item falls over time53
8477449273Constrained Utility MaximizationFor one good, constrained by prices and income, a consumer stops consuming a good when the price paid for the next unit is equal to the marginal benefit received54
8477449274Utility Maximizing RuleMUx / Px = MUy/Py or MUx/MUy = Px/Py55
8477449275Accounting ProfitThe difference between total revenue and total explicit costs56
8477449276Economic ProfitThe difference between total revenue and total explicit and implicit costs57
8477449277Explicit costsDirect, purchased, out-of-pocket costs paid to resource suppliers provided by the entrepreneur58
8477449278Implicit costsIndirect, non-purchased, or opportunity costs of resources provided by the entrepreneur59
8477449279Short runA period of time too short to change the size of the plant, but many other, more variable resources can be changed to meet demand60
8477449280Long RunA period of time long enough to alter the plant size. New firms can enter the industry and existing firms can liquidate and exit61
8477449281Production functionThe mechanism for combining production resources, with existing technology, into finished goods and services62
8477449282Fixed inputsProduction inputs that cannot be changed in the short run. Usually this is the plant size or capital63
8477449283Variable inputsProduction inputs that the firm can adjust in the short run to meet changes in demand for their output. Often this is labor and/or raw materials64
8477449284Total Product of Labor (TPL)The total quantity, or total output of a good produced at each quantity of labor employed65
8477449285Marginal Product of Labor (MPL)The change in total product resulting from a change in the labor input. MPL = dTPL/dL, or the slope of total product66
8477449286Average Product of Labor (APL)Total product divided by labor employed. APL = TPL/L67
8477449287Total Fixed Costs (TFC)Costs that do not vary with changes in short-run output. They must be paid even when output is zero.68
8477449288Total variable costs (TVC)Costs that change with the level of output. If output is zero, so are TVCs.69
8477449289Average Fixed Cost (AFC)AFC = TFC/Q70
8477449290Average Variable Cost (AVC)AVC = TVC/Q71
8477449291Average Total Cost (ATC)ATC = TC/Q = AFC + AVC72
8477449292Economies of ScaleThe downward part of the LRAC curve where LRAC falls as plan size increases. This is the result of specialization, lower cost of inputs, or other efficiencies of larger scale.73
8477449293Constant Returns to ScaleOccurs when LRAC is constant over a variety of plant sizes74
8477449294Diseconomies of ScaleThe upward part of the LRAC curve where LRAC rises as plant size increases. This is usually the result of the increased difficulty of managing larger firms, which results in lost efficiency and rising per unit costs.75
8477449295Perfect competitionCharacterized by many small price-taking firms producing a standardized product in an industry in which there are no barriers to entry or exit76
8477449296Profit Maximizing RuleAll firms maximize profit by producing where MR = MC77
8477449297Break-even PointThe output where ATC is minimized and economic profit is zero78
8477449298Shutdown PointThe output where AVC is minimized. If the price falls below this point, the firm chooses to shut down or produce zero units in the short run79
8477449299Perfectly competitive long-run equilibriumOccurs when there is no more incentive for firms to enter or exit. P=MR=MC=ATC and profit = 080
8477449300Normal ProfitAnother way of saying that firms are earning zero economic profits or a fair rate of return on invested resources81
8477449301Constant cost industryEntry (or exit) of firms does not shift the cost curves of firms in the industry82
8477449302Increasing Cost IndustryEntry of new firms shifts the cost curves for all firms upward83
8477449303Decreasing Cost industryEntry of new firms shifts the cost curves for all firms downward84
8477449304MonopolyThe least competitive market structure, characterized by a single producer, with no close substitutes, barriers to entry, and price making power85
8477449305Market powerThe ability to set the price above the perfectly competitive level86
8477449306Natural MonopolyThe case where economies of scale are so extensive that it is less costly for one firm to supply the entire range of demand87
8477449307Monopoly long-run equilibriumPm > MR = MC, which is not allocatively efficient and dead weight loss exists. Pm > ATC, which is not productively efficient. Profit > 0 so consumer surplus is transferred to the monopolist as profit88
8477449308Price discriminationThe practice of selling essentially the same good to different groups of consumers at different prices89
8477449309Monopolistic competitionA market structure characterized by a few small firms producing a differentiated product with easy entry into the market90
8477449310Monopolistic competition long-run equilibriumPmc < MR = MC and Pmc > minimum ATC so outcome is not efficient, but profit = 0.91
8477449311Excess CapacityThe difference between the monopolistic competition output Qmc and the output at minimum ATC. Excess capacity is underused plant and equipment92
8477449312OligopolyA very diverse market structure characterized by a small number of interdependent large firms, producing a standardized or differentiated product in a market with a barrier to entry93
8477449313Four-firm concentration ratioA measure of industry market power. Sum the market share of the four largest firms and a ratio above 40% is a good indicator of oligopoly94
8477449314Non-collusive oligopolyModels where firms are competitive rivals seeking to gain at the expense of their rivals95
8477449315Collusive oligopolyModels where firms agree to mutually improve their situation96
8477449316CartelA group of firms that agree not to compete with each other on the basis of price, production, or other competitive dimensions. Cartel members operate as a monopolist to maximize their joint profits97
8477449317Marginal Revenue Product (MRP)Measures the value of what the next unit of a resource (e.g., labor) brings to the firm. MRPL = MR x MPL. In a perfectly competitive product market, MRPL = P x MPL. In a monopoly product market, MR < P so MRPm < MRPc.98
8477449318Marginal Resource Cost (MRC)Measures the cost the firm incurs from using an additional unit of input. In a perfectly competitive labor market, MRC = Wage. In a monopsony labor market, the MRC > Wage99
8477449319Profit Maximizing Resource EmploymentThe firm hires the profit maximizing amount of a resource at the point where MRP = MRC100
8477449320Demand for LaborLabor demand for the firm is MRPL curve. The labor demanded for the entire market DL = ∑MRPL of all firms101
8477449321Derived DemandDemand for a resource like labor is derived from the demand for the goods produced by the resource102
8477449322Determinants of Labor DemandProduct demand, productivity, prices of other resources, and complementary resources103
8477449323Least-Cost RuleThe combination of labor and capital that minimizes total costs for a given production rate. Hire L and K so that MPL / PL = MPK / PK or MPL/MPK = PL/PK104
8477449324MonopsonistA firm that has market power in the factor market (a wage-setter)105
8477449325Private goodsGoods that are both rival and excludable. Only one person can consume the good at a time and consumers who do not pay for the good are excluded from consumption106
8477449326Public goodsGoods that are both nonrival and nonexcludable. One person's consumption does not prevent another from also consuming that good and if it is provided to some, it is necessarily provided to all, even if they do not pay for that good107
8477449327Free-Rider ProblemIn the case of a public good, some members of the community know that they can consume the public good while others provide for it. This results in a lack of private funding and forces the government to provide it108
8477449328Spillover benefitsAdditional benefits to society not captured by the market demand curve from the production of a good, result in a price that is too high and a market quantity that is too low. Resources are underallocated to the production of this good109
8477449329Positive externalityExists when the production of a good creates utility for third parties not directly involved in the consumption of production of the good110
8477449330Spillover costsAdditional costs to society not captured by the market supply curve from the production of a good, result in a price that is too low and a market quantity that is too high. Resources are overallocated to the production of this good111
8477449331Negative externalityExists when the production of a good imposes disutility upon third parties not directly involved in the consumption or production of the good112
8477449332Marginal Productivity TheoryThe philosophy that a citizen should receive a share of economic resources proportional to the marginal revenue product of his or her productivity113
8477449333Marginal tax rateThe rate paid on the last dollar earned. This is found by taking the ratio of the change in taxes divided by the change in income114

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