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Economics-The Nature and Method of Economics(CH.1)

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293391480Economicsthe social science concerned with the efficient use of scarce resources to achieve maximum satisfaction of economic wants
293391481Economic perspectiveeconomic way of thinking; a viewpoint that envisions individuals and institutions making rational decisions by comparing the marginal benefits and marginal costs associated with their actions
293391482Marginal AnalysisThe comparison of marginal ("extra" or "additional") benefits and marginal costs, usually for decision making
293391483Scientific MethodThe procedure for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the observation of facts and the formulation and testing of hypotheses to obtain theories, principles, and laws
293391484Theoretical EconomicsThe process of deriving and applying economic theories and principles
293391485Principlesstatements about economic behavior or the economy that enable prediction of the probable effects of certain actions.
293391486GeneralizationsStatement of the nature of the relationship between two or more sets of facts
293391487Other things equal assumptionThe assumption that factors other than those being considered are held constant
293391488Policy EconomicsThe formulation of courses of action to bring about desired economic outcomes or to prevent undesired occurrences
293391489TradeoffA sacrifice of some or all of one economic goal, good, or service to achieve some other goal, good, or service
293391490MacroeconomicsThe part of economics concerned with the economy as a whole; with such major aggregates as the household, business, and government sectors; and with measures of the total economy
293391491Aggregatethe whole amount
293391492MicroeconomicsThe part of economics concerned with such individual units as industries, firms, and households and with individual markets, specific goods and services, and product and resource prices
293391493Positive economicsThe analysis of facts or data to establish scientific generalizations about economic behavior
293391494Normative economicsThe part of economics involving value judgments about what the economy should be like; focused on which economic goals and policies should be implemented; policy economics
293391495Fallacy of compositionThe false notion that what is true for the individual (or part) is necessarily true for the group (or whole)
293391496after this, therefore because of this, fallacyidea that a thing occurred specifically because of the thing right before it happened. eg. 3rd period caused lunch. not true; post hoc ergo propter hoc
293391497horizontal axisThe "left-right" or "west-east" axis on a graph or grid
293391498vertical axisThe "up-down" or "north-south" axis on a graph or grid
293391499direct relationshipThe relationship between two variables that change in the same direction, for example, product price and quality supplied
293391500inverse relationshipThe relationship between two variables that change in opposite directions, for example, product price and quantity demanded
293391501independent variableThe variable causing a change in some other (dependent) variable
293391502dependent variableA variable that changes as a consequence of a change in some other (independent) variable; the "effect" or outcome
293391503slope of a straight lineThe ratio of vertical change (the rise or fall) to horizontal change (the run) between any two points on a line. The slope of an upward-sloping line is positive, reflecting a direct relationship between two-variables; the slope of a downward-sloping line is negative, reflecting an inverse relationship between two variables
293391504vertical interceptThe point at which a line meets the vertical axis of a graph
293897258AggregationThe combining of individual units or data into one unit or number. For example, all prices of individual goods and services are combined into a price level or all units of output are combined into real gross domestic product.
297904318Marginal benefitthe additional benefit to a consumer from consuming one more unit of a good or service
297904319Marginal costthe additional cost to a firm of producing one more unit of a good or service
297904320Economic growth1st economic goal; produce more and better goods and services, or, more simply, develop a higher standard of living
297904321Full employment2nd economic goal; provide suitable jobs for all citizens who are willing and able to work
297904322Economic efficiency3rd economic goal; achieve the maximum fulfillment of wants using the available productive resources
297904323Price level stability4th economic goal; avoid large upswings and downswings in the general price level; that is, avoid inflation and deflation
297904324Economic freedom5th economic goal; guarantee that businesses, workers, and consumers have a high degree of freedom in their economic activities
297904325Equitable distribution of income6th economic goal; ensure that no group of citizens faces poverty while most others enjoy abundance
297904326Economic security7th economic goal; provide for those who are chronically ill, disabled, laid off, aged, or otherwise unable to earn minimal levels of income
297904327Balance of trade8th economic goal; seek a reasonable overall balance with the rest of the world in international trade and financial transactions

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