THOMAS ACQUINAS

     JUST PRICE

     OPPORTUNITY COST

     LONG RUN VS SHORT RUN POLICIES

 

ADAM  SMITH

     INVISIBLE HAND

     PROFIT DRIVEN BEHAVIOR

 

PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES CURVE

     DEFINE FACTOR OF PRODUCTION

     ASSUMPTIONS

          FULL EMPLOYMENT

          EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES

     ATTAINABLE VS NON-ATTAINABLE

 

     EFFECTS OF INVESTMENT

          MOVES THE FRONTIER

          INCREASES FUTURE CHOICES

 

POVERTY

     UNITED STATES

          POOR FAMILY OF 4 INCOME $19,000

     WORLD STANDARD

          POOR FAMILY OF 4 INCOME $1,460

 

CAPITALIST SYSTEM

     PROPERTY RIGHTS

     ROLE OF PROFIT

     VOLUNTARY EXCHANGE

          BENEFICIAL DISTRIBUTION

          BOTH PARTIES GAIN

     MARKET ALLOCATION / PRICE RATIONING

 

MARKETS AS EXCHANGE

MARKET MECHANICS

     DEMAND/QUANTITY DEMANDED

     SUPPLY/QUANTITY SUPPLIED

     DISEQUILIBRIUM PRICES

     EQUILIBRIUM PRICE

 

MARKETS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR    CH. 3

PROFIT AS A NECESSARY CONDITION

PROFIT INCENTIVE

PROFIT AS A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME LESS THAN 10 PCT

 

PRICE THEORY I: LAW OF MARKETS

     DEMAND CURVE

     SUPPLY CURVE

     DISEQUILIBRIUM PRICES

     INVENTORY CHANGES AS SIGNALS

     NO INTENTIONAL MISTAKES

     EQUILIBRIUM PRICE

 

VOLUNTARY EXCHANGE/BENEFICIAL DISTRIBUTION

MARKETS AS EXCHANGE/ PRICE RATIONING

 

CONSUMER SURPLUS

PRODUCER SURPLUS

 

LAW OF DEMAND

     DEMAND VS QUANTITY DEMANDED

     QUANTITY DEMANDED

     MUST BE A NUMBER

     MUST FIRST KNOW THE PRICE

     DEMAND IDENTIFIES QUANTITY DEMANDED AT EACH PRICE

 

LAW OF SUPPLY

     QUANTITY SUPPLIED

     MUST BE A NUMBER

     MUST FIRST KNOW THE PRICE

     SALES ARE UNCERTAIN BEFORE THE MARKET PERIOD

     ROLE OF PROFIT

          NORMAL PROFIT

          NECESSARY RESOURCE

          CREATES/DESTROYS MARKETS/JOBS/TECHNOLOGY

     SUPPLY IDENTIFIES QUANTITY SUPPLIED AT EACH PRICE

 

LAW OF MARKETS: SUPPLY AND DEMAND/PRICE DETERMINATION

     DISEQUILIBRIUM PRICES

     QUANTITY DEMANDED MORE THAN QUANTITY SUPPLIED

     QUANTITY SUPPLIED MORE THAN QUANTITY DEMANDED

     CHANGE IN PRICE DOES NOT CHANGE DEMAND

     CHANGE IN PRICE DOES NOT CHANGE SUPPLY

     INVENTORIES AS SHOCK ABSORBERS

 

EQUILIBRIUM PRICE

     SELF-INTEREST (PROFIT) NOT SOCIAL WELFARE

     MARSHALLIAN SCISSORS

 

EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS

     DEMAND CHANGES

          SUBSTITUTES

          COMPLEMENTS

          INCOME

     SUPPLY CHANGES

          COSTS

          NUMBER OF SELLERS

     AT ANY MOMENT IN TIME

          ONLY ONE DEMAND CURVE IS RELEVANT

          ONLY ONE SUPPLY CURVE IS RELEVANT

 

PRICE VS PRICE EXPECTATION

     CHANGE IN PRICE NEVER MOVES DEMAND OR SUPPLY

     CHANGE IN PRICE EXPECTATION CAN MOVE EITHER ONE

 

SIMULTANEOUS CHANGES IN MARKET CONDITIONS

     THE SUM OF THE PARTS

     ONE KNOWN, ONE UNKNOWN

 

PRICE CONTROLS

     CEILING/MAXIMUM PRICES

     EFFECTIVE ONLY WHEN BELOW EQUILIBRIUM

     COMPARE Q TO FREE MARKET

     BLACK MARKETS

     DISCRIMINATION

     DOES SOCIETY GAIN?

 

FLOOR/MINIMUM PRICES

     EXAMPLE: MINIMUM WAGES

     EFFECTIVE ONLY WHEN ABOVE EQUILIBRIUM

     COMPARE Q TO FREE MARKET

     UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

     DISCRIMINATION

     DOES SOCIETY GAIN?

 

NECESSARY CONDITIONS TO JUSTIFY A GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPTS TO USE ITS ECONOMIC POLICY TOOLS

     THERE MUST BE A PRIVATE SECTOR PROBLEM.

     GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE ABILITY TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM

 

     UNLESS BOTH CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED,

     THERE IS NO ECONOMIC REASON FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION

 

ROLES OF GOVERNMENT, EACH SUBJECT TO QUESTION

     LEGAL/SOCIAL/POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

     CORRECTION OF MARKET FAILURE

     PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC GOODS

     EXTERNALITIES  (SPILLOVER COSTS)

     INDUSTRIAL CONCENTRATION/MAINTAIN COMPETITION

     DISTRIBUTION(REDISTRIBUTION) OF INCOME

     ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES

     STABILIZATION OF THE ECONOMY (MACRO ECONOMICS)

 

PUBLIC GOODS: DEFINITION

     NOT NECESSARILY PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT

     DEPLETABILITY

     RIVAL VS NON-RIVAL CONSUMPTION

     EXCLUSIVE VS NON-EXCLUSIVE GOODS

     PROBLEM: UNDERPRODUCTION

     GOAL: EFFICIENT PRODUCTION

 

OPTIMAL PRIVATE VS OPTIMAL Q OF PUBLIC GOODS

     HORIZONTAL VS VERTICAL DEMAND

     PROBLEM: FREE RIDERS

     GOAL: OPTIMAL Q OF PUBLIC GOODS

 

EXTERNALITIES

     GOAL: INCORPORATION OF ALL COSTS (MARGINAL SOCIAL COST)

 

MARKET POWER

     PROBLEM: INDUSTRIAL CONCENTRATION

     GOAL: TO MAINTAIN COMPETITION

 

DISTRIBUTION(REDISTRIBUTION) OF INCOME

     PROBLEM: WHAT IS FAIR VS WHAT IS EFFICIENT?

     GOAL: ACHIEVE THE CORRECT BALANCE

 

ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES

     PROBLEM: SOME RESOURCES UNDERDIRECTED

     GOAL: ACHIEVE THE CORRECT BALANCE

 

POLICY TOOLS

     REGULATION/REVIEW MINIMUM PRICE

     GOVERNMENT SPENDING VS GOVERNMENT FINANCING

     TAXES

 

TAXES AS A COST

     TAX AND SUPPLY

     TAX AND EQUILIBRIUM

     EFFECT ON

          PRICE

          QUANTITY

     COMPARE MINIMUM PRICE, MAXIMUM PRICE, AND TAX OUTCOMES

     ALL REDUCE THE Q THAT IS ACTUALLY BOUGHT AND SOLD

 

REGULATION

 

GOVERNMENT SPENDING VS GOVERNMENT FINANCING

 

PUBLIC CHOICE

     SELF INTERESTED DECISIONS

 

ELASTICITY OF DEMAND

     DEFINITION

     ELASTIC VS INELASTIC

     PERFECTLY ELASTIC/PERFECTLY INELASTIC

     REVENUE AND PRICE PATTERNS

     PRICE ELASTICITY AND TOTAL REVENUE

     ALMOST EVERYTHING IS MORE ELASTIC IN THE LONG RUN

 

UTILITY THEORY

     MARGINAL UTILITY

     DIMINISHING MARGINAL UTILITY

     CONSUMERS BUY AS LONG AS MU > PRICE

     CONSUMER SURPLUS

 

CHOICE THEORY

     THE LOGIC OF CHOICE

     REVEALED PREFERENCE

 

BUDGET CONSIDERS AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT CONSIDERING

LIKES/DISLIKES/INCOME

 

WHERE CHANGES IN THE BUDGET SET COME FROM

     CHANGES IN INCOME

     CHANGES IN PRICES

     THE ONLY FACTORS WHICH CAN CHANGE BUDGET SET

     TASTES ARE NOT CONSIDERED

 

IMPLICATIONS IF WE ASSUME PEOPLE LIKE MORE RATHER THAN LESS

     HIGHER INCOMES MAKE PEOPLE BETTER OFF

     LOWER PRICES MAKE PEOPLE BETTER OFF

     A GOOD SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE

          1. HIGH INCOMES AND

          2. LOW PRICES

 

BUDGETS AND CHOICE THEORY

     SHOW CHOICE PROCEDURE

     EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGE

     EFFECT OF INCOME CHANGE

 

DEMAND CURVE CONSTRUCTION

     INDIVIDUAL DEMAND TO MARKET DEMAND

 

PRODUCTION FUNCTION

 

PRODUCTIVITY

     GROWTH IN AVERAGE PHYSICAL PRODUCT OF LABOR

     EFFECT ON UNIT LABOR COST

 

MARGINAL PHYSICAL PRODUCT OF LABOR

     SPECIALIZATION AND RISING MPPL

     DIMINISHING RETURNS

 

COST CONCEPTS

     STARTING PREMISIS: EFFICIENCY

 

SUNK COSTS

     NOT RELEVANT TO PRODUCTION DECISION

     VALUABLE FOR LEARNING

 

FIXED COST (OVERHEAD)

VARIABLE COST (OPERATING EXPENSES)

 

ATC = AVC + AFC AND SKETCH

 

MARGINAL COST

 

HOW TO SHOW COST PATTERNS

     EFFECT OF QUANTITY CHANGE

     EFFECT OF COST CHANGES

 

LONG RUN AVERAGE COST (LRAC)

     SHORT RUN / LONG RUN RESOURCE USE

     ECONOMIES OF SCALE (FALLING LRAC)

     DISECONOMIES OF SCALE (RISING LRAC)

     CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE

     ALL COSTS ARE VARIABLE IN LONG RUN NO LRATC, LRAVC, LRAFC

     LRAC DOES NOT INCLUDE JUST/ALL LOW POINTS FROM ATC CURVES

     WHAT DOES LRAC IMPLY FOR THE DEGREE OF COMPETITION?

 

PROFIT AND CAPITAL

     NORMAL PROFIT

          DEFINITION

          ROLE

 

     ECONOMIC PROFIT

          DEFINITION

          ROLE

 

PROFITS

     ACCOUNTING = NORMAL + ECONOMIC

     NORMAL = OPPORTUNITY COST OF RESOURCES

 

VENTURE CAPITAL

     ROLE

     HIGH FAILURE RATE/RISK

     NECESSARY RESOURCE

     NORMAL PROFIT AS A COST

 

SURVIVORSHIP PRINCIPLE I AND II

     BUYOUT OF FIRMS WHO DO NOT MAXIMIZE PROFITS

     SHARE PRICES REFLECT MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTED FUTURE

     PROFIT STREAM

 

     IF EVERYBODY DOES IT IT MUST BE CORRECT

 

DEFINE

     PLANT

     FIRM

     INDUSTRY

 

TYPES OF FIRMS/THE SPECTRUM

     PERFECT COMPETITION

     MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION

     OLIGOPOLY

     DUOPOLY

     MONOPOLY

 

PRICE TAKING FIRMS

     CAUSE

          TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

              LARGE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS

              HOMOGENEOUS PRODUCTS

 

          OR REGULATED PRICE

 

     GOAL: ECONOMIC PROFIT

 

OPERATING RULES FOR PRICE TAKING FIRMS

 

MARKET PRICE = MARGINAL REVENUE FOR PRICE TAKING FIRM

 

CASE 1... P < MIN AVC

     SHORT RUN

          BEST Q = 0

          SHUT DOWN PRICE

          LOSS = FIXED COST

 

     LONG RUN

          LIQUIDATION

 

CASE 2... P > MIN AVC BUT P < MIN ATC

     SHORT RUN

          CHOOSE Q SUCH THAT MR = P = MC

          BREAK EVEN PRICE

          LOSS < FIXED COST

          HOW TO SHOW ECONOMIC LOSS

 

     LONG RUN

          LIQUIDATION

 

 

CASE 3... P = MIN ATC

     SHORT RUN

          P VS AVC

          SET Q AT P = MR = MC

 

     LONG RUN

          P VS ATC

          SET Q AT P = MR = MC

          HOW TO SHOW ECONOMIC PROFIT (= 0)

 

CASE 4... P > MIN ATC

     SHORT RUN

          P VS AVC

          SET Q AT P = MR = MC

 

     LONG RUN

          P VS ATC

          SET Q AT P = MR = MC

          PROFIT MARGIN = P - ATC

          MAXIMUM PROFIT MARGIN IS NOT MAXIMUM TOTAL PROFIT

          PROFIT = P*Q - ATC*Q

 

SUMMARY

     SUPPLY CURVE OF FIRM

          SHORT RUN FROM MC CURVE ABOVE AVC

          LONG RUN FROM MC CURVE ABOVE ATC

 

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... SHORT RUN

     ECONOMIC PROFITS AND LOSSES AS MARKET SIGNALS

     NO ENTRY/EXIT

     THE ROLE OF EQUILIBRIUM

 

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... LONG RUN

     ECONOMIC PROFITS AND LOSSES AS MARKET SIGNALS

     FREE ENTRY/FREE EXIT

     THE ROLE OF EQUILIBRIUM

 

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY

     FREE ENTRY AND EXIT

     HOMOGENEITY

     MANY SELLERS

     MANY BUYERS

 

ILLUSTRATE ECONOMIC PROFIT/ECONOMIC LOSS AREA

 

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY

     FREE ENTRY AND EXIT

     HOMOGENEITY

     MANY SELLERS

     MANY BUYERS

 

     EFFECT OF DEMAND CHANGE

          SETUP

          SHORT RUN

          LONG RUN

 

     EFFECT OF COST CHANGE

          SETUP

          SHORT RUN

          LONG RUN

 

PRICE TAKER VS PRICE SETTER

     P = MIN ATC => BEST FOR CONSUMERS

     MINIMUM POSSIBLE PRICE

 

PRICE SETTING FIRMS

     MARGINAL REVENUE

 

OPERATING RULES FOR PRICE SETTING FIRMS

     SHORT RUN

          CASE STUDIES

     LONG RUN

          CASE STUDIES

 

     THERE IS NO SUPPLY CURVE FOR FIRM OR FOR INDUSTRY

 

INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE...MONOPOLY

     DEFINITION

     NO ENTRY, NO EXIT

          ENTRY  BARRIERS

 

INEFFICIENCY AND MONOPOLY

 

OLIGOPOLY

     SMALL NUMBERS OF SUPPLIERS...HOW TO MEASURE SMALL?

     INTERDEPENDENCE OF DECISIONS

     BARRIERS TO ENTRY

          OFTEN LARGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED

 

KINKED DEMAND CURVE

          RIVALS MAY NOT MATCH PRICE INCREASES

 

MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION

     RELATIVELY FREE ENTRY AND EXIT

 

     LONG RUN EQUILIBRIUM

          COMPARE PRICE TO COMPETITIVE MARKET

 

     SIMULTANEOUS ENTRY/EXIT EXPLANATIONS

          INFORMATION PROBLEM

          NEW FIRMS COME IN BECAUSE THEY EXPECT PROFIT

          OLD FIRMS LEAVE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DELIVER PROFIT

          INDIVISIBILITY PROBLEM

 

     INEFFICIENCY

 

PRICE DISCRIMINATION

     MULTI-PLANT OF MULTI-NATIONAL FIRMS

          MARKET DIVISION

          BARRIERS TO RESALE

          MARGINAL REVENUES EQUAL OVER ALL  MARKETS

 

COSTS OF REGULATION

     ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT

     COMPLIANCE COSTS

     EFFICIENCY(SECONDARY) COSTS

 

MARKET POWER

     NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS

     SIZE OF MARKET LEADERS

          CONCENTRATION RATIO

          MAY COME FROM INNOVATION, MERGER, OR ACQUISITION

     BARRIERS TO ENTRY

     AVAILABILITY OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS

 

NATURAL MONOPOLY... A SPECIAL CASE?

     RELATED TO HIGH FIXED COST/DECLINING ATC

     MONOPOLY YIELDS LOWER PRICES TO CONSUMERS

 

OPTIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL

     MSC = MSB

     NOT ZERO

 

PROBLEMS OF MEASUREMENT

PROBLEMS WITHOUT BORDERS

 

MARKET INCENTIVES

 

     MARKETABLE PERMITS / VOUCHER MARKET

          COST

          EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT

          EFFICIENCY

 

     SUBSIDIES

          COST

          EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT

          EFFICIENCY

 

     TAXES

          COST

          EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT

          EFFICIENCY

 

INTRODUCTION TO FACTOR MARKETS  MRP = MFC

DEFINE FACTOR OF PRODUCTION

 

MARGINAL REVENUE PRODUCT

     PRICE TAKING OUTPUT MARKET

     PRICE SETTING OUTPUT MARKET

     COMPARE NUMBER OF JOBS IN EACH CASE

 

MARGINAL FACTOR COST

     PRICE TAKING FACTOR MARKET

     PRICE SETTING FACTOR MARKET

     COMPARE NUMBER OF JOBS IN EACH CASE

 

LOGIC FOR OVERTIME PAY

 

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE (LFPR)

 

EFFECTS OF COST SAVINGS ON EQUIPMENT/AUTOMATION

     EFFECT ON LABOR MARKET

          SUBSTITUTION EFFECT => LESS LABOR

          OUTPUT EFFECT => MORE LABOR

          NET EFFECT => UNCERTAIN

          EVIDENCE SINCE 1945

 

LABOR MARKET DISCRIMINATION