ceteris paribus

Ceteris Paribus - Other Things Being Equal!

Precision in Using Words or Economics as a Second Language

Movements along A Curve
Ceteris paribus means other things being equal or other things held constant. For example, during the summer months, as the temperature rises, the level of discomfort increases, other things being equal. There is a positive, direct, upward-sloping relationship between discomfort and temperature. A change in temperature is a movement along the curve showing a change in discomfort.
Shifts of the Entire Curve
However, we all know that non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat, which is latin for "It's not the heat, it is the humidity." "Ah, but it is a dry heat." So that at lower levels of humidity, there is less discomfort at the same temperature. Changes in: Humidity Wind et cetera will cause changes in the entire relationship between discomfort and temperature, so that at every temperature, there is a different level of discomfort. A change in the relationship between temperature and discomfort is a shift of the entire curve, because now the other things are not equal.