Ch 1 Econ Fundamentals 11
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Transcript Ch 1 Econ Fundamentals 11
ECONOMICS
How can you think like an
Economist?
Adam Smith
Considered the founder of modern-day
Economics
Wrote a book called “The Wealth of
Nations,” in which he argued that
competition is the key to a healthy economy
(1776)
Made a point that people want not only the
basics necessities, but also things that make
life easier, more convenient, and entertain
them.
What is Economics All About?
Economics- The study of how people
use their limited resources to satisfy
unlimited wants.
Economy: a system used to manage
limited resources for the production,
distribution, and consumption of goods
and services
Economics is about…
Studying how people use limited resources
to satisfy unlimited wants (Scarcity)
Analyzing everyday enigmas (puzzles or
riddles that might be explained through
economic analysis
Analyzing how economics work and describe
how things are (positive economics)
Making policy recommendations and advise
how things should be done (normative
economics)
Teaching better decision making (the
science of decision making)
WIO: Term Economics
Write the term ECONOMICS vertically along
the left side of a notebook page. Begin each
line with a word that starts with the
appropriate letter.
Each line must help answer the question,
What is economics all about?
Include the following terms somewhere in
your acrostic poem: engima, resource,
scarce, science, normative economics, and
positive economics.
7 Principles that Guide an
Economic way of Thinking
1) Scarcity forces tradeoffs: Limited
resources force people to make choices and
face tradeoffs (exchange of one benefit for
another that is thought to be better) when
they choose.
2) Cost vs. Benefits: People choose
something when the benefits of doing so
are greater than the costs.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: compare the costs of an
action with the benefits of that action. If the
benefit outweighs the cost, the action is worth
taking
…CONTINUED
3) Thinking at the margin: Most of the
decisions made each day involve choices about a
little more or a little less of something.
4) Incentives matter: People respond to
incentives (any factor that encourages or motivates
a person to do something) in generally predictable
ways.
5) Trade makes people better off: By focusing
on what we do well and then trading with others,
we will end up with more and better choices than
by trying to do everything for ourselves.
Continued…..
6) Markets coordinate trade: Markets
usually do better than anyone or
anything else at coordinating
exchanges between buyers and
sellers.
7) Future consequences count:
Decisions made today have future
(and often unintended) consequences.
Seven Principles
Poster Activity
In your group, you will be assigned one of the
seven principles of Economic thinking. With your
principle, you need to create a poster that includes
the following:
Name of your principle
Symbol that represents your principle
One-Sentence Summary of your principle
One example of the principle
Your poster needs to be neat, with legible print that
is large enough to read from a distance.