16
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September 2013
EET 100 MICROECONOMIC THEORY I
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What Is Economics?
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Economics studies the choices that can be made when
there is scarcity.
Scarcity is a situation in which resources are limited in
quantity and can be used in different ways.
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What Is Economics?
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Because our resources are limited, we
must sacrifice one thing for another.
Economists are always reminding us that
there is scarcitythat there are tradeoffs
in everything we do.
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Positive versus Normative Analysis
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Positive economics predicts the
consequences of alternative actions,
answering the questions, What is?
or What will be?
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Positive versus Normative Analysis
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Normative economics answers
the question, What ought to be?
Normative questions lie at the
heart of policy debates.
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Decisions in a Modern Economy
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Economic decisions are made at every level in
society.
The choices made by individuals, firms, and
governments answer three questions:
1. What products do we produce?
2. How do we produce the products?
3. Who consumes the products?
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Economic Analysis
and Modern Problems
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Economic analysis provides important insights into real-
world problems.
Economists attempt to diagnose and provide solutions to
problems such as traffic congestion, poverty in Africa, or the
problems of an entire economy.
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The Economic Way of Thinking
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The economic way of thinking is best
summarized by British economist John
Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) as follows:
The theory of economics does not furnish a body of settled
conclusions immediately applicable to policy. It is a method rather
than a doctrine, an apparatus of the mind, a technique of thinking
which helps its possesor draw correct conclusions.
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The Economic Way of Thinking
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Three elements of the economic way of
thinking:
1. Use assumptions to simplify
Eliminate irrelevant details and focus on what
really matters. Keep in mind that simplifying
assumptions do not have to be realistic.
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The Economic Way of Thinking
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2. Isolate variablesCeteris Paribus
Economists are interested in exploring
relationships between two variables. A variable
is a measure of something that can take on
different values.
The expression ceteris paribus means that the
effect of other tendencies is neglected for a time.
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The Economic Way of Thinking
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3. Think at the margin
A small, one-unit change in value is called a
marginal change.
Economists use the answer to a marginal question
as the first step in deciding whether to do more
or less of something.
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The Economic Way of Thinking
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A key assumption of most economic
analysis is that people act rationally,
meaning that they act in their own self-
interest.
Rational people respond to incentives.
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Microeconomics
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Microeconomics is the study of the
choices made by households, firms, and
government, and of how these choices
affect the markets for goods or services.
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Uses of microeconomics
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1. Understand how markets work and predict
changes.
2. Make personal and managerial decisions.
3. Evaluate PUBLIC POLICY.
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Macroeconomics
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Macroeconomics is the study of the
nations economy as a whole.
We can use macroeconomic analysis to:
1. Understand why economies grow.
2. Understand economic fluctuations.
3. Make informed business decisions.
