Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Specialization and Exchange•Specialization –Method of production in which each person concentrates on a limited number of activities•Exchange–Practice of trading with others to obtain what we want•Allows for–Greater production–Higher living standards than otherwise possible•All economics exhibit high degrees of specialization and exchangeFurther Gains to Specialization•Absolute Advantage: A Detour–Ability to produce a good or service using fewer resources than other producers use•Comparative Advantage–If one can produce some good with a smaller opportunity cost than others can–Total production of every good or service will be greatest when individuals specialize according to their comparative advantage–Another reason why specialization and exchange lead to higher living standards than self-sufficiencyLabor Requirements for Berries and FishLabor Required for1 cup of Berries 1 FishMary ½ hour 1 hourJim 2 hours 6 hoursMary: opportunity cost of 1 fish=Jim: opportunity cost of 1 fish=Mary: opportunity cost of 1 cup berries=Jim: opportunity cost of 1 cup berries=Jim: Fish↓3 Mary: Fish ↑4Comparative Advantage & International TradeLabor Requirement per:China United StatesSuit 125 hours 50 hoursComputer 625 hours 100 hoursOpportunity cost per:suitcomputerA small change in productionChina U.S. worldSuit production +10Computer production+4Gains from specialization and TradeChina U.S.Suits Computers Suits ComputersChange in Production+10 -2 -8 +4Exports(-) or Imports(+)-9 +3 +9 -3Net GainAs long as opportunity costs differ, specialization and trade can be beneficial to all involved. This remains true regardless of whether the parties are different nations, different states, different countries, or different individuals. It remains true even if one party has an all-round absolute advantage.Specialization in Perspective•While specialization gives us material gains–There may be opportunity costs to be paid in the loss of other things we care about–Example: downside of specialization in family•The right amount of specialization can be found by balancing gains against costsResource Allocation•Problem of resource allocation–Which goods and services should be produced with society’s resources?•Where on the PPF should economy operate?–How should they be produced?•No capital at all•Small amount of capital•More capital–Who should get them?•How do we distribute these products among the different groups and individuals in our society?•Example: Who should get the scarce donor organs?The Three Methods of Resources Allocation•Traditional Economy–Resources are allocated according to long-lived practices from the past•Command Economy (Centrally-Planned)–Resources are allocated according to explicit instructions from a central authority •Market Economy–Resources are allocated through individual decision makingThe Three Methods of Resources Allocation•Traditional Economy–Resources are allocated according to long-lived practices from the past•Command Economy (Centrally-Planned)–Resources are allocated according to explicit instructions from a central authority •Market Economy–Resources are allocated through individual decision makingThe Nature of Markets•A market is a group of buyers and sellers with the potential to trade with each other–Global markets•Buyers and sellers spread across the globe–Local markets•Buyers and sellers within a narrowly defined areaThe Importance of Prices•A price is the amount of money that must be paid to a seller to obtain a good or service•When people pay for resources allocated by the market–They must consider opportunity cost to society of their individual actions•Markets can create a sensible allocation of resourcesResource Allocation in the United States•Numerous cases of resource allocation outside the market–Such as families•Various levels of government collect about one-third of our incomes as taxes–Enables government to allocate resources by command•Government uses regulations of various types to impose constraints on our individual choice Examples: environment and safety regulations•The market is the dominant method of resource allocation in United States–However, it is not a pure marketResource Ownership•Communism–Most resources are owned in common•Socialism–Most resources are owned by state•Capitalism–Most resources are owned privatelyTypes of Economic Systems•An economic system is composed of two features–Mechanism for allocating resources•Market•Command –Mode of resource ownership•Private•StateFigure 4: Types of Economic SystemsResource AllocationMarket CommandPrivateStateResource OwnershipMarket CapitalismCentrally Planned CapitalismCentrally Planned SocialismMarket SocialismEconomic Systems and This Book•This book will focus on market capitalist economies•About 400 million people have come under the sway of the market in past decade•More are being added as China changes to a market economy•Study of modern economies is study of market
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