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HACE exam 1 chapter 1
exam 1
39
Economics
Undergraduate 2
02/09/2011

Additional Economics Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is consumer economics?
Definition
how people deal with scarcity and fulfill needs
Term
Ralph Nader
Definition

 

big advocate for the auto safety industry 


 

Term

Erin Brockovich

Definition

 found out that local people were getting sick form the ground 

water, which led to a class action lawsuit. Also an advocate for Guardasil- helps 

prevent young girls from getting HPV and cervical cancer

Term
Why study consumer economics?
Definition

1) to apply course knowledge to personal decisions (buying designer purses)

2) To apply course knowledge to social issues (minimum wage laws)

3) To overcome passivity--to understand and "own" your place in the economy

(ralph nader and erin brockovich)

Term
Tianamen square 1989
Definition

Chinese students revolt against communist government. 

China sent in tanks. 


Term

 

The “Bonus Army” War in DC

 

Definition

 

20,000 former soldiers and families converged on 

DC in 1932 (height of the great depression) so support congressman Wright 

Patman’s bill to advance the bonus payment promised to WW I Veterans. The US 

sent in military tanks 


 

Term

 

Kent State 5/4/1970

 

Definition

 

Students were protesting the US expansion of the Vietnam 

War. The US called in the national guard, which shot 13 and killed 4. 

 

 

Term
WHO consumes and why?
Definition

 Everybody consumes because we all need to buy, whether it is 

food, water, clothing, etc 


Term
what is a consumer?
Definition

Individuals and groups who obtain, use, maintain, and dispose of goods (products) and services 

to fulfill needs and increase satisfaction.  


Term
What is the difference between goods and services?
Definition

goods are tangible objects

AND

services are intangible actions of work done. 

Term
What is Satisfaction also known as?
Definition

"utility"

(satisfaction, well-being)

Term
Adam Smith
Definition

1776

  • founder of modern economics
  • author of "An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the weatlh of nations"
  • stated that "consumers act in their own self interest and markets work with the invisible hand"

Term
What is Capitalism?
Definition

a social system based on the recognition of individual rights 

-the state is seperated from economics (production and trade) just like the state is seperated from religion.

Term

Do we truly have a pure Capitalistic society where our choices are made free and clear of 

government intervention?

 

Examples?

Definition

NO.

We are made to purchase insurance, and there are speed limits

Term

Consumerism:

 

**know this!

Definition

 

The belief that goods give meaning to individuals and their roles in society 

 

examples: shopping at high end name brand stores vs. walmart and goodwill

 

Term

Why do we buy goods and services? 

AND, is buying goods and services an act of trust?

Definition

to increase our well-being and satisfaction (utility)

 

YES, it is an act of trust.We assume that our purchases will increase our 

satisfaction, but that is not always the case. 

o Unsatisfactory products 

o Smoking/Drinking 

o Consumer fraud 


Term
caveat emptor!
Definition
"May the buyer beware!"
Term

Needs: 

examples?

Definition

the barest minimum physical necessities that allow you to survive. 

 

ex: food, water, shelter

Term

Wants:

 

Definition

What people would acquire if their resources were unlimited 

Examples? Nice clothes, TVs, etc 


Term
Resources: 
Definition

 

Things used to produce other things to satisfy people’s needs and wants 


Material resources: – (non human) 

Examples? Ipod, money, cars, lumber 


Human resources:  – (personal characteristics) 

Examples? Knowledge, desire, passion, time management skills 

 

Term
scarcity:
Definition

 

Not enough resources are available to satisfy one’s needs and wants and choices have to be made about their use. 

 

o Examples of scarce resources? oil, football tickets


 

Term
What is the consumption process?
Definition

 

  • awareness-what are needs and wants. (stimulus-"hunger")
  • thinking-gather information. (mental exploration of weighing pros and cons)
  • planning- (deciding an order of "steps of action" to obtain good or service)
  • implementing-looking for the product or actually buying it. 
  • evaluating-would you re-purchase? (reflect on the outcome)
"ATPIE"  

 

Term
What factors influence consumers?
Definition

 

Economics: (unemployment rate, interest rate, inflation rates)

 

History :(background history-personal or past polocies)

 

Consumer Culture: (way people live in accordance to beliefs, language, history, or the way they dress)

 

Individual traits, e.g., age, weight, height 

 

Physiological Needs : (thirst, hunger, safety)


Desire for Technology 

 

Political Area, e.g., government standards, policies 


 

Term
 Economics:
Definition
The study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people
Term
Business Cycle
Definition

refers to the periodic fluctuations of economic activity.  The cycle involves 

shifts over time between periods of relatively rapid growth of output (recovery and prosperity) 

alternating with periods of relative stagnation or decline (contraction or recession).

 

 

  • These fluctuations are often measured using the real gross domestic product (GDP) 


Term
inflation
Definition

The steady increase of prices 

 

 

Deflation: indicates falling prices 


Term

GDP: 

"gross domestic product"

Definition

A measure of the value of all goods and services newly produced in a country during some period 

of time, usually one year or one quarter; adjusted for inflation

Term
What is at the heart of consumer behavior/consumption and the business cycle?
Definition

scarcity

 

A condition in which there is an insufficient amount or supply of a product/resource 

A shortage 

ex: after 9/11 the demand for american flags increased and supply wasnt able to keep up with demand 

Term
Law of Supply:
Definition

 all other factors being equal, a greater quantity of a product will be supplied at a higher price than at a lower price  

 

Therefore: 

As the price of a good increases, suppliers will attempt to maximize profits by increasing the quantity of the product sold 

 


Term
Law of Demand:
Definition

all other factors being equal, consumers will buy a greater quantity of a product at a lower price than at a higher price

 

Therefore from a consumer perspective:

P increases Q demanded decreases 

P increases Q demanded increases 



Term
Compliments:
Definition

 

an increase in the price of a complement (i.e. ketchup) reduces the 

demand curve to the left for hotdogs (less demand) 


 

Term
Substitutes:
Definition

 

Substitutes: an increase in the price of a substitute product (burgers) increases demand, 

shifting the demand curve to the right for hotdogs (more demand)

 

Term

Equilibrium price: 

 

BUT,

Why then do we go from equilibrium price to clearance sale price


Definition

o A price at which the quantity of a good or service demanded is exactly equal to the quantity that is supplied 

  •  Demand for a good decreases, the equilibrium price is now too high – consumers won’t pay it.  Seller must drop price to sell remaining supply 


Term

Demographics and Consumption:

explain how population changes affect consumption patterns

Definition

Baby Boomers (1945-1957) now need Geritol and rocking chairs 

 

Shadow Boomers (1958-1963) are having mid life crises 

 

Generation X (1963-1978) are consuming homes and furnishings 

 

Generation Y (1978-2000) are living at home or in college (think "Y" for young peope)

Term
Consumer Sovereignty
Definition

  • “When consumers decide which goods will survive and to the idea that producers cannon dictate consumer tastes.” – Goldsmith 

 

  • Those with money and other assets are able to use their purchasing power to tell producers of goods and services what to produce (and how much) 


Term
When does consumer sovereignty exist?
Definition

When there is perfect competition 

o Many consumers 

o Many producers & sellers 

o Perfect information 

o Easy entry & exit into market 

o Homogeneous products- (Exactly the same product) 

Term
Barriers to information:
Definition

Ability to acquire 

Ability to understand 

Biased information 


Term

Producer Sovereignty   


Definition

Producers have the power to decide which products and services society will produce and consume 


Term

 

How many of our consumption/production choices are consumer driven and how many are government driven

 

Definition

 

Government Driven- Buying auto insurance and purchasing a drivers license  --> have to have on you. 

 

another example: Digital vs. Analog TV

 On 2/18/2009, millions of TVs had to be fitted to recieve all-digital broadcasts. 

The Senate voted to end over the air analog TV in a move to free up radio specctrum for broadband links. 

 

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