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Chapter
1
The Scope and Method
of Economics
Prepared by:
2007 Prentice Hall Business Publishing Principles of Economics 8e by Case and Fair
1
Chapter Outline
Why Study Economics?
To Learn a Way of Thinking
To Understand Society
To Understand Global Affairs
To Be an Informed Voter
The Scope of Economics
Microeconomics and
Macroeconomics
The Diverse Fields of Economics
The Method of Economics
Theories and Models
Economic Policy
An Invitation
Appendix: How to Read
and Understand Graphs
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The study of economics teaches us a way of thinking and helps us make decisions.
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When we participate in the political process, we are voting on issues that require a
basic understanding of economics.
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Macroeconomics
PRODUCTION
PRICES
INCOME
EMPLOYMENT
Production/output in
individual industries
and businesses
Price of individual
goods and services
Distribution of
income and
wealth
Employment by
individual businesses
and industries
National
production/output
National income
Employment and
unemployment in
the economy
Consumer prices
Producer prices
Rate of inflation
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Using the device of ceteris paribus is one part of the process of abstraction. In formulating
economic theory, the concept helps us simplify reality to focus on the relationships
that interest us.
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AN INVITATION
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marginalism
descriptive economics
microeconomics
economic growth
model
economic theory
normative economics
economics
Ockhams razor
efficiency
opportunity cost
efficient market
positive economics
empirical economics
equity
scarce
fallacy of composition
stability
Industrial Revolution
sunk costs
macroeconomics
variable
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Appendix
HOW TO READ AND UNDERSTAND GRAPHS
A graph is a twodimensional
representation of a
set of numbers, or
data.
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Appendix
TIME SERIES GRAPH
A time series graph
shows how a single
variable changes over
time.
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Appendix
GRAPHING TWO VARIABLES ON A CARTESIAN
COORDINATE SYSTEM
The Cartesian coordinate
system is the most
common method of
graphing two variables.
This system is constructed
by simply drawing two
perpendicular lines: a
horizontal line, or X-axis,
and a vertical line, or Yaxis. The axes contain
measurement scales that
intersect at 0 (zero). This
point is called the origin.
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Appendix
TOTAL DISPOSABLE
PERSONAL INCOME
YEAR
TOTAL DISPOSABLE
PERSONAL INCOME
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1,181.4
1,299.9
1,436.0
1,614.8
1,808.2
2,019.8
2,247.9
2,406.8
2,586.0
2,887.6
3,086.5
3,262.5
3,459.5
3,752.4
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
4,016.3
4,293.6
4,474.8
4,754.6
4,935.3
5,165.4
5,422.6
5,677.7
5,968.2
6,355.6
6,627.4
7,120.2
7,393.2
7,827.7
8,159.9
8,646.9
8,945.6
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Appendix
8,201
21,478
37,542
61,132
127,146
AVERAGE
CONSUMPTION
EXPENDITURES
$ 18,492
26,729
36,213
50,468
81,731
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Appendix
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Appendix
An upward-sloping
line describes a
positive relationship
between X and Y.
A downward-sloping
line describes a
negative relationship
between X and Y.
FIGURE 1A.4 A Curve with (a) Positive Slope and (b) Negative Slope
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Appendix
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Appendix
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