Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
EDITION BY BOYES
COMPLETE DOWNLOADABLE FILE AT:
HTTPS://TESTBANKU.EU/SOLUTION-MANUAL-FOR-
FUNDAMENTALS-OF-ECONOMICS-5TH-EDITION-BY-BOYES
CHAPTER 1
Economics and the World Around You
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
1. Why are some countries rich while others are dirt poor?
2. What are private property rights?
3. What is economic freedom?
4. What are opportunity costs?
5. What are the gains from trade?
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
The primary purpose of this chapter is to define and explain the scope of economics and the
methodology economists’ use in solving problems. The chapter uses global variations in wealth as the
take-off point for the examination of concepts like scarcity, property rights and opportunity cost.
A unique feature of this chapter is the economic way of thinking showing students how to apply the
tools of economic thinking to everyday decisions. The chapter also focuses on the scientific method as
economists apply it.
The appendix requires special attention. Graphs are used throughout the course, so the student will need
a good knowledge of how a graph is constructed and how to interpret its lines. It would be best to
follow the examples in the appendix so that the student has both the text and class notes to review.
Stress that the concept of scarcity is a key element in all economic analysis and a link to the rest of the
course.
KEY TERMS
scarcity
opportunity costs
tradeoffs
resources
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Full file at https://testbanku.eu/ Chapter
1 : Economics and the World Around You 2
land
labor
capital
financial capital
comparative advantage
gains from trade
private property rights
specialization
economic freedom
1. Why Are Some Countries Rich While Others Are Dirt Poor?
One of the first questions ever considered in the study of economies was why the wealth of nations
varies so much. Adam Smith, a Scottish moral philosopher, attempted to describe in his 1776 book The
Wealth of Nations the conditions that enable a country to become wealthy. .
Teaching Strategy: Start by using a map that illustrates the global distribution of income. Ask students
to speculate on how they would live if they earned only $1 per day as many people around the world
do.
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Full file at https://testbanku.eu/ Chapter
1 : Economics and the World Around You 3
economic freedom is limited.•In general, the higher the level of economic freedom in a country, the
higher that country’s standard of living is.
Teaching Strategy: Ask students if to think about whether China is an exception to this rule.
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Full file at https://testbanku.eu/ Chapter
1 : Economics and the World Around You 4
ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
1. Diamonds are scarcer than water.
2. People leave tips at a restaurant they visit often in order to ensure high-quality future service.
People leave tips at a restaurant they go to only once for several reasons: to lessen their guilt, to
ensure that their companions think they are generous, and to contribute to higher-quality service
throughout the entire restaurant industry with the idea that they will get better service in the future
if everyone acts as they act.
3. People find contributing to charities gives them a good feeling. People might also find that they
feel less bad when they see a homeless person Steaks, houses, cars, and T-shirts are scarce goods
since people are willing to pay for these goods. Garbage is not a scarce good since people do not
desire garbage even when they do not have to pay for it. In fact, people pay to have garbage
removed.
4. The concept ignored is opportunity costs. It is impossible to have more and better health,
education, infrastructure, and other things without giving up something else.
5. . There is an opportunity cost to everything. The time spent at lunch has a cost; you could be
doing something else. .
1. International Trade
This chapter introduces the benefits of trade. Use the Internet to examine U.S. international trade.
Examine the current U.S. Census Bureau trade statistics at http://www.census.gov/foreign-
trade/statistics/highlights/top/index.html.
Below are the year-to-date trade statistics for May 2007. Find the most current report and fill in the
table below. Note any changes.
Total Trade (Goods) Year-to-Date May 2007
Current
Current
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Full file at https://testbanku.eu/ Chapter
1 : Economics and the World Around You 5
Imports (Goods) Year-to-Date May 2004
Current
Are there any new countries among the top four trading countries with the United States?
Answers
Answers will change over time. Look to see if China’s ranking has changed.
2. College Attendance
The Preview discusses the choice between going to college or not. Use the Internet to examine the
number of people who choose to attend college. Go to the table of contents and data found in the
Statistical Abstract of the United States at http://www.census.gov/acsd/www/sub_e.htm Click on the
table for “Education Attainment.” Use the data in Table 1a, percentages.
Plot the percentage of males that had a bachelor’s degree or more on the vertical axis and age group on
the horizontal axis. Using the same graph, next plot the percentage of females by age group.
1. Describe the trend.
2. What could explain the difference between males and females?
Answers
1. Males and females have similar overall percentages with a bachelor’s degree, but younger females
are more likely to have a BA or above and older males are more likely to have a BA or above.
2. Young males may decide to work or join the military before college. Females may now be
encouraged to go to college. Males may decide later that they need or want a degree. Another
possibility is 30–40 years ago women were not encouraged to pursue higher education.
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.