Economic Theory Essays (Examples)

Economic Theory Deep Thoughts

Economics

One of the most fascinating aspects of Chapter 4 is how the Marxists theories provide insights into how tightly economic, geopolitical and societal forces interact to redefine the foundational definition of value in a society. What's most fascinating about Marxism relative to capitalism is that fact that the former tends to see economic ecosystems as manageable and even predictable. Capitalism shows that economic ecosystems, while defined through constructs and frameworks at the macro- and micro-level, is best managed with a laissez-faire based approach to orchestrating commerce. To the Marxist, laissez-faire economic systems seem fertile for exploitation and the monopolistic aggregation of entire industries. To the capitalist, Marist economies lack the freedom to allow resources to flow to and fund innovation and needed products that a turbulently changing market require. The dichotomy of egalitarianism relative to free market dynamics is a fascinating one, and it's clear that the dividing lines of these two forms of philosophical thought could and do lead to global conflict.

Given these dichotomies, one of the most challenging aspects of the reading to understand was just how a Marxist-led economy can survive if it ignores or at best attempts to plan the unplannable. There is no…… [Read More]

Schiller Text Covers Economic Theory

Effective measurement of economic performance and when the government should stay (or not stay) out of things is discussed at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 16 Web Activities

1. Economist Russ Roberts and filmmaker John Papola have created a video of a rap-off between economists John Maynard Keynes and F.A. Hayek. View the video at http://www.econstories.tv/. Read the lyrics on the same page, and then read the line-by-line discussion of the lyrics at the Daily Kos website, accessible at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/1/8929/21462.

a. Summarize the basic arguments of Keynes.

Keyne's viewpoint on macroeconomic theory is government intervention is the solution, and not the problem, and that it is possible to prevent the massive swings in the economy that are currently the norm with massive swings back and forth from boom and bust rather than staying within a happy medium between the two. Any Keynesian would point to the Great Depression and how the absence of government intervention caused the Great Depression and that a lack of perfection in administering the economy since was the main causes of the late 70's/early 80's recession and the "Great Recession From 2007 to 2009. Keynes believed that the government could be used to steer markets…… [Read More]

Neoclassical Economic Theory Why According

At which point, they would consume even more of the different services that are being provided. This would have an impact on spending, as consumers would use the added savings to purchase additional services from the company. This shows that the character of human wants requires giving customers greater value. Once this takes place, is when they will begin to purchase other products. As a result, the assumptions about the character of human wants are: based upon financial benefits and added value that is provided. These elements are important, because they are the most significant factors that will shape consumer buying decisions. ("A Closer Look at the Demand Curve," 109 -- 116)

What this shows about consumer wants for various items, is that they are constantly changing and that any kind purchasing decisions are based upon two factors (income and value). Where, consumers will seek out those products that can address their basic wants and major concerns. This will have an impact upon other parts of the economy, with individuals spending the added savings in these areas (i.e. restaurants and purchasing trendy clothes). The reason why, is because their basic needs have been addressed through: the increased savings and values.…… [Read More]

Globalism Keynesian Economic Theory Arose

When there is no obvious solution to a particular problem, the recommended course was to extend the Neoclassical paradigm by incorporating new concepts into it that would make the subject matter amenable to economic analysis" ("The Chicago School," 2006, the New School) Recessions are short-term pain that can cause long-term gain, provided people 'wait them out' and provided the government has a minimal role in the economy, except to stabilize the monetary supply.

The Chicago School is based in a belief that people are rational beings and are very good at working out what is in their best long-term interest, unlike Keynesian theory that proposes that short-term personal decisions like hoarding may seem rational but could actually be irrational in the 'macro' scheme of things. (Klemens, 2003: 2). The Chicago School economists were later accused of economic imperialism in their advice to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. For example, the IMF's Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) were loans to developing nations that required lending nations to cut their budget deficits, shrink the size and involvement of the government in people's daily lives, reduce social welfare programs, and drop trade barriers (Klemens, 2003: 4) Keynesians suggested such rigid requirements were…… [Read More]

Classical vs Keynesian Economic Theory

Even when forced to rework his model to allow for some private investment, he argued that it wasn't as efficient as government spending because private investors would be less likely to undertake/overpay for unnecessary works in hard economic times" (Beattie 2010). For the world to extricate itself from the Great Depression, said Keynes, the government must intervene in the market.

Keynes' rationale is one reason that the current administration's stimulus package in response to the recent economic downturn has been termed Keynesian in nature. Keynes advocated spending money and increasing the deficit during recessions, and avoiding deficits during expansionary periods to stem inflation. Because of his fear of a 'hoarding' effect Keynes also tended to view a higher level of overall employment as a greater necessity than classical economists. Due to Keynes' influence, the federal government increased in size, nearly doubling within a few scant years: "during the 1920s, there were, on average, about 553,000 paid civilian employees of the federal government. By 1939 there were 953,891 paid civilian employees, and there were 1,042,420 in 1940" (Smiley 2008). Keynes also advocated a 'loose' money policy and lowering interest rates to encourage investment during recessions. Rather than an invisible hand, Keynes…… [Read More]

Monetarism and Economic Theory by

The competitive equilibrium

The competitive general equilibrium tries to give an understanding of the whole economy using a "bottom-up" approach, starting with individual markets and agents, as a microeconomic approach. The rational expectations theory is based off this microeconomic approach, where it assumes that each individual agent is capable of quickly adapting to market changes and solving for the competitive equilibrium. This bottom-up approach and the concept of quick adaptation have been the source of much criticism about the rational expectations theory.

II. Flaws

Application of rational expectation to aggregate behavior

The main idea behind the rational expectations hypothesis is to consistently extend the principle of individual rationality from the problem of the allocation of resources.

The problem is the hypothesis's application to aggregate behavior. Even if all individual agents have rational expectations, the representative corporation/household/industry describing these behavior may not collectively make efficient use of all given information. Hence, in the aggregate, agents may not satisfy rational assumptions, and hence does not have macroeconomic applicability.

The rational expectation accounts only for rationing by price

The rational expectation theory is inapplicable with the law of diminishing occurrence.

Expectations of sales and prices will determine an employer's willingness to hire employees.…… [Read More]

Obesity Treatment Supply and Demand Economic Theory Application

Supply and Demand Economic Theory

Discuss supply and demand economic theory as it applies to costs for diagnosis and treatment of obesity-related disease.

Healthcare services for obesity-related illnesses have a 'demand curve', just like other commercial services and goods; this demand curve slopes downwards. The same demand law that works for entertainment, clothing, automobiles, and other services and goods also applies here; movements along this demand curve take place with respect to consumer responses to price changes in obesity-related care services. It is assumed that healthcare, which includes doctor visits, hospital bills, medication, and other health services, are measurable in healthcare units (Bovbjerg, Dorn, Hadley, Holahan and Miller, 2006).

The method of healthcare financing complicates demand curve analysis for healthcare related to obesity. Nearly 80% of healthcare linked to obesity is funded by third-party financiers, which include government initiatives and private insurance firms (e.g. Medicaid and Medicare). While movements are caused along the obesity-linked healthcare demand curve due to price changes, other factors may also contribute to shifts in demand curve (Manning, Newhouse, Duan, Keeler, Leibowitz, & Marquis, 2007). Some non-price factors that may shift the obesity-linked healthcare demand are as follows: Number of Customers -- with increase in population,…… [Read More]

Anarchism Is Not a Valid Political Social and Economic Theory

Anarchy

The debate that summarizes mankind involves determining which particular means of existence is best. Social, political and economic constructs have been developed and implemented throughout the last thousand years. Throughout this time, different forms of government and social organization arose out of idealistic thought and well reasoned application of natural and human laws. Today, this potential has been realized in our current forms of society. The Western world lives in a democratic, or so it seems, state of being. Is this best? What is the best? Is there even a best way to go about doing this?

The validity of any proposed social, economic or political theory is required in order for a collective group of people to move forward and adopt the principles that they suggest. Anarchy and anarchism are terms that are gaining relative popularity in today's hectic and turbulent world. American interests are very wide and deep and often very contradicted and hypocritical. This democratic way of life is preferable over anarchy or any of its different sects that may promote the ideals and essence of its principles. The purpose of this essay is to discredit anarchism as a valid social, economic and political theory tha,…… [Read More]

Economics Theory Popular Concept That

He would be faced with deciding whether he must spend all his available resources on goods or services, or whether he must save some of his income so that he would be able to finance some of his needs of his future. When he is taken as a labor resource, he must make the decision whether he must use his time in working for his pay, or whether he must spend it on sleeping and other leisure time activities. ("Decision making using marginal analysis," n. d.)

Similarly, when he is a labor resource, he must decide how much of his time he must spend on education, so that he may be able to maximize his life earnings. On the other hand, if he were an entrepreneur, then he must make the decision on how many people he must hire, or how much he must spend on acquiring a new product or service, which would help him increase production. In short, it is obvious that all economic decisions yield certain benefits to, and also at the same time impose certain costs on the decision maker involved in the decision making process. If the decision maker were to follow a simple rule,…… [Read More]

Economic Theories Marx Viewed Capital

Both Keynes and Kalecki use Marx's theories as a starting point but quickly moved into new ways of thinking, particularly with regard to effective demand being oriented toward the demand-side. Marx had remained rooted in supply-side demand function, rejecting Say's Law only to note that demand did not necessarily meet supply.… [Read More]

Economic Theory Since the Great Depression Many

Economic Theory

Since the Great Depression, many Keynesian economists have been arguing that their basic approach is the best way to deal with issues that could have a long-term impact on the economy. At the heart of this basic philosophy, is the belief that when spending in the private sector is stagnant, the public segment can be able to deal with these challenges. The reason why, is because the government could engage in actions such as favorable monetary and fiscal policy. If this kind of approach is taken, it will help to provide additional demand. Once this occurs, it means that they can begin to stabilize the economy and prevent negative calamities from taking place. This is significant because, these basic ideas have often been used by economists throughout the decades to illustrate how this is one of the major tools that can be utilized to deal with a host of economic challenges. To fully understand these ideas and their underlying impact on economic activity requires examining a number of different elements to include: the various kinds of approaches that are used by these kinds of economists, how monetary theorists are using this to promote long-term economic stability, the impact…… [Read More]

Karl Marx Economic Theories Overview

Marxian Economics

Karl Marx was one of the most popular and prominent economists the society has ever produced. Born in 1818 in Prussia, Marx would come to activate in fields such as sociology, economy, history or journalism. In his economic activity, he uncovered a series of economic principles regarding the functioning of the society and the economy in the context of capitalism, commonly integrated under the generic umbrella of Marxism. The Marxian theories draw from the Marxist ideology, yet they are considered ideologically independent (Roemer, 2002).

The Marxian economic theories oppose the previous theories of Adam Smith, who relied of productivity and wages; Marx, on the other hand, promoted the role of labor to attaining economic gains. Marx contends that the specialization of the labor force leads to a decrease in the wages and that ultimate value of the goods and services is not able to reflect the value of the work employed. This principle was issued in the social and demographic context of an increasing population (Roemer, 1989).

"Marxian economics focuses on the role of labor in the development of an economy, and is critical of the classical approach to wages and productivity developed by Adam Smith. Marxian economics…… [Read More]

Economic Growth and Happiness Economic Growth Can

Economic Growth and Happiness

Economic Growth Can Lead to Healthier and Happier Societies

More Availability of Goods

Higher Income

Increase in Tax Revenues and Better Welfare Programs.

Increase in Purchasing Power

Technological Advancement

Health Industry Benefits

Business Sector Benefits

General Benefits

Reflective statement

Economic Growth Can Lead To Healthier and Happier Societies

Economic growth has long been termed as the precursor to any society's success, and in this paper, we shall be looking at various aspects of economic growth that are directly correlated to happiness in the society, as well as those that negate this causality leading us to wonder whether all the technological progress in the world can eventually lead to happiness.

There are various factors that impact happiness where geography is a consideration in the sense of the location of a country has an important part to play in terms of its cultural values, and the manner in which happiness is defined in the culture. The progress that the country has made in terms of the economic bloc it belongs to as the U.K. has being part of the EU; its history also plays an important part in how happiness is defined. (Megan, 2009) Consider that U.K. is…… [Read More]

Economics Define Economics Economics Is Defined as

Economics

Define economics

Economics is defined as the study of how society allocates limited resources and goods (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Resources include inputs such as labor, capital, and land and are used to produce goods. Goods include products such as food and clothing, as well as services such as those of barbers, doctors, and firefighters. Often goods and resources are deemed scarce because of society's demand for them vs. their availability (Stapleford, 2012). Economics, then, becomes the study of how goods and resources are allocated when scarce. It also allows us to anticipate the outcomes of changes in governmental policies, company practices, or population shifts, and so forth.

The market system is one avenue economists use to allocate scarce resources. A market is defined as any system or arrangement where trade takes place (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). In the U.S. there are several markets trading at all times. The study of the market system falls into two branches - macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Define microeconomics

Microeconomics is the study of the economic behavior of individual firms, consumers and industries and the distribution of total production and income between them (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Microeconomics allows economists to analyze the market to establish the…… [Read More]

Economic Impacts of Regulation Is a Written

Economic Impacts of Regulation

Regulation is a written instrument that contains rules with the force of law (Ogus, 2004). Regulation as a process involves monitoring and enforcing rules, established through primary or delegated legislation. Regulation usually creates, constrains or limits a right. In addition, regulation creates and limits a duty besides allocating responsibilities (Ogus, 2004). Regulation may take several forms depending on its application. These includes legal restrictions made by the government, contractual obligations, which binds several parties together, self-regulations by industries, third party regulation, co-regulation, market regulation, certification and accreditation

Regulation made by a state tries to produce outcomes that might not occur (Ogus, 2004). In addition, it attempts to prevent or produce outcomes in various places to what might occur. Through this, regulation becomes an implementation object of policy statements. Examples of regulation include controls on prices, market entries, wages, pollution effects, employment of particular people within certain industries, development approval, the military forces and services and production standards for particular goods (High, 2001).

Public services usually encounter conflicts between procedures of maximizing profits and people's interests on these services. Therefore, most of the governments have various forms of control or regulation for the purpose of managing these…… [Read More]

Economics There Are a Number of Different

Economics

There are a number of different metrics that can help to measure the health of an economy. The GDP is one of those numbers, and can be obtained from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Following a decline of 2.6% in 2009, the GDP grew in 2010 by 2.9%. GDP rates fluctuated by quarter, with a low of 1.7% in Q2 following by escalating growth in the last two quarters. This represents a slow recovery from the steep declines of 2008-2009. Another measure of economic health is unemployment. The current unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 9.0%, a decline of 0.4 percentage points from December. This rate is historically high, it is lower than at any point in the past year, again showing a sign of slow recovery. A third measure of economic health can be found in the inflation rate. The best measure of inflation is core inflation, which removes the highly volatile food and energy components from the index. Core inflation sits at 0.1% and has been around zero or just above for the past six months. Low inflation is not congruent with a robust economy, but can indicate an economy that is growing very…… [Read More]

Economics Part A-Economics and Society

Unfortunately most growth oriented economic policies such as "supply-side" economic policies tend to exacerbate inequality. A greater role of the government in the economy such as increased taxation on the rich can reduce inequality. Inflation and unemployment are usually inversely proportional in most economies, i.e., increase of money supply through deficit financing reduces unemployment but increases inflation while tight monetary policies reduce inflation but increase unemployment. According to a number of analysts, a major cause of terrorism in the world is an acute sense of deprivation among a large section of the population. Economic measures can, arguably prove more effective in rooting out terrorism than military action.

Part C-Theory

What, How and for Whom to Produce:

In 'free market economies' decentralized decision making by individuals and firms based on consumers' desires (which determine the price of goods) and the profit motive determine what goods are produced and in what quantities. For example, consumers in the present age value automobiles and the skills of auto mechanics more than horse-drawn carriages or blacksmiths, so they are likely to spend their money to buy cars and pay auto mechanics for their services rather than spend their money on horse-drawn carriages and the services…… [Read More]

Economics in Construction Industry Data

9%

6.2%

6.3%

6.4%

6.4%

6.4%

Source: Kelly, Herring (2012).

Fig 3: France Construction Growth Rate (%)

Source: Kelly and Herring (2012)

Economic theory points out the factors leading to the decline in the construction output in France. Economic theory argues that the changes in demand for construction activities may be due to several economic factors such as changes in Gross National Product, and changes in interest rates. (Finkel, 1997). Akintola and Martin (1994) argue that the level of a national economy is a primary factor that could affect the construction demand in a given economy. Typically, "there is a relationship between construction demand and the growth in GNP, as a measure of the economic well being of a nation." (Akintola, and Martin 1994 P. 9). During the period of economic prosperity, there is a general increase in demand for consumer goods which triggers up the demand for construction activities.

In France, there are construction activities in both private and public sectors. Generally, France enjoyed economic prosperity between 2001 and 2007 making the country to enjoy a significant increase in demand for construction activities during the period. However, with global economic crisis that affects France from 2008, the demand for…… [Read More]

Economics and Housing the Wall

Even though the housing market is slowing, the article speculates that it may take six to eight months before sellers accept that the market has softened and reduce their prices. This demonstrates the economic theory that the supply relationship is a factor of time. Suppliers do not always react quickly to a change in demand or price, but eventually they must. The article suggests that demand will decline 3.5% next year, but that median home prices will still increase by 5%.

Suppliers are beginning to react to falling demand through a decline in price increases and incentives which are really indirect price decreases. That's why this is referred to as a "cooling off" period in the article which mentions that some condo buyers are being offered a car to make a purchase of a condo. The use of incentives may be viewed by the suppliers as a way to mask the fact that prices are falling. They are trying to hide the fact that market power has switched away from sellers to buyers. This change in power will only motivate potential buyers to negotiate a price that is far lower than the published price. And, suppliers may be hoping that…… [Read More]

Economic Crisis and Capitalism

Economic Crisis

The recession of 2008-2009 and the subsequent government responses provides a good test for economic theories. There are no controlled experiments in economics, so we can only work with case studies in order to understand how economies work. A good starting point is to consider the issue through multiple different lenses, so that we can understand how the crisis occurred and what prescriptions might be best suited for response either to address the root problems or to engage in prevention. This paper will consider the works of Marx, Schumpeter and Keynes in analyzing the financial crisis. All three of these men would have been able to understand its causes, but likely would have taken very different approaches to solving the problem.

The second issue at hand is the question of the future of capitalism. We have a pretty good sense at this point of what the response of government is to the threat of such crises going forward, but each crises also presents us with new information that we can use to best understand how are governments can and should set up the economic system of the future. There will be some discussion about the future of capitalism…… [Read More]

Economics Discussions Production Costs Postal Service USPS

Economics Discussions

Production Costs

Postal Service (USPS) operates at a loss but its closest competitors -- UPS and FedEx -- both operate at a profit. Suggest how fixed costs have contributed to the situation of the USPS. Provide support for your response.

I would suspect that the fixed costs of contributing to employee's retirement funds (Risk Analysis Research Center, 2009, p. 4) and also their restriction from closing local offices (Slentz and McCann, 2009, p. 12) contributes to higher fixed cost at USPS than FedEx because FedEx is not unionized and while UPS is unionized, and thus experiences a fixed cost that is incurred to the level of union contracts, those contracts are more negotiable for UPS than USPS, and nonexistent or fluid for FedEx. Furthermore while union contracts probably affect the rate of closure for physical facilities for UPS, this would probably be more negotiable than for USPS and FedEx especially if FedEx operates totally under 'right to work' management structures. The fixed cost USPS inherits from its special status as an 'off-budget' but still in some ways regulated recipient of federal transfers mandates it upholds these precedents from an era without UPS or FedEx.

2. You are the…… [Read More]

Economic View of the Death Penalty in

Economic View of the Death Penalty

In 1972, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty, as applied in three capital cases in the state of Georgia was "cruel and unusual punishment and in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. (Hastings and Johnson, 2001, paraphrased) A mere four years later the state of Georgia was once against before the Supreme Court in the case of Gregg v. Georgia, a case in which the decision handed down by the court found that the death penalty was in fact constitutional. (Hastings and Johnson, 2001, paraphrased) The objective of this study is to examine the practice of the death penalty from an economic perspective. Towards this end, this study will examine the literature in this area of study. According to a recent report there are several states considering abolition of the death penalty including the states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and New Hampshire, all of which have "shifted the debate about capital punishment, at least in part, from morality to cost." (The Economist, 2009, p.1)

I. Costs of the Practice of the Death Penalty

The Economist reports that in a recent study conducted…… [Read More]

Economics Perfectly Legal the Purpose

For one reason, the super rich are some of the biggest political contributors, and so, it pays Congress to ensure their continued support and fiscal maintenance. He also uses economic theories and trends to illustrate his point and make the text more credible and believable.

Throughout the book, the author shows not only that he deeply understands his material, but he has the ability to explain it so most readers understand it as well. With all the economic information this book contains, it could be dry and uninteresting, but instead, the author presents facts and figures in a way that shows he understands the material, but also has the ability to explain it to others, which is extremely important in this type of book. It is also essential if the author hopes to have Americans read his book, and act on it, which is clearly one of the author's purposes in writing this book. Has it changed the American tax system? Sadly, no it has not. However, as more people become aware of the flaws in the system and who it benefits, perhaps in the future there will be a more equitable and fair tax system for all Americans, not…… [Read More]

Economic Instability and Ethnic &

Shift from Central Planning to Market Economy

The Turkish economy is in what might be termed semi-precarious health. It could certainly be worse, but also certainly be better. Since its birth as a nation-state into its current shape in 1923 in the wake of World War I, Turkey has operated a mixed economy, in which both state and private enterprise have contributed to economic development. (Indeed, it is arguable that all country's in the world today have a mixed economy; the United States may be a bastion for private enterprise but many workers also benefit from government money, such as the money awarded by the federal government to private companies in the form of defense industry contracts.) Since the end of World War II, the economy has been transformed from a predominantly agricultural one to one in which industry and services are the most productive and rapidly expanding sectors even as agriculture and other rural economic activities continue to play an important role (Howe, 2000, p. 28).

Until the middle of this century, the federal government itself played by far the most important role in the industrialization process that was occurring in the nation. Federal monies provided most of the…… [Read More]

Economic Analysis on Everyday Activities

Economic Ideas

Economics can be considered as the study of the allocation of scarce resources that have potential alternative uses among the competing and virtually limitless want of consumers in society. The allocation of resources is necessary both at an individual and societal level. Economics considers the manner in which people are organized for economic tasks. Economics is applicable everywhere. Economics should be thought of in all the aspects rather than considering the things in the way they already are. This particular proposal explains the reason cars have their fuel doors on different sides. People line up and fuel their cars at the petrol station. However, it is noteworthy that some cars have their fuel filler door on the side of the driver while others have their fuel filler opening on the side of the passenger. This might be perceived as a normal aspect but is largely linked to economics. This is to avoid overcrowding at the petrol stations. If all cars had the fuel filler door on one side only, there would be long queues at the petrol station consuming everybody's time and limiting the cash accruals and cars refueled. It also ensures that the demand for the fuel…… [Read More]

Economic Value Added EVA an

However, EVA is neither as perfect as claimed by its advocates, nor is it the only performance measure that suggests a path to a superior stock return" (emphasis added) (p. 319).

More importantly, though, while the economic value added measurement approach to financial performance may not be without its detractors, the scholarly literature is consistent in emphasizing the need for such initiatives for companies to remain competitive in an increasingly globalized marketplace today. For instance, in his recent essay, "Profit-Increasing Strategies," Tracy (2006) reports that there are a number of ways for most companies to add value to their product or service. "There are many strategies for generating sales, profitability and wealth in every industry," he advises. "Your ability as an entrepreneur to create a profitable business where no business existed before is the key to your success. In every market, it's usually true that 20% of the businesses earn 80% of the profits in their industry" (Tracy, 2006, p. 2).

The studies of companies to date concerning their ability to capture market share suggest that these companies have the following in features common:

Operational excellence. The company has developed the ability to produce its products and services at a…… [Read More]

Economic Justice and the Mommy

The question is, how does one decide which path is more beneficial?

John Stuart Mill in Utilitarianism in the Philosophy of J.S. Mill, raised similar concerns when he stated:

"…any, even unintentional, deviation from truth does that much toward weakening the truth-worthiness of human assertion, which is not only the principal of all present social well-being but the insufficiency of which does more than any one thing that can be named to keep back civilization, virtue, everything on which human happiness on the largest scale depends" (p. 349).

Considering that human happiness is a subjective commodity that varies for every individual in its "truth," then whether or not one perceives the mommy track trend to be in line with utilitarian principles ultimately depends on one's personal definition of the greater good. From the utilitarian perspective (i.e. Mill), the wishes of the individual must be forsaken for the long-term "big picture." Thus in this view, although a mother may experience an initial loss in income by choosing to spend more quality time raising her children, in the long run (at least theoretically) society will benefit from having more well-adjusted children. These children will grow up an make up for the financial…… [Read More]

Economic Way of Thinking Always

This is circular logic that appears to dehumanize our freedom and minimalize our existence. The atomization of the responsible self is unimaginative and restrictive, I'll choose something else to listen to if I have a choice.

Question 7

Work itself is exploitative in nature. Only when a person can work for himself or herself can exploitation be limited to being self-imposed. Labor and work do not belong to anyone, they are mere expressions of idea, to claim them as a tangible thing is confusing and appears to have a disingenuous motive.

Question 8

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder and even though there are characeristics of a perfect market such as large amounts of buyers and sellers and a shared responsibility, there is undoubtedly some flaw within the system. Perfect markets would require no exchange of money, only ideas as money itself is a market within itself causing a chain reaction of market fluctuations on every transaction.

Question 9

Advertising is the worst thing in the world according to my standards of judgment. Marketing is deceptive in nature and wasteful in result. While the American economy is completely mired in overconsumption as a way of life, advertising provides…… [Read More]

Economic Development

traditional, neoclassical school of economic modeling prescribes a "recipe for economic growth." Economic growth is a process of moving resources from low growth, agricultural areas to higher growth, industrial areas. The neoclassical school also does not see anything slowing the progress of moving from low growth to high growth areas. The neoclassical model in the form of Harrod-Domar model assumes that an increase in savings and investment will lead to economic development. Even though productivity is improved employment does not increase and income does not improve so correspondingly demand for products does not occur. Government intervention has hampered economic development by funneling resources into the wrong types of industries. Instead of taking advantage of industries where a country has a relative advantage, resources have gone to industries that the government wants to develop. One area where the removal of restrictions is essential is in the area of international trade. Increasing exports takes the place of the typically low demand for products in developing countries. In the developing country itself the government needs to stop funding particular industries to the detriment of other industries. Further the government needs to create a favorable environment for use of technology and reinvestment of capital…… [Read More]

Economic Policy for an Imperfect World by

Economic Policy for an Imperfect World" by Karen I. Vaughn published in "Southern Economic Journal," Vol. 62, Issue 4, 1996

After the collapse of the Soviet Union it has become evident that market economies are necessary for producing wealth. However, the case for "free markets" is far from settled as those looking for an alternative to central planning usually consider "regulated market economy" as the solution. Hence the debate about how much "free market" or government regulation is appropriate, still rages. The ways in which contemporary economic theory contributes to the debate about the right mix of free market and government regulation is the theme of this article.

In the 1980s, a notable economist opined that government guidance was necessary for the 'invisible hand' to succeed. Some time later, another pointed out the lack of scientific evidence about the success of free markets. Other economists have even challenged some of the key assumptions of apparently settled economic theories.

It is clear that while enhancing efficiency is the goal of all economic policies, the "perfect' market models used by economists to predict the behavior of markets cannot explain the behavior of the markets in the real world.

Theories for Economic Policy…… [Read More]

Economic Woes Have Shook the

(Major Schools of Economic Thought) This theory was born from the crucible of a Great Depression and a World War. Chicago theorists vehemently disagreed. They made the argument that the wealth of nation's increase when the market is allowed to naturally price goods and services. Spending would unnaturally change the prices of these goods, thus changing the reaction of the market to the goods, causing a misallocation of wealth or goods.

According to the Chicago theorists, the role of a government was to make sure individual rights were not trodden upon during market interactions and to mitigate the damage of neighborhood effects. Neighborhood effects are defined by Milton Friedman, the godfather of Chicago Economists, as when, "the action of one individual imposes significant costs on other individuals for which it is not feasible to make him compensate them or yields significant gains to them for which it is not feasible to make them compensate him" (Friedman, 1955, para. 3). This is a significantly cut down view of the purpose of government, especially when compared to the Keynesian view.

As to whether or not there are economic crises that require governmental intervention, many experts, and this author answer that with a…… [Read More]

Economics Finance MBA Level

disrupting America's economic system is a fundamental objective of terrorists

Even as the world continues to struggle with the terrible shock from the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, one principle lesson has already become clear: disrupting our economic system is a fundamental objective of terrorists.

Prior to September 11, our economic environment was certainly not immune to terror, in comparison to many other nations; we lived relatively terror-free. Now, however, the aftermath of the terrorist attacks serves as a grim reminder that international relations and security developments can dramatically affect economic performance.

US History is replete with countless examples when macro fundamentals are overtaken by what economists refer to as, exogenous shocks -- surprise events that can profoundly and often unpredictably shift political and economic resources, and send even the most accurate forecasts astray. Commodity shocks, such as the two OPEC jolts in the 1970s, are classic examples of this kind of economic shock. In fact, throughout much of the past century, wars, labor strikes, currency market turmoil, and major natural disasters have all proven to be quite destabilizing to real U.S. economic activity.

Nevertheless, what are the real potential economic perils associated with an event like…… [Read More]

Economic Basics - Terms and Concepts

Firm, Labor Markets, and Imperfect Information

Economics

Perfect Competition and Monopolistic Competition

A perfectly competitive market does not have barriers to entry or exit and is characterized by many producers and many consumers, all of whom are price takers -- a term that means the suppliers and the buyers cannot effect the price as they do not have market power ("Competitive Markets," 2014). Monopolistic competitive markets are do have some barriers to entry and exit. Consumers can find substitutes for all of the goods in a competitive market, whereas high product differentiation is seen in a monopolistic competitive market ("Competitive Markets," 2014). Indeed, one of the reasons that a firm can achieve a monopoly for a product is that the business has been successful in its efforts to differentiate a product, as perceived by its customers. The ability of a business to make profits in the long-run is referred to as the elasticity of demand. Perfectly competitive and monopolistic competitive markets both demonstrate elasticity of demand in the long-run ("Competitive Markets," 2014). That is to say that consumers in both markets are sensitive to price, so that the demand for products decrease if the prices rise ("Competitive Markets," 2014).

A…… [Read More]

Economic Costs of Health Care

To cope with these rising costs, many employers will pass them on to their employees, as they are struggling to deal with this challenge (microeconomic factors). In this case, microeconomics is being applied to a macroeconomic issue, with the business forced to utilize them in their unique situation. ("Economic Theories," 2010)

Increased taxes are occurring, because many businesses are forced to pay multiple taxes supporting employee health care costs in different ways. Where, they have to pay employee health benefits and then they are required to indirectly pay Medicare / Medicaid taxes. This is troubling, because businesses are forced to pay more for health care costs, through covering their employees and various taxes. (Johnson, 2010) In this aspect, a macroeconomic theory is being applied, as the overall costs that employers are paying and the taxes for government programs are resulting in double expenses / taxation. ("Economic Theories," 2010)

Once employers begin cutting back on health care coverage, these expenses are then passed on to the employee. If they are unable to afford the increased costs, they more than likely will lose their health care coverage. As a result, one could argue that this is a main reason, why 40 million…… [Read More]

Economic Recession Coupled With a Federally Mandated

economic recession, coupled with a federally mandated raise in the minimum wage, affect the demand for McDonald's fast food? How do fluctuations in the cost of feed for cattle, in crop output, the cost of oil, and all the factors that go into producing our food effect our supply? Most importantly, how can we adjust to meet demand, comply with government regulations, and still earn a profit? The following analysis studies the ways we can adjust supply to increase quantity demand for McDonald's food products, the way we can adjust the price of our product without sacrificing customer service our quality, and the way we can maintain a comfortable profit margin in current economic conditions.

What factors affect demand for our products? Regardless of the economy, people still need to eat. Because many consumers of our food may be working two jobs or more to make ends meet, the demand for a convenient, tasty meal at an affordable price increases demand for our food. In addition, consumers seeking to indulge themselves on a limited budget often turn to our food for a "treat." (Bittman, 2009). The great demand for our products seems to indicate that we could increase our prices…… [Read More]

Economic and Practical Consequences of Balanced Budgets

Balanced Federal Budgets

The federal government has a wide variety of responsibilities, most of which stem from programs that the government has created. Some of these outlays are discretionary, but many are not. The trade-offs for the federal government are usually not a question economics, but politics. The current federal budget for FY2016 shows a deficit of $474 billion. The largest outlays are for social security ($891 billion), other mandatory programs ($627), defense ($589), Medicare ($529) and non-defense discretionary, which covers a wide variety of different programs. Finding $474 billion to cut there -- or some of that money in conjunction with tax increases -- is inevitably going to be a challenge. Much of government spending in the budget is in the form of mandatory programs. Further, many of these are impossible, politically, to reduce. One does not simply cut Medicare payouts without losing a strong voting bloc, for example. The military is separated out from other discretionary items because it is only somewhat discretionary. The military is tied to the power and influence that the United States has in this world, and that power and influence is itself tied to economic opportunity, quality of life and other such issues.…… [Read More]

Job Creation and Other Economic Myths

Economics

There is a belief, common to economists, that government intervention is necessary to assist economic growth. The current belief that the reason that the economy is faltering is that job growth has faltered, has not altered this perception, even though it probably should have. Recently both the Bush and Obama administrations have tried many different means of stimulating the economy (much as Franklin Delano Roosevelt did during the "Great Depression"), and these means have had varying levels if success. However, despite some small amount of relief and a stronger stock market, job growth remains stagnant and the economy slugs along with it. The efforts of the current administration toward job growth and creation, whether that be in State of the Union speeches or actually policies, have not produced the desired effects. Why is this? Could it be that the Keynesian methods of economic growth and job production are faulty? This paper looks at the problem from the point-of-view of some of the greatest economic thinkers of the past, examines the fallacies that have been foisted on the public in the past century, and attempts to inject reason in the place of myths.

Keynesian Economics: A Conservative Perspective

One of…… [Read More]

Growth Theory

Economics of New Ideas and Innovations

This research paper discusses the economics of a new idea. Without new ideas and inventions, the economy might very well become stagnant or decline, as predicted by many early economists, who did not understand that impact that ideas and innovative technology had on global markets.

Technology is endogenous in the new growth theory, which holds that technology is a function of the capital and labor used to develop technology, the technology used in that process, and the economic environment. For the purpose of this paper, technology refers to the methods and tools that are used to generate with new ideas and more efficient ways of producing goods and services.

Ideas and technical innovations are crucial to the economy. If a country wants to grow, it must create an environment that encourages entrepreneurs and innovators to generate new ideas. Creating an economic environment that promotes ideas and innovations requires the establishment of institutions that enhance growth, open trade, and the protection of new ideas through patents.

The fundamentals of the new growth theory are similar to those discussed by Adam Smith and Joseph Schumpeter. According to Smith, businesses that want to maximize profit drive the…… [Read More]

Criticism of the Neoclassical Theory Comparative Economics

Economics: Neoclassical, Keynesian, And Marxian Theories

Social theories attempt to explain how people interact with each other, and with their surroundings. For this reason, it is believed that social theories shape society, so much so that people will theorize elements in their surroundings based on their life situations and what they experience in their interactions. Towards this end, what one person thinks or believes about a certain aspect may not necessarily be what another person thinks; people hold different theories about how the economy works, and how it influences human interactions - and this is particularly why we have multiple economic theories today. Social theories are broadly categorized into three -- humanism, structuralism, and dialectics. These three have been applied to economic theory to explain how the various elements of the economy interact to realize maximum outcomes. This text demonstrates how the aforementioned social theories have been used to shape the neoclassical, Keynesian, and Marxian theories of economics.

Humanism and Neoclassical Theory

Humanism is a system of thought that summarizes the individual as the ultimate cause or source of thought (Wolff and Resnick 12). Under a humanistic approach, the human being, and not a supernatural Being, is perceived to be…… [Read More]

Economics Mexico How Interest Rates Can Be

Economics

Mexico; How Interest Rates Can Be Used to Manage an Economy

The management of the economy, undertaken with strategies from the government and decision fro the central bank, is usually undertaken with the aim of promoting and supporting a stable economy, balancing the desire for sustainable growth with the need to constrain inflation. This is an issue faced by almost all countries; inflation can be harmful to an economy, impacting not only in the internal stakeholders, but influencing the exchange rate. The control of inflation, often through the use of interest rates, may also help to stifle growth. This can be a conundrum, as stimulating growth and constraining inflation requires a very careful balance of economic policies. Mexico has been faced with this issue and in March 2013 the Banco de Mexico

made a surprise decision to reduce their interest rates from 4.5% to 4% (Trading Economics, 2013), and then hold the rate at 4% in April (Hughes and O'Boyle, 2013). Management of the economy is a tricky balancing act, and when the country had a growth rate substantially above that of many western countries in the post global recession period, one may wonder why there was a reduction…… [Read More]

Economics Optimal Currency Area an

Thus, a region or nation experiencing economic depression will be unable to use the interest rate lever to boost the economy. Similarly a country with high inflation will be unable to independently raise interest rates to contain inflation. Moreover, Islamic countries, which form a large part of the geography, do not believe in interest rates.

Political barriers -- Political differences between nations make it extremely difficult for them to adopt a common currency. It can lead to a loss in political sovereignty as monetary interests would need to surpass political interests. This is unlikely to be acceptable to most of the nations and the idea of a single currency may be difficult to implement (Gimp, 2008).

Will Pros and Cons change Over Time? Depending On the Country?

The economic conditions to determine a monetary union depend on: the openness and size of the economy involved to trade; the free movements of capital and labor factors; the high level of intra-regional trade and the diversity of production; and the susceptibility of the economy to asymmetric shocks and the flexibility of the economy to adjust itself to such shocks. In other words, the introduction of a single currency in a specific region…… [Read More]

Economic Globalization Has the 2008 Financial Meltdown

Economic Globalization

Has the 2008 financial meltdown in the U.S. And the ongoing economic crisis in Europe have practically ended the era of economic globalization?

Following the financial crisis that marred the U.S. economy along with other global economies as well as the ongoing Eurozone debt crisis, there have been projected concerns that this predicament would end economic globalization. The purpose of this paper is to assess this claim. Going by Immanuel Wallenstein's World Systems Theory, the political economy of Third World economies and developed economies of the West are mutually dependent. Wallenstein's conjecture is that the growth and expansion of Third World economies relies on constant interaction with Western developed economies seeing as the world is characterized by a structural division of labor where the developing nations of the Third World provide cheap labor and raw materials while the developed economies are the holders of capital and controllers of the market. Economic experts have argued that even in the midst of the global financial meltdown in the U.S. along with the ongoing Eurozone economic crisis, economic globalization remains intact. This has become possible through the decision by the governments to rescue companies from the debt crises.

Economic Globalization

While…… [Read More]

Economic Crisis the Revelation of the Financial

Economic Crisis

The revelation of the financial crisis that unfolded in United States in 2008 is considered to be the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, 1929. The distinctive causative factors that have contributed to the U.S. economic crisis 2008- 2009 are differentiated by aggravated financial control, higher risks in capital investment, the housing bubble phenomena in relation to the brisk credit expansion. The aggregation of these factors in the U.S. economy directed the economy towards the de- leverage and credit crunches as the bubble burst. The following paper shall be discussing about the degree of correlation between the tax implications policies with respect to the financial crisis in U.S.. The precise review of strong linkages between the taxation and economic crises is the explicit explanation of the crisis that shook America. The paper also highlights the key factors that demonstrated their abilities and rescued U.S. In the economic crisis.

Introduction

The recent financial crisis reported in U.S. has followed the roots of the antecedent financial crisis that took roots in 2007 as the crisis of U.S. housing market. The crisis had a multiplier effect and the adverse consequences were reportedly spreading throughout the world, and proved to catalyze…… [Read More]

Economic Crisis Policies US Current Economic Crisis

Economic Crisis Policies

US current economic crisis is considered to be started from real estate sector. The real sector started to decline in 2006 and it accelerated in 2007 and 2008. Housing prices have fallen from the peak from about 25% so far. The decline in prices left homeowners with no option and they were unable to refinance their mortgages and causes default of mortgages. This default of mortgages and loans swallowed the banks and financial markets such as falling of Lehman's brothers and other Banks and blow to rest of economy happened as the whole economy was relying on banks and ultimately it slows down investment in the country and capital flows to other parts of the world like China and India. Bank losses cause reduction of bank capital which in turn requires capital reduction thus saving bank from lending. It is estimated that every $100 loss and reduction of bank capital would cause $1trillion reduction in bank lending. (ISR international socialist review, 2009)

Critical Analysis of the Causes of Current Economic Crisis

The current depression is said to be biggest since the great depression of 1930's.There are many causes of current economic crisis. Some of them are discussed…… [Read More]

Economics -- Profits Costs and

Unlike the situation with retail consumer goods whose production costs can be readily amortized by reduction in cost-per-unit production, the theater does not produce tangible goods. Therefore, the marginal cost of entertaining each additional audience member is so small that it becomes negligible. By increasing ticket prices only a dollar or two, the theater could likely maintain most of its clientele and avoid reducing its appeal to new customers, thereby increasing profits. Diseconomies would not develop unless or until the theater decided to expand its facilities or to purchase additional movies based on the expectation that a full house could be maintained and then experienced insufficient additional patronage to offset those additional costs (McConnell, Brue, & Flynn, 2008).… [Read More]

Economic Policy

Economic Policy and the National Debt

Ironically, when governments overspend they typically find ways to refund or restructure debt -- when individuals or corporations within those countries do the same, the consequences are quite different. Money means more than one thing -- usually an object that is traded for payment of goods or services, of exchange. However, when we talk about the government, there is a huge different in the way the money supply works within the economy. In modern capitalism, commodity money (gold and silver) was replaced by representative wealth in that currency is no longer tied to the stores of precious metals. Instead, monetary policy under the Federal Reserve states that the goal of fiscal policy is to "promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates" (U.S. Mint, 2011).

As individuals, we typically live within a budget based on our expenses and income. It consists of food, clothing, transportation, housing, etc. Excess goes into savings or investments, in theory. Large governments do not operate this way, or with this level of responsibility for the detail of budgets within a small amount of time. Instead, they often use a concept called deficit spending.…… [Read More]

Economics - Macroeconomics Economics Various

S. The societal system practiced in France serves as a model towards which the U.S. aspire.

President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan is considered by many as being a socialist experiment that will significantly hurt the economy (CBS, 2009). In opposition, the President has stated that he does not intend to implement a healthcare system that depends on the government. Instead, he would prefer a system in which the government competes with private insurance companies for selling coverage.

The Invisible Hand Principle

The invisible hand principle was developed as an opposition to the protectionist system. This principle is actually a metaphor describing the self-regulating characteristic of the market. In other words, such a system can be implemented due to a combination of factors, like self-interest, competition, supply and demand. Adam Smith, who developed this theory, considered that the action of these forces and their effects are able to allocate resources within the society.

However, this concept was strongly criticized in relation with the economic and financial crisis that is currently affecting the U.S. And the rest of the world. Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz considers the invisible hand theory as being a myth. As mentioned above, the invisible hand theory…… [Read More]

Economic Influences

Economic Influences

John Keynes is one of the most influential economists largely due to his theory of Keynesian economics, which dealt with his modern macro-economic policies (Skorburg, 2009). His work is linked to the Great Depression, partly because he advocated public and governmental spending to base national economies on. His most celebrated piece of literature is General Theory.

Adam Smith is the quintessential Age of Enlightenment economist who published Wealth of Nations in 1776, which posited the viewpoint that free enterprise and laissez faire policies would benefit the free market system.

People wouldn't ordinarily link Karl Marx to a free market system since he advocated the exact opposite of that, a form of communism that results in socialism, but his Communist Manifesto -- which presaged the Russian Revolution -- inspired many free market communists to oppose his ideas.

Friedrich Von Hayek's theories, which are included in Road to Serfdom, his most noted work, are some of the reactionary thoughts opposing Marx and championing both democracy and a free market enterprise in the wake of World War II.

Ludwig Von Mises was a member of the Austrian School of Economics with Von Hayek and was influential in counteracting socialist thought by…… [Read More]

Economics Country's Economy Is Driven

These decisions necessarily entail that some potentially productive opportunities are sacrificed in order to make what is estimated as the most productive choice.

Supply and demand refer to specific products and services, the ability to provide these, and the level at which they are desired by the target market. Buyers desire a product or services, and therefore demand a certain quantity of these at a certain price. The relationship between the price and quantity of desirability is the demand relationship. Supply is the actual quantity of the product or service that the market can provide. The concept of supply relationship is the correlation between supply and the price received by the supplier, who is willing to supply a certain amount of products at the price received.

The dynamic in the relationship between demand and supply has a direct influence on the efficient allocation of resources within an economy, as well as the values according to which such allocations take place. The laws of supply and demand are projections of what will occur when all other factors remain equal. This also demonstrates the particular dynamic between the two concepts.

In terms of the law of demand, there is an indirect relationship…… [Read More]

Economics Course Economics Impacts on Many Areas

Economics Course

Economics impacts on many areas of life subsequently it will impact on many areas of professional life. Reflecting on the lessons learned, including the knowledge and skills gained, the real value is in the way that economics concepts can be applied to the real world; not only to explain event that are seen in the macro-environment, but to guide the way personal decisions will be made with that knowledge.

The first indicator of the lessons and concepts taught in the class being absorbed and developing into transferable knowledge has emerged with an increased understanding of the way that the economy operates and the influences which are present in the economy that are driving up prices.

There are many examples of the economic concepts; one example is the way that supply and demand has impacted on oil prices which has had a knock on effect in the economy as a whole and given rise to inflationary pressure. Oil is a major input into many different sectors, either directly as a component, such as gasoline or plastics; otherwise it is needed as an input such as a cost component that impacts on the price of transporting goods. The demand, especially…… [Read More]