Importance of Economics

Whether it is high or low, the unemployment rate has proven its ability to have a strong negative impact on individual firms and organizations. As of December 2014, America’s

1. Describe two examples of important things that financial planning skills can help you do, and explain why these things are important to you personally. (4-6 sentences. 2.0 points)

Despite the city’s positive response to the coffee shop’s renovation, other businesses in the area have not followed suit in renovating the many decrepit buildings and abandoned lots. How might the presence of an externality be in part the cause of this?

1. (10 pts.) Stella Ann Freeman is having a difficult time deciding whether or not to purchase a new car. How would understanding the concept of opportunity costs help her make a decision?

In the twelve key elements of economics, the second element states, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” The author described how spending money on one particular thing means that we are sacrificing the chance to spend money on something else or if we do one specific thing, we give up the chance to do something else. In chapter nine, Schiff used an allegory to illustrate this same idea. The allegory he used was when the senator, Franky Deep, realized the people enjoyed getting things for free, but they did not like to pay taxes. After a monsoon, he took this as an opportunity to develop a government reconstruction program. This program made it look like the people on the island were getting the reconstruction for free, but really, the citizens were still paying for the work. Therefore, even though the people thought the reconstruction was free, it truly was not. One recent even that relates to this idea was in an article called, “Everything the Government ‘Gives’ Someone Must Be Taken from Taxpayer Dollars.” This article states that there is no such thing as the government giving something away free for the price of nothing. While the government has over eighty welfare programs to provide individuals free housing, cash, food, and medical care, these programs are not free. Instead, they are funded for by taxpayers.

If I chose to get a job after high school I would have more money than if I went to

The economic climate surrounding a company can determine many things and can have financial implications as well as affecting the levels productivity. Economic growth can lead to a lack of employees available to fill positions because the labor market is saturated with jobs. A company will look to offer higher wages, more benefits and incentive programs to entice potential candidates and will invest in current employees with training and development to help retain the staff and promote succession planning throughout the company. A downturn in economic growth can have the opposite effect. Companies have a tendency to cut the workforce to maintain profit margins, thus applying extra pressure to the remaining employees, causing extra work loads, poor morale and a high

Watson enjoys playing golf at the country club. An 18-hole round generally takes him out of his office for about 4 hours of relaxation and exercise. He works hard during most of the week but likes to play on Wednesday afternoon to avoid the 3 patient visits per hour (at $30 per visit) he otherwise would have received. Since he is already a member of the club, he makes only a small out-of-pocket expenditure of $10 to the club each time he plays. [NB. all parts of this question combined count the same as one of the other questions.]

3 Answer A A tax can be used to ensure that those who generate harmful effects pay for them rather than third parties. 4 Answer B Public goods cannot be left to market forces as they are non-rival and non-excludable. A and C refer to merit goods and D to demerit goods. 5 Answer B More training, if in appropriate areas, should enable workers to move more easily from declining to expanding industries. A would help to reduce geographical immobility. C and D would be likely to increase demand and employment. 6 Answer B The socially optimum output is where MSB equals MSC, at point W. To achieve this output costs need to rise to incorporate external cost. The marginal external cost at W is represented by the gap between MSC and MPC.

The last major overhaul of the U.S tax code took place over twenty-eight years ago as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. President Ronald Regan’s Treasury Department proposed a tax-neutral reform with the definitive duty of simplifying the overall code. However, the absence of any reform since then greatly reflects the United States current condition, in that “The United States provides a good example of an uncompetitive tax code” (Pomerleau & Lundeen, 2014). The following will examine the main components of the tax code that make a nations taxing system competitive. It will then identify two parts of the code, that when combined create a disadvantageous environment for any American business who competes internationally.

The United States economy experienced a recession starting in December 2007 and ending in June 2009 as reported by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The employment market was directly impacted as evidenced by the growth in unemployment rate. Employers reduced staffing to cut costs and protect profit margins. In doing so, employers combined approximately 2-3 worker’s positions into one, shifting the required skills and values into one all-encompassing position.

Problem Set 9 (75 points) 1. A student argues, "If a monopolist finds a way of producing a good at lower cost, he will not lower his price. Because he is a monopolist, he will keep the price and the quantity the same and just increase his profit." Do you agree? Use a graph to illustrate your answer. The argument is incorrect. As the graph shows, a reduction in marginal cost will cause a monopolist to reduce his price.

This assignment has a maximum total of 100 marks and is worth 10% of your total grade for this course. You should complete it after completing your course work for Units 1 through 5. Answer each question clearly and concisely.

Many people think that economics is about money. Well, to some extent this is true. Economics has a lot to do with money: with how much money people are paid; how much they spend: what it costs to buy various items; how much money firms earn; how much money there is in total in the economy. But despite the large number of areas in which our lives are concerned with money, economics is more than just the study of money.

Some of the most compelling topics that I learned in this topic only came into focus at the end of the course. Economics is a very large and complex study and reflecting on this subject, piece by piece, requires some patience and ability to put the pieces together. The relationships between simple choices, such as supply and demand, drives all economic and commercial exchange but only through the lens of economic models that attempt to layout this system by combing mathematical principles and psycho-social evaluation. All in all, this was very interesting introduction to some of the complex drivers that propel society.