Marginal analysis and decision-making:

Concept: The Fundamental Assumption of Economics

All social phenomena emerge from the actions and interactions of individuals who are choosing in response to expected marginal benefits and expected marginal costs to themselves.

Definition: Marginal is additional or incremental (amount of increase) or decremental (amount of decrease).

Should I do (choose) activity x?

MC(x) = the additional costs of doing x

MB(x) = the additional benefits of doing x

Rule:

If Expected MB(x) > Expected MC(x), do x; otherwise don't.

Application:

Would an employer ever hire anyone if the expected additional cost of his or her employment were greater than the expected marginal/additional benefit? Of course not, to do so would be irrational.

Assumptions:

In economics, we assume rationality. No one would intentionally harm themselves.

Do businesses have the ability to measure costs? Marginal costs?

How would you use this concept to determine when to get married?

Three economic questions must be determined in all societies. What are they? ()a) What is the opportunity cost of production? Does the society have a comparative advantage in production? Will consumers desire the goods being produced? O b) What goods will be produced? How will goods be produced? For whom will goods be produced? ( c) What will the price of each good be? Who will produce each good? Who will consume each good? d) How much will be produced? When will it be produced? How much will it cost? How do microeconomics and macroeconomics differ? ()a) Microeconomics studies aggregate decision making, while macroeconomics examines individual decision making- (b) Microeconomics utilizes positive economic analysis, while macroeconomics utilizes normative economic analysis. c) Microeconomics is concerned with consumer behaviour, while macroeconomics is concerned with firm behaviour. ()d) Microeconomics studies individual decision making, while macroeconomics examines aggregate decision making.Label each entry in the list as dealing with a microeconomic topic or a macroeconomic topic. Macroeconomic | Motor vehicle production in China is growing by 10 percent a year. Microeconomic Coffee prices rocket. Macroeconomic Globalization has reduced African poverty. Macroeconomic The government must cut its budget deficit. Microeconomic Apple sells 20 million iPhone 6 a month. Click to select your answer(s). Save for LaterA five-year corporate bond and its benchmark government bond had the following yields over a one-month period: Beginning of Month End of Month Corporate bond yield 6.75% 7.00% Government bond yield 4.25% 4.75% Over this month, the price of the corporate bond most likely experienced: A) unfavorable macroeconomic and microeconomic factors, B) favorable macroeconomic factors and unfavorable microeconomic factors. C) unfavorable macroeconomic factors and favorable microeconomic factors