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Global Economics for Managers MBA 505. Stephen E. Margolis. Economics. It’s not about the money. Economics Defined. The study of: Responses of humans to unlimited wants and limited resources . Scarcity Elaborations: Exchange (James Buchanan) Optimization and coordination.
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Global Economics for ManagersMBA 505 Stephen E. Margolis MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Economics It’s not about the money MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Economics Defined The study of: • Responses of humans to unlimited wants and limited resources. • Scarcity Elaborations: • Exchange (James Buchanan) • Optimization and coordination MBA 505 Economics for Managers
So, what are we? • Greedy materialists? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
So, what are we? • Greedy materialists? Or • Noble visionaries? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Our concern is with anything that people value. Yes, it’s all the stuff we buy: food, shelter, clothing, entertainment, education, medical care, automobiles, travel, jewelry, art, gadgets and so on. It is also everything else we value. Security, health, clean air and water, leisure, privacy, …children… MBA 505 Economics for Managers
But isn’t scarcity temporary? No We will live in scarcity – in the economists sense of it, so long as we can imagine things we would like to have….more food, better food, better health, safer cars, cleaner air, faster travel, more free time. So again, is it greed? Imagination? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Adam Smith on self interest: He advocates generosity in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, but in The Wealth of Nations famously offers this: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest” MBA 505 Economics for Managers
What Makes Economics Different? • Scarcity: The inevitability of choice. Cost is the value of what is given up— Opportunity Cost • Rationality: People pursue their own interests as they know it. • Competition • Individualism: As a methodology As an ethical foundation MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Today’s Lecture • Definition (done) • Course operation • Approach to economics • Law of demand • Supply and demand • Prices • Costs • Comparative Advantage MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Course Operation • Syllabus • Groups • Evaluation • Moodle • Paper MBA 505 Economics for Managers
About this course Economics for business Primarily microeconomics, but with some coverage of macroeconomics and the principles of trade Introductory—intermediate level Economics of business decisions Applied as opposed to theoretical It can be a first course in economics. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
P (Don’t copy this down) Pm MC Q MR D MBA 505 Economics for Managers
P 5675 (This either) Pm MC Q 456550 12389 MR D MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Objectives Understand how markets work Understand the economic logic in business decisions. In other contexts this is expressed as organization and optimization, respectively. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Normative and Positive Economics • Positive • Normative • Prescriptive MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Normative and Positive Economics • Positive: What is • Normative: What’s good • Prescriptive: What to do (See Normative) MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Managers Are Teachers Stephen E. Margolis
Mathematics MBA 505 Economics for Managers Algebra 1? y = mx + b p = a - bq
This will become familiar P = a - bQ a Q/t a/b P MBA 505 Economics for Managers
This will become familiar P = a - bQ a -b is the slope, a is the vertical intercept Q/t a/b P MBA 505 Economics for Managers
More math I will use some calculus. It will always be optional. Some things are easier and more persuasive that way. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Back to Economics Demand, Supply, and Equilibrium A very quick overview.
The fundamental structure of economics Incentives matter.We pick the low hanging fruit first. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
The fundamental structure of economics Incentives matter. We pick the low hanging fruit first. Law of demand The law of diminishing marginal product Supply behavior MBA 505 Economics for Managers
The Law of Demand If the price of some good goes up, all other things equal, the quantity of the good that is consumed will fall. Incentives Matter What would the alternative be? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Suppose Green Peppers Regular Price: $.99 per pound Today Only: $1.49 MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Demand as a Diagram Price 0 Q/t A flow MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Demand as a Diagram(My coffee consumption) Price * * * 1 2 3 3.00 2.00 1.00 0 Q/t A flow MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Demand as a DiagramHillsborough St. Shops Price * * * 1,000 2,500 5000 3.00 2.00 1.00 0 Q/t A flow MBA 505 Economics for Managers
It’s not (just) about the money • Extensions to the law of demand • Seatbelts • Meetings • Emily’s Band-Aids • Insulin • Shaving MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Supply P S Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
S and D P S Po D Qo Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Price Adjustment P Po D Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
More price Adjustment P Po D Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
S and D S’ P S P’ Po D Qo Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
S and D P S S’ Po P1 D Q1 Qo Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
S and D P S Po D1 D Q/t Q1 Qo MBA 505 Economics for Managers
S and D (one more time) P S Po P1 D D’ Q0 Q1 Q/t MBA 505 Economics for Managers
About Prices MBA 505 Economics for Managers
About Prices • Chapter 2 material. • What matters is relative price. • How many restaurant meals per month do I give up to make payments on an Cayman S. • How many loaves of bread do I give up to get a bottle of wine? • How many hours of leisure do I give up to get a 60” HDTV MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Suppose every price doubles You wage is a price, that doubles too. So do all your stocks. And your bonds too. (Although that one is more of a fantasy) What Happens? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
2008 2013 Movie 6.00 9.00 Ticket 1 lb. Coffee 10.00 12.00 MBA 505 Economics for Managers
What Is Pure Inflation? A balanced increase in the prices of all goods, services and non money- denominated assets. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Does that ever happen? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Does that ever happen? Well actually, No. MBA 505 Economics for Managers
What about the overall price level? Suppose some prices went up 20% and some prices went up 50%, and you wanted to know what happened to the price level? MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Laspeyres Index X 100 The cost of the old bundle at the new prices The cost of the old bundle at the old prices MBA 505 Economics for Managers
A price index MBA 505 Economics for Managers
Even Steven Vegetarians, just make believe for a minute. Suppose the price of beef goes up dramatically, but no other price changes. Suppose further that the cost of the bundle that you consume goes up exactly 5%. And finally, suppose you get a raise of exactly 5%, just to keep things even. Are things even? MBA 505 Economics for Managers