ECN 3101 : MIKROEKONOMI

ECN 3101 : MIKROEKONOMI Dr Normaz Wana Ismail Bilik A217 Jabatan Ekonomi Fakulti Ekonomi & Pengurusan UPM, 43400 Serdang Email:-nwi@econ.upm.edu.my Tel:-03-89467708 Chapter 1

Virtual class • FEP’s website http://www.econ.upm.edu.my/2007/wmv/ • click ‘Kelas maya’ • Find ‘Ekonomi’ • Click at ECN3101 (kump 3) Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Preliminaries

Introduction • What are the key themes of microeconomics? • What is a Market? • What is the difference between real and nominal prices • Why study microeconomics? Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Microeconomics deals with limits • Limited budgets • Limited time • Limited ability to produce • How do we make the most of limits? • How do we allocate scarce resources? Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Workers, firms and consumers must make trade-offs • Do I work or go on vacation? • Do I purchase a new car or save my money? • Do we hire more workers or buy new machinery? • How are these trade-offs best made? Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Consumers • Limited incomes • Consumer theory – describes how consumers maximize their well-being, using their preferences, to make decisions about trade-offs. • How do consumers make decisions about consumption and savings? Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Workers • Individuals decide when and if to enter the work-force • Trade-offs of working now or obtaining more education/training • What choices do individuals make in terms of jobs or work places? • How many hours do individuals choose to work? • Trade-off of labor and leisure Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Firms • What types of products do firms produce? • Constraints on production capacity & financial resources create needs for trade-offs. • Theory of the Firm – describes how these trade-offs are best made Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Prices • Trade-offs are often based on prices faced by consumers and producers • Workers made decisions based on prices for labor – wages • Firms make decisions based on wages and prices for inputs and on prices for the goods they produce-firm decide to hire more workers or purchase more machines Chapter 1

Themes of Microeconomics • Prices • How are prices determined? • Centrally planned economies -governments control prices • Market economies – prices determined by interaction of market participants • Markets – collection of buyers and sellers whose interaction determines the prices of goods. Chapter 1

Theories and Models • Economics is concerned with explanation of observed phenomena • Theories are used to explain observed phenomena in terms of a set of basic rules and assumptions. • The Theory of the Firm – firms max profits ( the theory that explains how firm chooses the amounts of L,K,E that they use for production and the amount of output they produce) • The Theory of Consumer Behavior Chapter 1

Theories and Models • Theories are used to make predictions • Economic models are created from theories • Models are mathematical representations used to make quantitative predictions Chapter 1

Theories and Models • Validating a Theory • The validity of a theory is determined by the quality of its prediction, given the assumptions. • Theories must be tested and refined • Theories are invariably imperfect – but gives much insight into observed phenomena Chapter 1

Positive & Normative Analysis • Positive Analysis – statements that describe the relationship of cause and effect • Questions that deal with explanation and prediction • What will be the impact of an import quota on foreign cars? • What will be the impact of an increase in the gasoline excise tax? Chapter 1

Positive & Normative Analysis • Normative Analysis – analysis examining questions of what ought to be • Often supplemented by value judgments • Should the government impose a larger gasoline tax? • Should the government decrease the tariffs on imported cars? Chapter 1

What is a Market? • Markets • Collection of buyers and sellers, through their actual or potential interaction, determine the prices of products • Buyers: consumers purchase goods, companies purchase labor and inputs • Sellers: consumers sell labor, resource owners sell inputs, firms sell goods Chapter 1

What is a Market? • Market Definition • Determination of the buyers, sellers, and range of products that should be included in a particular market- det. The price of a product or set of products • e.g. personal computer – who are the buyers?? • Arbitrage • The practice of buying a product at a low price in one location and selling it for more in another location • Significant difference in the price in one location and selling at a higher price somewhere else Chapter 1

What is a Market? • Defining the Market • Many of the most interesting questions in economics concern the functioning of markets • Why are there a lot of firms in some markets and not in others? • Are consumers better off with many firms? • Should the government intervene in markets? Chapter 1

Types of Markets • Perfectly competitive markets • Because of the large number of buyers and sellers, no individual buyer or seller can influence the price. • Example: Most agricultural markets • Fierce competition among firms can create a competitive market • Note: small group of producers still considered as competitive mkt • Eg.US Airline industry-contain several dozen firms, but most the routes are served by only a few firms Chapter 1

Types of Markets • Noncompetitive Markets • Markets where individual producers can influence the price. • Cartel – groups of producers who act collectively • Example: OPEC dominates with world oil market Chapter 1

Market Price • Transactions between buyers and sellers are exchanges of goods for a certain price • Market price – price prevailing in a competitive market. • Some markets have one price: price of gold • Some markets have more than one price: price of Tide versus Wisk Chapter 1

Market Definition • Market Definition • Which buyers and sellers should be included in a given market • This depends on the extent of the market – boundaries, geographical and by range of products, to be included in it • Market for housing in New York or Indianapolis • Market for all cameras or digital cameras Chapter 1

Market Definition • Importance of market definition • In order to set price, make budgeting decisions, etc., companies must know • Their competitors • Product-characteristic and geographic boundaries of the market • Important for public policy decisions • Should government allow a merger between companies in same market? Chapter 1

Real Versus Nominal Prices • Comparing prices across time required measuring prices relative to some overall price level • Nominal price is the absolute or current dollar price of a good or service when it is sold. • Real price is the price relative to an aggregate measure of prices or constant dollar price. Chapter 1

Real Versus Nominal Prices • Consumer Price Index (CPI) often used as a measure of aggregate prices. • Records the prices of a large market basket of goods purchased by a “typical” consumer over time • Percent changes in CPI measure the rate of inflation Chapter 1

Real Versus Nominal Prices • Calculating Real Prices Chapter 1

Real Price of College Chapter 1

Real Price of Wages • Observations • The minimum wage has been increasing in nominal terms since 1940. • From 1930 at $0.25 to 2003 at $5.15 • The 1999 real minimum wage was no higher in 1999 than 1950. Chapter 1

Why Study Microeconomics? • Microeconomic concepts are used by everyone to assist them in making choices as consumers and producers. • Examples show the numerous levels of microeconomic questions necessary in many decisions Chapter 1

ECN 3101 : MIKROEKONOMI