ECO 211 Chapter 2: Chapter 2

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Scientific method--the ongoing process that economists & other scientists use to 1) develop models of the world & 2) test those models with data. Model/theory--a simplified description or representation of the world. Even models based on assumptions known to be false can be helpful (i. e. , a map) Data--facts, measurements, or statistics that describe the world. All scientific models make predictions that can be checked with data. Empirical evidence--a set of facts established by observation & measurement. Hypotheses--predictions (typically generated by a model) that can be tested with data. Economic models begin with assumptions, which are then used to derive other implications. Two properties of models: a model is an approximation & a model makes predictions that can be tested with data. The model usually overlooks lots of special considerations. Mean/average--the sum of all the different values divided by the number of values.

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Economists use economic models to guide their thinking in regards explaining and predicting that which is otherwise unknown. These models are generalizations that rest on assumptions we use in creating a simplified setting, where only that which is most-pertinent is allowed to come into play directly, and at the same time, that which is not pertinent is rendered excluded by being held constant. Simply put, if you change your founding assumptions, you change the model for you have changed the simplified setting. If you change a variable that is included directly into the model, you can then assume the variable changes marginally then trace out the effects of this marginal change on the variable being explained. Similarly, If you allow a change of a variable that has been excluded, you are relaxing an assumption so you can reason out what the effects of such a change could be.

What is important to understand here, is the description I have just relayed to you describes how economists use models. It is but one example of how models are used more-generally in ALL the other sciences and social sciences. And to go a step further, it is but a description or formalization of how we in an all-inclusive sense use assumptions when we are reasoning about that which we reason about. Our assumptions are our foundations for our thoughts about all that we consider in our efforts towards understanding the world in which we live and the people, both individually and collectively inclusive of their institutions, with whom we come into contact.

Using this knowledge, describe what you think are the dangers to our thinking and actions based on our thinking of our using simplifying assumptions that are wholly untrue or are too strong, too constricting, are way too over-generalizing. Choose whatever context you wish and provide an example. Then describe why having at the very least a small measure of skepticism may be considered healthy for one's own sake and the sake of others.

1. Scarcity in economics means: we do not have sufficient resources to produce all the goods and services we want. the wants of people are limited. there must be poor people in rich countries. shortages exist in nearly all markets. You like to read Vogue and Sports Illustrated. You have only $5 to spend, so you only buy Sports Illustrated. The statement that best represents this economic concept is: resources are scarce. the real cost of something is what you must give up to get it. positive economics explains how the economy actually works. economic models are used to answer âwhat ifâ questions. . If the state government allocates additional spending on education, the opportunity cost is: zero. the dollar amount of the additional spending. considered only if additional taxes need to be raised to fund the spending. measured in terms of the best alternative use for that money. For a student that owns his or her own home and doesn't plan to live in the dorm the cost of going to college is: tuition and the cost of housing. tuition, the cost of housing, and the cost of books. tuition, the cost of books, and forgone income. forgone income only. Keynesian economics stressed: the importance of total spending. the self-correcting power of free markets. the long run. that the Depression should run its course to bring down the high cost of living. The economic policy that uses changes in government spending and taxes to affect the overall spending in the economy is known as: a tax-and-spend policy. monetary policy. fiscal policy. free-trade policy. When building a model, economists: simplify reality in order to highlight what really matters. attempt to duplicate reality in all of its complexity. ignore the facts and instead try to determine what the facts should be. are careful to avoid the scientific method. Which is a normative statement? The minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation. The minimum wage is an important tool in fighting poverty and should be increased. The minimum wage can create higher unemployment for teens and unskilled workers. A higher minimum wage is expected to increase the price of a fast-food cheeseburger. Which is an example of a positive statement? The poverty rate should be 4%. A high rate of economic growth is a more important economic goal than a low rate of unemployment. The federal government pays for 46% of U.S. health care costs. Everyone in the country should be covered by national health insurance. Economists may disagree about policies because they: may approach the issue using the same sets of values. may use different economic models. enjoy disagreeing with each other. only consider issues in positive economics.

ECO 211 Chapter 2: Chapter 2

ECO 211 Full Course Notes

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