1. UNIT 2: The Choice is Yours!
Basic economic concepts, choices, rational decision making, investment in education/training, etc

2. Unit 2 standards
SSEF1 The student will explain why limited productive resources and unlimited wants result in scarcity, opportunity costs, and tradeoffs for individuals, businesses, and governments.
a. Define scarcity as a basic condition that exists when unlimited wants exceed limited productive resources.
b. Define and give examples of productive resources (e.g., land (natural), labor (human), capital (capital goods), entrepreneurship).
c. List a variety of strategies for allocating scarce resources.
d. Define opportunity cost as the next best alternative given up when individuals, businesses, and governments confront scarcity by making choices.
SSEF2 The student will give examples of how rational decision-making entails comparing the marginal benefits and the marginal costs of an action.
a. Illustrate, by means of a production possibilities curve, the tradeoffs between two options.
b. Explain that rational decisions occur when the marginal benefits of an action equal or exceed the marginal costs.

3. Unit 2 standards (continued)
SSEF6 The student will explain how productivity, economic growth, and future standards of living are influenced by investment in factories, machinery, new technology, and the health, education, and training of people.
a. Define productivity as the relationship of inputs to outputs.
b. Give illustrations of investment in equipment and technology and explain their relationship to economic growth.
c. Give examples of how investment in education can lead to a higher standard of living.
SSEPF1 The student will apply rational decision making to personal spending and saving choices.
a. Explain that people respond to positive and negative incentives in predictable ways.
b. Use a rational decision making model to select one option over another.
c. Create a savings or financial investment plan for a future goal.

4. Factors of Production (Productive Resources)4

5. GPS
SSEF1 The student will explain why limited productive resources and unlimited wants result in scarcity, opportunity costs, and tradeoffs for individuals, businesses, and governments.
Define and give examples of productive resources (e.g., land (natural), labor (human), capital (capital goods), entrepreneurship). 5

6. Factors of Production
What went into making this? 6

7. What went into this? Rubber (from Malaysia) machines metal
Someone who put all of this together.
wood
graphite 7

8. 4 Categories of Productive Resources (Factors of Production)
LAND LABOR
CAPITAL ENTREPRENUERSHIP
Natural, renewable resources
wood, rubber, graphite, land, animals
Human resources, people
MENTAL and PHYSICAL
A produced good used in the production of another good
Machines, computers, buildings, etc
The person or group responsible for putting the other 3 together to produce something 8

9. Opportunity Costs

10. Opportunity Costs
OPPORTUNITY COSTS: the value of the NEXT BEST alternative given up when a choice is made
NEXT BEST is key, the cost is not everything you give up
Opportunity cost is not always money

11. Opportunity Costs Examples
Mr. Cannon really wants BOTH goods:
$3,500
$1,000

12. Opportunity Costs Examples
He decides to spend his money on:
$3,500
What was the price he paid?
What was his opportunity cost?

13. Opportunity Costs DVD set of a TV Show($60) New outfit ($85)
You have $100 to spend at the mall, rank the following in the order (1, 2, 3) you would purchase them.
DVD set of a TV Show($60)
New outfit ($85)
New pair of shoes ($65)

14. Production Possibilities Curve (PPC)

15. GPS
SSEF2 The student will give examples of how rational decision making entails comparing the marginal benefits and the marginal costs of an action.
Illustrate by means of a production possibilities curve the trade offs between two options.

16. PPC a graph that shows the trade-off between two production options
A visual representation of OPPORTUNITY COSTS
2 Assumptions:
The company/country is ONLY producing the two goods on the graph
The company/country desires to use ALL of their resources

17. PPC – an example 500 300 Suppose a country makes Pencils and Pens.
If they devoted ALL of their resources to pencils, they could make 500 a day
500
300
…..to pens, they could make 300 a day

18. PPC – an example
The country/business can produce anywhere on the line when they use ALL of their resources
500
Pencils
Pens
300

19. PPC – an example
If the country is producing ONLY pencils, and they want pens, they have to give up pencils.
500
450
Pencils
The more pens they want…..
200
Pens
125
200
300

20. PPC – an example Y
At point X, the country or business is producing below its possibilities and is INEFFICIENT
500
Pencils X
At point Y, the country or business is producing beyond its possibilities and is NON-SUSTAINABLE.
200
Pens 75
300

21. Journal #5: Graph this country’s PPC
After graphing, answer these questions:
Assume the country is currently producing 180 of good A and 25 of Good B. If the country wants to make 75 of Good B, how many of good A must they give up?
If the country was producing 150 of Good A and 30 of Good B, what could you conclude about the country’s economy?
GOOD A
GOOD B
200
180 25
150 50
100 75
110

22. Productivity and Investment

23. GPS
Define productivity as the relationship of inputs to outputs.

24. Productivity
We measure productivity as the relationship of inputs to outputs
For a business it’s the cost of all their resources compared to their revenue
For a country it’s the cost of all of their resources as compared to their GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

25. Improving Productivity
Increased Capital
More factories, tools, machines, etc
Improve technology
Faster machines, multi-tasking devices, machines with larger capacity
Train/educate workers
Specialization, new techniques, ability to USE technology
Improve entrepreneurship
Better organization of resources, motivational tools, leadership, worker morale 25

26. Headlines HEADLINE 1: WHIRLPOOL FACTORY INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY
What are some steps the Whirlpool Factory could have taken to increase productivity?
How could this increase in productivity benefit the workers?
HEADLINE 2: U.S. PRODUCTIVITY RISES RAPIDLY FOR 6TH CONSECUTIVE QUARTER
How can rising productivity benefit workers? Producers? The nation?
Could there be some disadvantages of increasing productivity, at least to some people?
HEADLINE 3: PRODUCTIVITY LAGS FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 93
Why is lagging productivity a problem for the nation, businesses, and individual workers and consumers?

27. Economic Growth

28. GPS
Give illustrations of investment in equipment and technology and explain their relationship to economic growth.
Give examples of how investment in education can lead to a higher standard of living.

29. Economic Growth
For countries, we look at economic growth in terms of GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) and GDP PER CAPITA
GDP = dollar amount of all goods and services produced in an economy
GDP Per Capita = GDP divided by the population
What makes an economy grow?

30. Factors Affecting Economic Growth
High Investment in physical and human capital
Greater economic freedom
lower taxes, fewer regulations, protecting property rights
Strong Incentives to Save
Competitive Markets
Political Stability
Free Trade

31. Historic examples Cotton Gin in America
Before Cotton Gin: 1 man = 1 pound of clean cotton
After Cotton Gin: 1 man = 50 pounds of clean cotton

32. Historic examples Assembly Line
Before AL: .08 car frame in an hour (1913)
After AL: .67 car frame in an hour (1914)

33. Wheat Harvesting (Bushels in 1 hour)
Historic Examples
Wheat Harvesting (Bushels in 1 hour)

34. Literacy Rates Country Literacy Rate Bahamas 95.6% Australia 99%
Bolivia
86% US
Sudan
61%
GDP per capita
$25,000
$36,300
$4,000
$48,500
$2,200

35. Rank these countries Country C: Nigeria Country A: Argentina
Population: 126,635,626
PerCapita GDP: $950
Literacy Rate: 57.1%
Country A: Argentina
Population: 37,384,816
PerCapita GDP: $12,900
Literacy Rate: 96.2%
Country D: Russia
Population: 145,470,196
PerCapita GDP: $7,700
Literacy Rate: 98%
Country B: Japan
Population: 126,771,662
PerCapita GDP: $24,900
Literacy Rate: 99%
Country E: Singapore
Population: 4,300,419
PerCapita GDP: $26,500
Literacy Rate: 93.5%

37. Economic Growth Not 1 magical thing, combination of several factors
Capital Goods
Consumer Goods
Not 1 magical thing, combination of several factors
Increasing overall productivity is key

38. Factors Affecting Economic Growth
High Investment in physical and human capital
Greater economic freedom
lower taxes, fewer regulations, protecting property rights
Strong Incentives to Save
Competitive Markets
Political Stability
Free Trade

39. Different PPC graphs can show how different variables affect an economy.

40. Different PPC graphs can show how different variables affect an economy (continued).
A natural disaster such as a hurricane has the effect of Case 1 on a local economy. Here, both capital (buildings and equipment) and labor are lost due to the calamity. Since the region’s production inputs are reduced, so too is its PPC, moving from A1 to A2. The region may recover over time, but the immediate effect of the disaster is to move the entire PPC inward.
Conversely, consider a local area with a booming economy; people are moving there in droves (providing labor), and businesses are investing in the area to take advantage of the increased number of consumers and potential employees. This would lead to a condition illustrated in Case 2, where the entire PPC shifts outward.

41. Different PPC graphs can show how different variables affect an economy (continued).
Now imagine a small town has just received a large economic development grant from the federal government. The amount of capital available to this economy has greatly increased while its labor pool remains unchanged, so a movement like that shown in Case 3 occurs. The new PPC, C2, shows how the investment will create an enhanced ability to produce capital goods. Lastly, increases in labor inputs (such as a higher number of college graduates) will lead to Case 4. Here, the boost to the labor force allows the PPC to shift from D1 to D2.

42. RATIONAL DECISION MAKING

43. Rational Decision Making
Analyzing costs and benefits before making a decision
MARGINAL thinking is key
What is the cost/benefit of my NEXT decision
Past decisions don’t matter
this affects PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS
A rational decision is made when the marginal benefit is equal to or greater than the marginal cost

44. Costs and Benefits For producers, this is simply measured in dollars
Marginal costs of the inputs vs. marginal revenue
For consumers, it is trickier
We measure benefits in terms of UTILITY
How “useful” is the item or service
We use “utils” as the measure for this

45. Another Example You purchased a ticket to see
10 minutes into the movie, you realize it is going to be horrible.
DO YOU STAY OR LEAVE?
Write down your answer and reason WHY.

46. RDM Example (cont’d) COST BENEFIT STAY
Lost opportunity to do next best thing
See end of movie
Can discuss movie with others
LEAVE
Can’t discuss with others
Won’t see ending
Can do next best thing which may bring more satisfaction

47. Another example
A person opens a business making sandwiches. He’s purchased a store and all of the food products, now he wants to hire some people. He decides to hire two people to start with and pay them $50 a day. His costs/benefits sheet for a month looks like this:

48. Rent/Food/Entrepreneurship = $750
1 Month
Rent/Food/Entrepreneurship = $750
Worker #
Cost
Production
Price/Sand 1
$750
250 sandwiches 5 2
Total Costs: =2250
Total Output: 500 x 5 = 2500

49. Should he hire worker #3? Why?
1 Month
Rent, Food, Entrepreneurship - $750
Worker #
Cost
Production
Price/Sand 1
$750
250 5 2 3
200 4
100
Should he hire worker #3? Why?
What about #4? Why?

50. What will be on the test? Factors of production Scarcity
Define them
Pick them from an example
Productivity/Growth
What causes it
How do we measure it
Rational Decision Making/Marginal Analysis
What is marginal
When do stop/start doing something
Scarcity
definition
examples
Opportunity cost
Production Possibilities Curve
What do they show?
interpret points (below, above, moving from one point to another)
DRAW ONE!!!!

51. Scarcity 51

52. Georgia Performance Standard
SSEF1 The student will explain why limited productive resources and unlimited wants result in scarcity, opportunity costs, and tradeoffs for individuals, businesses, and governments.
Define scarcity as a basic condition that exists when unlimited wants exceed limited productive resources.
Define opportunity cost as the next best alternative given up when individuals, businesses, and governments confront scarcity by making choices. 52

53. Scarcity
SCARCITY: a condition that exists when UNLIMITED needs/wants exceed the LIMITED available resources
The central problem in economics, all things revolve around scarcity
Must be a want/need for the item and a limited amount
There are DEGREES of scarcity
If there is a lot of something that no one wants, it is less scarce than something MANY people want 53

54. MORE SCARCE - Small quantity, many uses, high demand
LESS SCARCE Large quantity, few uses, low demand 54

55. Scarcity Situations
Old books that, for 2 years, have sat on a shelf that reads “Free! Take One.”
Oil in Saudi Arabia
One book, 5 students needing to study the book for a quiz
Diamonds
Oil in England
A $10 bill to a millionaire
An MVP basketball player
A copy of Mr. Cannon’s tests
VHS Tapes to a 10 year old
Knowledge of Economics 55

56. MORE SCARCE - Small quantity, many uses, high demand
LESS SCARCE Large quantity, few uses, low demand
Old books that, for 2 years, have sat on a shelf that reads “Free! Take One.”
Oil in Saudi Arabia
One book, 5 students needing to study the book for a quiz
Diamonds
Oil in England
A $10 bill to a millionaire
An MVP basketball player
A copy of Mr. Makaya’s tests
VHS Tapes to a 10 year old
Knowledge of Economics 56

57. Sample Questions for Unit 2
1 Opportunity cost is BEST described as the
A most expensive resource used in production
B sum of all production costs
C value of the next best alternative forgone when a choice is made
D monetary value of all alternatives forgone when a choice is made

58. Answer to 1 1. Answer: C Standard: Scarcity and opportunity cost
Opportunity cost is the value of the next best economic choice you did NOT make. Choice D is the sum of all possible opportunity costs, but opportunity costs are not added up. Only the best alternative forgone, choice C, counts as the opportunity cost.

59. 2 Use this graph to answer the question.

60. What BEST explains the shift of the production possibilities curve from B1 to B2?
A improvements in agricultural technology
B inflationary increases in process
C higher costs of producing corn
D higher costs of producing wheat

61. Answer to 2 2. Answer: A Standard: Investment and economic growth
An outward expansion of a production possibilities frontier means greater productivity. One way greater productivity can be achieved is by improving technology.

62. Question 3
3 Alex and Dylan mow and trim lawns. Currently, each man mows and trims a lawn by himself, but the process takes a long time. They would MOST likely improve their efficiency if
A Alex and Dylan mow a lawn and then trim it together
B Alex mows a lawn while Dylan trims the same lawn
C Alex trims Dylan’s lawn while Dylan trims Alex’s lawn
D Alex and Dylan reduce the number of lawns they mow and trim

63. Answer 3 3. Answer: B Standard: Benefits of specialization
One of the best ways to improve efficiency is to specialize, which means each person in a production process concentrates on a specific task. Choice A would still require each man to mow and trim, while choice C simply changes the lawn each man is trimming. Choice D, on the other hand, reduces the total number of lawns they mow but does not improve the efficiency with which they complete their task. Only choice B would be a specialization of labor. In this case, Dylan now does one task in the production process (trims) while Alex does another task (mows). According to economic theory, this specialization will make each man better at his respective task and reduce the time it takes to change from one task to another, thereby increasing their overall efficiency.