One of the fundamental ideas in economics is that a dollar tomorrow is worth less than a dollar today. This seems similar to the saying that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. A simple example would make this point clear. Suppose a person is offered a choice to make between a gift of 100$ today or 100$ next year. Naturally he will choose the 100$ today. This is true for two reasons. First, the future is uncertain and there may be uncertainty in getting 100$ if the present opportunity is not availed of. Secondly, even if he is sure to receive the gift in future, today’s 100$ can be invested so as to earn interest, say, at 8 percent so that. one year after the 100$ of today will become 108$ whereas if he does not accept 100$ today, he will get 100$ only in the Continue reading
Economics Principles
Why Competition may Sometimes be Helpful?
Market structures refer to a total number of businesses in the market, their share and extent of competition in those businesses. Competition is a crucial aspect which cannot be overlooked in business. This is because human needs are many but resources for satisfying them are limited. As a result, firms have to compete to ensure they provide required services at certain cost. The major objective to operate a successful business is to earn a profit. In this process, resources are deployed to generate profits and thus businesses have to allocate resources strategically to ensure maximum benefits are achieved. In some business models, competition is steep while in others, they serve as a monopoly. Monopoly markets exist where there is no competition from the outside. The business operates solely in the market and thus they can control the flow of goods and services. To prevent customer exploitation, the government has to Continue reading
Concept of Economies and Diseconomies of Scale in Managerial Economics
In the process of production a firm enjoys several advantages or experience several disadvantages which are either the result of the scale of operation or due to the location of the firm. The advantages and disadvantages thus experienced are reflected in the cost of production. The average cost of production is favorably affected when a firm starts enjoying economies, whereas the average cost begins to rise when the firms experience diseconomies. Those advantages or disadvantages that accrue to a firm from within, as a result of its scale of operation are summarily referred to as Internal economies and diseconomies, whereas those advantages or disadvantages which come to the firm from outside and are experienced by the industry as a whole mainly due to localization are referred to as External economies and diseconomies respectively. Internal Economies Internal Economies are those advantages which a firm enjoys from within itself by way of Continue reading
Principles of Supply-Side Economics
Supply side economics, also known as Reaganomics, is a form of economic theory that emphasizes the importance of incentives for individuals and businesses in order to increase economic growth. This theory is based on the idea that the supply of goods and services determines the overall health of an economy. In this article, we will explore the main principles of supply side economics, its history, and its impact on the economy. The main principles of supply side economics can be summed up as follows: Tax cuts: The theory asserts that tax cuts, especially for businesses and the wealthy, will lead to increased investment and growth. The idea is that lower taxes will encourage individuals and businesses to work harder and invest more in the economy. Deregulation: Deregulation is another key principle of supply side economics. The theory argues that too much government regulation can stifle economic growth. Deregulation allows businesses Continue reading
Profit Maximization vs Shareholders Wealth Maximization
Profit is obtained by subtracting total cost (TC) from total revenue (TR). Under the assumption of the neo-classical theory, a firm will aim to produce a level of output where the difference between the total revenue and total cost is the greatest. The maximization of TR-TC is the equilibrium condition for a profit-maximizing firm. This is because once the firm is getting the most profit from a particular level of output and sales, it will not be incentivised to alter the level of output that is giving it the most yields in total investment performance. A firm which strictly follows the primary assumption of the neoclassical theory of the firm will make its decisions on inputs and outputs based on the marginal effects of the components in the profit equation. Thereby leading economists to arrive at the conclusion that the condition for profit maximization to be achieved is when marginal Continue reading
Analysis of Joseph Schumpeter’s ‘Theories of Economic Development’
At the turn of the century, a period of strengthening the role of monopolies, increasing property differentiation of the population and the deepening of cyclical crises appeared the concept of an Austrian economist and sociologist Joseph Schumpeter. Joseph Schumpeter was an economist and sociologist, he came into the history of economic science as a profound scholar of theoretical problems of entrepreneurship and evolution of socio-economic systems, as the historian of economic theory. His broad vision of the evolution of socio-economic processes still has influence on modern economic thought. He presented his understanding of the subject of economics and tried to combine economic theory, economic sociology and the history of economic analysis. He tried to create a coherent system of believes that explains new phenomena and processes. According to his theoretical views, J. Schumpeter does not belong to any known economic schools. He was involved in many issues, focusing on the Continue reading