12 Things You Should Know About Economics
By Raphael Zeder | Last updated Jun 26, 2020 (Published Feb 24, 2017)
Economics affects all parts of our daily lives. So, if you want to be an informed citizen you have to know at least some of the most basic economic concepts. This will help you understand how the world works and enable you to take well-informed decisions.
Now, because we know that not everyone has the opportunity or desire to become an econ major, we have created an infographic that illustrates 12 things you should know about economics. It’s kind of like a cheat sheet for Econ 101. Have a look.
1) Microeconomics vs Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics is the study of the economy as a whole. It focuses on aggregate numbers and data for entire countries. Thus, it provides a broad perspective. Microeconomics on the other hand is the study of small economic units. It scrutinizes individuals and their decision making from a close perspective. Even though the two branches cover different areas of economics for the most part, they are highly interrelated.
2) Opportunity Costs
People constantly face trade-offs. They have to make choices due to scarce resources. As a result, they can’t get everything they want, so they have to pick certain things over others. Opportunity costs describe the value of the next best alternatives that are given up during this process in order to get something else.
3) Supply and Demand
The price of a good or service is determined by its supply and demand. In most cases an increase in demand results in an increase in price, given that all other factors remain unchanged. Meanwhile an increase in supply, all else equal, results in a decrease in price. In the long run, the market reaches an equilibrium price where supply equals demand.
4) Comparative Advantage
If an economic actor has the ability to produce a good or service at lower opportunity costs than another actor, they are said to have a comparative advantage. In the presence of comparative advantage, all actors can benefit from cooperation and trade if they specialize in producing and exporting the goods and services they can produce more efficiently than others.
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