Category: Microeconomics
Microeconomic topics for bachelor and master in economics and management administration studies. Microeconomics is a branch of economics that focuses on the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions regarding allocating scarce resources. It concerns how these economic agents interact in markets to determine prices and quantities of goods and services. Microeconomics differs from macroeconomics, which looks at the economy as a whole and focuses on inflation, unemployment, and economic growth.
One of the critical concepts in microeconomics is the idea of supply and demand. The law of supply and demand states that as the price of a good or service increases, the quantity supplied also increases while the quantity demanded decreases. This relationship between supply and demand determines the market equilibrium price, at which the demanded amount equals the quantity supplied.
Another important concept in microeconomics is the theory of the firm. This theory looks at how firms make production and pricing decisions to maximize profits. Firms must consider production costs, such as labor and materials, and the demand for their product when setting prices. They must also decide how much to produce to maximize profits.
Microeconomics also looks at the behavior of consumers. It examines how consumers choose what to buy based on their preferences and budget constraints. Consumers must decide how much of each good or service to purchase based on its price and their income.
In conclusion, microeconomics is a fundamental branch of economics that studies the behavior of individuals and firms in the market. It provides insights into how prices and quantities of goods and services are determined, how firms make decisions about production and pricing, and how consumers choose what to buy. Understanding microeconomics is essential for anyone interested in understanding the workings of the market economy.
Corona-Crash and the global economy
The Corona Crash in March 2020 significantly impacted the global economy, with many businesses forced to shut down and millions of people losing their jobs. Looking back, the stock market experienced a sharp decline, and many industries, including travel, hospitality, and entertainment, were hit hard. The pandemic caused a decrease
Competitive and Complete Markets
Let us discuss the nature of competitive and complete markets in economics. A competitive market is characterized by multiple buyers and sellers who have no control over market prices. Conversely, a complete market involves trade in all possible goods with no future price uncertainty. While both types feature many market participants, they differ substantially regarding certainty about future prices. Markets play a crucial societal role, contributing to efficient resource allocation and allowing freedom of choice. However, market failures like externalities and information asymmetry drive the need for appropriate regulation.
Preferences and Utility Theory
Preferences and utility theory are critical concepts in microeconomics, explaining household decision-making behavior. Preferences refer to how households make choices necessary to satisfy their needs when comparing bundles of goods. Utility theory uses mathematical concepts to express these preferences and elucidate household satisfaction levels. Rational preferences must meet completeness, transitiveness, continuity, convexity, and monotonousness. Various preferences exist, including substitutes, complements, perfect and imperfect substitutes, and perfect compliments. Preference and utility theory ultimately help derive the formal opportunity costs of alternatives in household theory.
Elasticity in Economics
Elasticity in economics represents the sensitivity of economic parameters like demand, supply, and prices, among others, to changes in affecting factors. It includes price elasticity of demand, which assesses demand changes if prices increase, and income and cross-price elasticity in household theory. Additionally, direct and indirect price elasticity of demand are derived mathematically. Also, firm and market theories apply elasticity to assess the price sensitivity of input demand, production, firm supply, and market representation.