Applied Economics Module 1
Applied Economics Module 1
General Instructions: Answer all the activities on this module. Use separate sheets of paper
for your answers.
Activity I
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
A. WANTS OR NEEDS. Assume that you are buying or paying something. Identify the following
items if it is considered as WANTS or as NEEDS and explain your answer.
1. Coke 6. Spotify Premium Account
2. Water 7. Clothes
3. Cellphone load for playing Mobile Legends 8. Netflix Account
4. One sack of rice 9. Electricity Bill
5. Shampoo with Keratin 10. Bluetooth Speaker
B. RESOURCES. Identify which resource (Land, Labor, and Capital) is referred to in each item.
1. Construction Workers 4. Nurses
2. Farmers 5. Production Supplies
3. Quarry Sites
Introduction to Economics
A simple buy and sell in a store or in the market is a demand and supply transaction.
People buy in order to satisfy their wants but sometimes it is not enough to satisfy them due to a
lack of money or scarce resources. Others do not buy anymore due to insufficient purchasing
power (or buying power). This will result in deprivation of the needs that have not been met.
Sadly to say people would rather beg for a share or “paying” to those who can afford it. Some
can afford to buy their wants or needs constantly but they are not satisfied at all.
Economics came from the Greek word ‘oikonomia’ which means management of household
expenditures. This means that economics refers to the operation of household transactions.
Starting from a simple unit of society the Family the income generated by the parents up to the
budget they stretch to meet every need for the members of the family is already economics in
action. If we put it to the upper bracket of the society which is the GOVERNMENT, economics is
about the management or operation of the entire productions and consumptions of the people to
be able to meet everyone’s need, the need to study intelligently the process of how to allocate
the limited natural resources, human resources, capital goods to satisfy the unlimited wants of
the people. “Therefore, Economics is the study of efficient and effective allocation of scarce
resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs of the people”.
Economics examines how people use their scarce resources to satisfy their unlimited
wants. For example, a jeepney driver uses the jeep and other scarce resources, such as
knowledge of the city, driving skills, gasoline, and time to generate income. Their income turns
to buy housing, rentals, groceries clothing, electronic gadgets, and other goods and services
that may satisfy some of the driver’s unlimited wants. Scarcity is a condition facing all societies
because there are not enough productive resources to satisfy people’s unlimited wants.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
Economic, resources are also known as factors of production, are the resources used to
produced goods and services. These resources are, by nature, limited and therefore, command
payment that becomes the income of the resource owner. In short these are resources that are
used for the production of economic goods.
3. Capital – Anything manmade materials or resources that may use in the production to
produce more goods and service in layman’s term materials that is used in operating a
business. Another definition anything that is manmade like machineries and equipment that are
used in the production of another product would be rather be under capital. Due to man’s
innovation and encompassing vision of the future man has created tools and equipment’s that
allowed him to produce his everyday need.
Opportunity cost refers to the value of the best foregone alternative. When the land is devoted
exclusively to the cultivation or rice, we give up an output of bananas or mangoes that we could
have planted on that land area. A producer, who decides to transform all his leather into shoes,
gives up the chance to produce bags with that leather. The concept of opportunity cost holds
true for individuals, businesses, and even a society.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
1. Traditional Economy – it is characterized by a system where the production of goods
trading and distribution of income are sanctioned by custom. It is referring to the traditional
manner of doing things, makes decisions on what, how and for whom to produce. The methods
of production are carried over by the system used by our forefathers. Technological change and
innovation are closely constrained because they may clash with tradition and threaten the social
order. Religious and cultural values are over and above economic activity to attain status in the
society one must belong to the highest position in the religion or tribe.
2. Command Economy – The government owns the means of production. The
government dictates what, and for whom to produce. This type of economy is also called
communistic economic structure. All the capital resource and consumer goods are being divided
on its citizenry. No private or individual production and consumption are allowed because the
government dictates the prices.
Some of essential characteristic of Command Economy
No economic freedom – you cannot choose to get rich everything has fair share. You
could not just put up your business because the government will take care of it. No one
is allowed to just lie down all day; everybody has to work in order to eat.
No free competition – the government is the sole source of central planning because it
dictates how much to produce and how much price the commodities cost, when to
produce.
No profit motive – Because communist prides themselves for having equal share, the
government does not impose too much profit because it gives to its people what had
been generated as revenue. Business firms are not motivated to sell anymore because
the government intervene the price of their goods.
No religion
3. Market Economy - The resources are privately owned and the people themselves
make decision. This is also known as capitalism or free enterprise economy and it follows the
laissez faire policy, French term which means “let alone policy” or “leave it alone.” The
economic problems are being decided by the person who actively participates in the inner
looking network of market and prices. There are many independent buyers and sellers of each
product and resources. Therefore, competition arises giving height to consumer’s sovereignty.
The price of good is the basis for the producer’s knowledge. This is exact reverse of
communism.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
b) The agents learn and invent; and
c) The agents take advantage of economies of scale.
Division and specialization of labor only work when individuals can purchase what they
do not produce in markets.
Applied economics then helps you understand the basic problems facing the world
today. It helps you become a well-rounded thinker and most importantly it prepares you to be a
good citizen.
Activity II
A. GRAPHING EXERCISE. Draw a pie chart similar to the chart shown below that
demonstrates how you spend your monthly allowance. To construct your pie chart, draw a circle
and divide it into slices. Each slice represents the spending categories of your money by
percentages. Label each slice with a spending category and explain your answer.
Food – 40%
Load – 5%
Clothes – 5%
Utilities – 10%
Transportation – 30%
Others – 10%
B. Talk to a person who prepares the household budget for the family, it could be your mother
or your father then make a list of all the basic expenses for one month. After that, budget in
percentage for each of these expenses.
Activity III
A. WRITING AN ESSAY. Think critically in answering the following questions.
Rubrics:
Content 10 points
Organization/Clarity 5 points
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Relevance 5 points
______________
20 points
1. How can you tell whether the food you eat from your refrigerator is scarce?
2. Identify a good or services provided by the government that has no apparent cost to you.
Why is this good or service not free?
3. Why economics deeply rooted in the concept of scarcity?
B. REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET. Read the paragraph below. On separate sheet of paper,
answer the question below. (20 points)
Every society must make choices about which essential should be allocated with the
available but limited resources for production. In most cases, where there is scarcity in the
production of necessities, or where there are no enough funds to accomplish everything for the
satisfaction of everyone, the society has to make better choices.
Today, we have to adjust to the new normal way of living. There is scarcity in the production of
goods and services for everyone’s needs and wants. Everything in this world has limitations.
Rich and poor, all individuals…”ceteres paribus….” “all else are equal”…..
Regardless of your economic status, which is more important to you, health or unlimited
supply for your wants?
Rubrics:
Content 10 points
Organization/Clarity 5 points
Relevance 5 points
______________
20 points
Activity IV
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read and analyze each question. Write the letter that corresponds
your answer.
1. It is a condition where there are lack of resources to satisfy all the needs and wants of a
population.
A. Scarcity B. Absolute C. Relative D. Economics
2. It occurs not because the good is scarce and is difficult to obtain but because of the
circumstances that surround the availability of the goods.
A. Scarcity B. Absolute C. Relative D. Economics
3. These are resources used to produce goods and services.
A. Land B. Labor C. Capital D. Economics Resources
4. These are resources that are not manmade.
A. Land B. Labor C. Capital D. Economics Resources
5. It is a physical and human effort exerted in production.
A. Land B. Labor C. Capital D. Economics Resources
6. The material that is used in operating a business.
A. Land B. Labor C. Capital D. Economics Resources
7. It refers to the value of the best foregone alternative.
A. Opportunity Cost C. Cost Alternative
B. Cost Cutting D. Cost Value
8. It is the management of household expenditures.
A. Scarcity B. Absolute C. Relative D. Economics
9. It is when the supply is limited.
A. Scarcity B. Absolute C. Relative D. Economics
10. These are the resources that may be used in the production to produce more goods and
service.
A. Land B. Labor C. Capital D. Economics Resources
11. This kind of good is a material or tangible things consumed that gives satisfaction.
A. Producer Goods B. Goods C. Consumer Goods D. Economic Goods
12. These are things which are useful but abundant.
A. Producer Goods B. Goods C. Consumer Goods D. Economic Goods
13. These are things which are not really needed they give prestige and adds status symbol,
one can live even without those things, it is also known as wants.
A. Basic Goods B. Luxury Goods C. Goods D. Economic Goods
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
14. These are things which are really needed. One cannot live without them. For example are
food, clothing, water, shelter, money, health care, sanitation.
A. Basic Goods C. Goods
B. Luxury Goods D. Economic Goods
15. It is the application of economic theory and econometrics in specific settings with the goal of
analyzing potential outcomes.
A. Applied Economics C. Command Economy
B. Market Economy D. Traditional Economy
16. This type of economy is also called communistic economic structure.
A. Applied Economics C. Command Economy
B. Market Economy D. Traditional Economy
17. It refers to the study of small unit of the societies like family, house hold, persons,
consumption, spending, production and investment
A. Economics C. Microeconomics
B. Macroeconomics D. Applied Economics
18. It is also the study of the whole economy of the country base on its measurement of its
production, income, and spending commonly called gross national product or GNP.
A. Economics C. Microeconomics
B. Macroeconomics D. Applied Economics
19. These are things which are useful but abundant for example air, water, ocean land.
A. Producer Goods B. Goods C. Free Goods D. Economic Goods
20. It pertains to the study of large unit of the society or the economic as a whole.
A. Economics C. Microeconomics
B. Macroeconomics D. Applied Economics
1. What are the problems you face when you make economic choices?
Rubrics:
Content 10 points
Organization/Clarity 5 points
Relevance 5 points
______________
20 points
Activity V
A. Look for an article from the latest news report, magazine or article from the internet that is
related to any economic issues. Tell if it the issue is related to scarcity then explain how.
B. Give five (5) examples of countries that have Traditional Economic system. Cite proofs that
they exercise the traditional economic system. After that, make a short analysis about the
activity. Do this on separate sheet.
Activity VI. Study the illustration below. What idea(s) or thought(s) come in your mind when you
encounter the words demand and supply?
Needs are things that we must have for us to live like food, clothing or shelter. These are
all basic needs that the absence of any one among the three would cause sickness that would
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
lead to death. Our body needs food for health and likewise, we need shelter and clothes to
secure us from harm and danger especially during bad weather. Houses are built for people as
place for resting while clothes are made for people to protect themselves against harmful
dangerous species, insect bites, protection from too much heat and cold.
Wants are the things that will give us the state of ease and contentment. Sometimes, we
really do not need a thing but we ought to have it because it gives us satisfactions.
Food is a basic ne ed likewise some of the food which people consume is not really for
health reason(s) or survival like junk food, candies and soft drinks. People demand for these
products because they give them satisfaction, regardless of the many harmful ingredients that
they give to the body. Juan Dela Cruz does not need expensive clothes yet he wants to have
fashionable dress that he thinks will give him “pogi” points and will give him more satisfaction.
There is really a need for shelter, on the other hand, furniture and appliances make the house a
better place for living.
There are times that wants would make us suffer more. These are products lack scrutiny
against their harmful effects. They are presented to the market for profit motives. To name a few
are cosmetics, bath soaps, shampoo, lotion, and other over the counter medicines etc.
For example: you want to have a smooth and flawless face so you use astringent that
you believe will give you radiant beautiful face but what happens is an opposite to your
expectation. A fearful face resulted, not a white complexion but a pale looking skin. Some
medicines are good for the relief of headache but gives palpitation of the heart. Needs could be
met but wants could not. Wants are the result of human’s unsatisfied nature always asking for
more, seeking for greater satisfaction that might result for his/her own suffering.
Price ceiling - the maximum price to be imposed by the sellers to its commodity; and Price
floor - the minimum price to be imposed by the sellers.
Demand – refers to the willingness of the people to buy or purchase the goods regardless
whether it is a need or wants over a period of time at a giver price.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
As the price of the commodity increases the quantity demand decreases or if the price f
the commodity decreases, the quantity demand increases. People are encourage to buy more if
the price is low and they are not willing to pay when the price is high .the movement of points
along the same demand curve is brought about by changes in price of the commodity only, a
change in price will cause a change in quantity demand. To understand the graph let us have
Table 1 for more explanation of figure
TABLE 1
DEMAND SCHEDUE FOR MEAT FOR A DAY
Points Price Qty. Demanded
A 100 0
B 90 10
C 70 30
D 60 40
E 50 50
F 40 60
G 30 70
H 20 80
I 10 90
J 5 100
Table 1 shows the relation between the price and quantity demanded of a commodity of
an individual consumer. Price and quantity demanded is inversely proportional, as the price
decreases the quantity demanded increases and vice versa.
Aside from prices, the demand is also influenced by different factors stated earlier. It is
not only the movement of points along demand curve that takes place there is also movement of
the demand curve that takes place there is also movement of the demand curve from right to left
or left to right and this is what we call shift of demand curve. Shift od demand for example Shift
from Do to D1 to D2, D2 to D3 is a change in demand because of changes in the conditions of
demand due to change in income taste, population or other factors that influence demand. A
new quantity is demanded to old price. Remember shift to right indicates increase in demand
and shift to the left indicates decrease in demand.
LAW OF DEMAND
As the price increases, the consumers are not willing to buy more decreasing quantity
demanded or as the price decreases the consumer are more willing to buy, increasingly the
quantity demanded
Supply – Refers to the willingness of the people to sell or produce the goods regardless
whether it is a need or a want over a period of time at a given price.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
7. Subsidies – These are help extended by the government to motivate the business firm to do
business like promotion and advertisement for favored business.
8. Weather and calamities – Suppliers are affected by what weather and natural calamities will
bring to the country in a year especially agricultural crops. For example COVID 19 Pandemic
abruptly increases the supply for surgical mask, n95 mask, alcohol, vitamins, and other
disinfectant. There is drought a decline in the supply of agricultural products.
For graphical illustrations of the supply curve see figure 3 the supply curve is sloping
upward, from right to left. An increase in the supply leads to shift of the supply curve to the right
while a decrease in the supply leads to a shift of the supply curve to the left.
As the price of the commodities increases, the quantity supplied increases or if the price
of the commodity increases, the sellers are motivated to sell, the products. Producers are
encouraged to sell more if the price is high. The movement of points along the same supply
curve is brought about by changes in price of the commodity only a change in price will cause a
change in quantity supply.
TABLE 2
SUPPLY SCHEDUE OF MEAT FOR A DAY
Points Price Qty. Demanded
A 100 100
B 90 95
C 70 80
D 60 70
E 50 50
F 40 30
G 30 20
H 20 15
I 10 5
J 5 0
Table 2 shows the relation between the price and quantity supply of a commodity
per individual consumer. Price and quantity supply are directly proportional, as the price
increases the quantity demanded increases and vice versa. Aside from prices, the supply is also
influenced by different factors stated earlier. It is not only movement of points along supply
curve that takes place, there is also movement of the supply curve from right to left or left to
right and this is what we call shift of supply curve. For example Shift from S0 to S1, from S1 to
S2, from S2 to S3 is a change in supply because of changes in the conditions of supply due to
change in price of goods, availability or resources, weather or other factors that influence
supply. Remember, shift to the right indicates increase in supply and shift to the left indicates
decrease in supply.
Law of Supply
As the price increases, the producers are willing to sell more, increasing quantity supply
or as the price decreases the producers are not willing to sell more, decreasing the quantity
supply.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Market Equilibrium
If the forces of demand and supply operate together, we can show how price is
determined in a market economy.
Equilibrium is a state of balance when demand is equal to supply. The equality means that the
quantity that sellers are willing to sell is also the quantity that buyers are willing to buy for a
price. As market experience, equilibrium is an implicit agreement between how much buyers
and sellers are willing to transact. The price at which demand and supply are equal is the
equilibrium price.
Price acts as a signal for shortages and surpluses which help firms and consumers respond to
changing market conditions.
Neither the producers nor consumers can impact prices; consumers can buy whatever they
want; nor can producers make and sell whatever they want.
Prices are decided by interactions between the producers and the consumers
If a good is in shortage – price will tend to rise.
Rising prices discourage demand, and encourage firms to try and increase supply.
If a good is in surplus – price will tend to fall.
Falling price encourage people to buy, and cause firms to try and cut back on supply.
Prices help to redistribute resources from goods with little demand to goods and services
The market price is the point that the supply and demand curves intersect.
We explore more how equilibrium happens. Let us analyze the chart below.
The chart shows a surplus – the quantity is greater than demand. When quantity is greater than
demand it causes prices to go down.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Elasticity of Demand and Supply
We have learned how demand and supply respond to changes in their determinant
goods; however, differ in terms of how demand and supply respond to changes in theses
determinants. The degree of their response to a change is referred to as elasticity. Elasticity is
measure of how much buyers and sellers response to changes in market condition (supply and
demand).
The mathematical value is negative. A negative value indicates an inverse relationship between
price and the quantity demanded. But the negative sign is ignored
Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) = % change in quantity demanded % Change in price
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Competitive_markets/Price_elasticity_of_demand.htm
a) Elastic Demand (PED > 1) - the percentage change in price brings about a more than
proportionate change in quantity demanded.
When the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in
price, and the coefficient of the elasticity is greater than 1. Example real estate- housing - There
are many different housing choices. People may live in a townhouses, condos, apartments, or
resorts. The options make easy for people to not pay more than they demand.
b) Inelastic Demand (coefficient of the elasticity is less than 1) – is when an increase in price
causes a smaller % fall in demand. When the percentage change in quantity demanded is less
than the percentage change in price, and the coefficient of the elasticity is less than 1. Example
Gasoline – gasoline has few alternatives; people with cars consider it as a necessity and they
need to buy gasoline. There are weak substitutes, such as train riding, walking and buses. If the
price of gasoline goes up, demand is very inelastic. Other Examples: Diamonds, aircon, Iphone,
Cigarettes
c) Unitary Elastic Demand - When the percentage change in demand is equal to the
percentage change in price, the product is said to have Unitary Elastic demand.
Unitary elastic - PED or the price elasticity of demand is 1.
d) Perfectly Elastic - a small percentage change in price brings about a change in quantity
demanded from zero to infinity.
Perfectly elastic - the coefficient of elasticity is equal to infinity (∞).
e) Perfectly Inelastic - the PED is =0 any change in price will not have any effect on the
demand of the product.
Perfectly inelastic - the percentage change in demand will be equal to zero (0).
POINT ELASTICITY
a) The midpoint elasticity is less than 1. (Ed < 1). Price reduction leads to reduction in the
total revenue of the firm.
b) The demand curve is linear (straight line), it has a unitary elasticity at the midpoint.
The total revenue is the maximum at this point.
c) Any point above the midpoint has elasticity greater than 1, (Ed > 1).
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
3. Economies experience an increased in unemployment and a reduced of activity during
recession. How does recession affect the market demand for new cars?
a. Demand for new cars shifts to the right.
b. Demand for new cars shifts to the left.
c. Demand for new cars has no shift.
d. Demand for new cars either has or no shift.
4. The market supply curve for gasoline shows the ___
a. effect on market demand of a change in the supply of gasoline.
b. quantity of gasoline that firms offer for sale at different prices.
c. quantity of gasoline that consumers are willing to buy at different prices.
d. all of the above are correct
5. If Toyota firm is producing a car faster than people want to buy, there is ____
a. an excess supply of car and price can be expected to decrease.
b. an excess supply of car and price can be expected to increase.
c. an excess demand of car and price can be expected to decrease.
d. an excess demand and price can be expected to increase.
C. TRUE OR FALSE. Read each statement carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct
and FALSE otherwise.
1. Elasticity of demand refers to the change in demand when there is a change in another factor
such as price or income.
2. If demand for a good or service is static even when the price changes, demand is said to be
inelastic.
3. Examples of elastic goods include gasoline, while inelastic goods are items like canned
goods and vitamin c tablets.
4. The law of demand states that “elasticity shows how much a good or service is demanded
relative to its movement in price.”
5. Inelastic demand is when a demanded quantity for masks changes by a greater percentage
compared to its percentage change in price.
Activity VIII SOLVING PROBLEM AND CRITICAL THINKING ANALYSIS. Analyze the
problem carefully.
A.“In December, the price of hamon rises and the number of hamon sold also rises. Is this a
violation of the law of demand? Justify your answer”.
ACTIVITY IX
A. Indicate the effect of each situation in the demand curve. Write INCREASE if the demand
curve shift to the right and write DECREASE if the demand curve shift to the left.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
SITUATION What is the effect to?
_________1. There is a spread of CORONA VIRUS Disposable Mask
_________2. There is a typhoon Umbrella
_________3. The price of cellphone decreases Cellphone loads
_________4.Increas in saving interest rates Banks
_________5. Inflation Employment
B. Indicate the effect of each situation in the supply curve. Write INCREASE if the supply curve
shifts to the right and write DECREASE if the supply curve shift to the left.
_________1. Storm RICE
_________2. Increase Animal Feeds (cost) MEAT PRODUCTS
_________3. New technology in meat productions MEAT PRODUCTS
_________4. Sudden Spread of Corona virus DISINFECTANT
_________5. Shortage of leather material SHOES/ BAGS
C. ANALYSIS
PRICE QTY. DEMAND QTY. SUPPLY
10 500 100
12 400 200
18 300 300
20 200 400
22 100 500
1. A shortage exists at price ____________________________.
2. A surplus exists at price _____________________________.
3. The equilibrium quantity is ___________________________.
4. The equilibrium price is ______________________________.
5. Graph the above table _______________________________.
D. IDENTIFICATION. Read carefully each statement and write the correct answer.
________ 1. It is a change in a determinant that will lead to a proportionately lesser change in
demand.
________2. It measures how quantity demanded changes as the price of a related good
changes.
________3. It is a state of balance when demand is equal to supply.
________4. It is a change in a determinant will lead to a proportionately greater change in
demand or supply.
________5. These goods shift to the right as income rises.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
1. What comes in your mind when you heard the word “market?”
2. Explain the importance of studying the different market structures.
MARKET STRUCTURES
After looking at the basic principle of demand and supply, and the elasticity of demand
and supply, it will also be helpful to learn about the market structures in which sellers can
operate. Each structure will be described in terms of the nature of the product being sold, the
number of buyers and sellers in the market, and the ease of entering or exiting the market.
Market structure refers to the competitive environment in which buyers and sellers operate.
Competition is rivalry among various sellers in the market. As a student, you are
familiar with the word completion. We are exposed to competition in school, spelling bees, quiz
bee and sports festivals. On the television, we watch beautiful girls from all over the world for
Miss Universe or Miss World Title. We see how the various teams of PBA compete to win the
championship. The market is a situation of diffused, impersonal competition among sellers who
compete to sell their goods and among buyers who use their purchasing power to acquire the
available goods in the market.
There are varying degrees of competition in the market depending on the following factors:
Number and size of buyers and sellers;
Similarity or type of product bought and sold;
Degree of mobility of resources;
Entry and exit of firms and input owners; and
Degree of knowledge of economic agents regarding prices, cost, demand and supply
conditions.
Market – this refers to the place where the consumers and producers buy and sell products
at an agreed price.
Market Structure- this refers to the degree of competition in the market for particular
product or service.
Two Elements of Market Structure
1. Number of buyers and sellers – this determines the degree of completion. More buyers and
sellers mean more competition.
2. Nature of the product – the extent to which the product is standardized.
A. Identical product – these are goods that are homogenous almost the same in features and
uses. This type of products command higher degree of competition.
B. Differentiated Products – these are goods that are heterogeneous. No exact product exists
in the market. It differs in features and has almost no close substitutes. Producers enjoy a
certain degree of control over price and quantity of product. Heterogeneous products are
products with attributes that are significantly different from each other, which make it difficult to
substitute one product for another.
Types of Market
1. Perfect Competition
2. Imperfect Competition
a. Monopoly c. Oligopoly
b. Monopolistic Competition
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Perfect Competition
It is a form of market in which there are a large number of buyers and sellers competing
with each other in the purchase and sale of goods, respectively and no individual buyer or seller
has any influence over the price. Thus, perfect competition is an ideal form of market structure
in which there is the greatest degree of competition.
A perfectly competitive market is one in which economic forces operate unimpeded.
1. There are a large number of independent, relatively small sellers and buyers as compared to
the market as a whole that is why none of them is capable of influencing the market price.
Further, buyers/sellers should not have any kind of association or union to arrive at an
understanding with regard to market Demand/price or sales.
a. Each buyer is so significant that he cannot have special privileges from the seller.
b. Each seller produces small volume of goods that he cannot dictate price. A price taker of
what the market dictates as per demand and supply of the commodity. The individual seller
accepts the price and decides on how many he would like to sell. The demand curve is perfectly
elastic.
2. The products sold by different sellers are homogenous and identical. There should not be any
differentiation of products by sellers by way of quality, variety, color, design, packaging or other
selling conditions of the product. That is, from the point of view of buyers, the products of
competing sellers are completely substitutable.
3. There is absolutely no restriction on entry of new firms into the industry and the existing firms
are free to leave the industry. This ensures that even in the long run the number of firms would
continue to remain large and the relative share of each firm would continue to remain
insignificant.
4. Both buyers and sellers in the market have perfect knowledge about the conditions in which
they are operating. Buyers know the prices being charged by different competing sellers and
sellers know the prices that different buyers are offering.
5. The distance between the locations of competing sellers is not significant and therefore the
price of the product is not affected by the cost of transportation of goods.
Buyers do not have to incur noticeable transport costs if they want to switch over from one seller
to another.
6. There is a perfect mobility of resources. It means perfect mobility of resources ensures that
the factors of production, i.e., the resources, can enter or exit a firm or the industry at will. No
one is in a position to control the supply of any of the resources and resources are employed
where they have the highest returns on them. So, we can say that there must be fulfilled these
following conditions for a perfect competition market:
a. Both buyers and sellers are price takers;
b. The number of firm is large;
c. There are no barriers to entry;
d. The firm’s products are identically;
e. There is complete information;
Barriers sometimes take the form of patents granted to produce a certain good.
Social forces such as bankers only lending to certain people may create barriers.
Under perfect competition, since an individual firm cannot influence the market price by
raising or lowering its output, the firm faces a horizontal demand curve, that is, the demand
curve of any single firm is perfectly elastic – its elasticity is equal to infinity at all levels of output.
1. The total Revenue (TR) is the sum of money receives after selling the product, the price
being constant. Total Revenue varies directly with output level. The more product t produces the
more revenue obtained.
TR= P* Q
2. Average Revenue – AR = TR/Q. AR is the price of product
3. Marginal Revenue – is the additional revenue added to TR by obtaining added unit of the
firm’s output.
MR= AR = Price of product
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
PERFECT COMPETITION EXAMPLE
a. Basic needs like food: rice, sugar, eggs and chicken, and meat, fish. Clothing like unbranded
t shirt, pants, socks.
b. There is no need to advertise or promote because these are all basic needs
Remember that the basic food especially the agricultural products sold in the market is
being regulated by the Philippine government by having price ceiling and price floor to secure
the welfare of the people.
Imperfect Competition
In other markets, one or more of the assumptions of perfect competition will not be met thus the
market became imperfectly competitive. We shall discuss the different types of imperfectly
competitive market, which are monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly.
Monopoly – a sole producer and has no close substitute. Since there are no rivals, it can push
through on whatever price the producer wants the public to take. He can even fix price and
determine his own price policy and leave the consumer’s decision as to how many would they
take given the price of the product. It is not easy to enter into the monopoly industry.
1. Economic in Mature - in some industries, consumers are best served by a single firm and
are not profitable for some other firms to enter the field of a monopolist. Imagine the technology
used in the production of energy. The technical know on how and the capital outlay in producing
electricity is so heavy. Small producer could not enjoy economies of scale.
1. Simple monopolies charges the same price to all customers for the same commodity
2. Discriminating Monopolies charge different prices to different customers for the same
commodity.
Monopolistic Competition
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One imperfectly competitive market is monopolistic competition wherein products are
differentiated and entry and exit are easy. As consumer, we love it when we have a wide variety
of goods to choose from. An expensive gadget that has all the latest features is preferred to an
ordinary one with very simple applications. When we shop for clothes, we look for those that are
different and not mass produced, lest we wear exactly the same shirt as other people.
Monopolistic Completion allows such variety of choices. Since many firms exist in the market,
consumers also have the freedom to choose from whom to buy good. A successful executive,
who is shopping for a car, may choose to buy from Toyota, Honda, and MercedesBenz, or
Volkswagen. If he wants a Toyota car, he has a variety of choices such as Wigo,Vios, Altis ,
Innova, and Fortuner. We can differentiate one car from the other not only by brand name but
also by the model, the style, and the additional convenience.
This market structure combines some characteristic of perfect competition and monopoly.
Its key characteristic are:
A blend of competition and monopoly.
Firms sell differentiated products, which are highly substitutable but are not perfect
substitutes.
May seller off heterogeneous or differentiated products, similar but not identical and
satisfy the same basic need.
Changes in product characteristics to increase appeal using brand, flavour,
consistency, and packaging as means to attract customers.
There is free entry and exit in the market that enables the existence of many sellers.
It is similar to a monopoly n that the firm can determine characteristics of product and
has some control over price and quantity.
The firm under monopolistic competition faces a downward sloping demand curve. This
means that it can sell more by charging less and can raise price without losing all customers. As
such, the firm in this market is given room to set different prices by their products differences. In
other words, a firm can set a higher price because it has something different to offer its buyer.
The firm tends therefore to engage in non-price competition. This refers to any action to any
action a firm takes to shift the demand curve for its output to the right without having to sacrifice
its prices. This may include better service, products guarantees, free home delivery, more
attractive packaging, better locations, and advertising. The firm can either sell more by charging
a lower price or it can even raise its price without losing all of its customers because it has the
capacity of developing loyalty among customers.
Oligopoly
It is a market dominated by a small number of strategically interacting firms. Few sellers
account for most of or total productions since barriers to free entry make it difficult for new firms
to enter its characteristics are:
Action of each firm affects other firms
Interdependence among firms
These strategically interacting firms try to raise their profits by colluding with each other
to raise prices to the detriment of consumers. Just take a look at the oil industry. Producers of
oil from all around the world can manage to raise prices by agreeing with each other on what
prices to charge the consumer. Thus, countries that sell a lot of oil have no choice but to buy
from these producers at high prices.
Oligopoly exist due to the existence of barriers, which may include economies of scale,
reputation of the sellers, and strategic and legal barriers such as the grant of patents /
franchises loyal follower of customer, huge capital investments and specialized input, and
control of supply of raw materials by a few producers .
Cooperative behavior in oligopoly usually takes the form of price fixing or output settings
agreements such as the one maintained by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Activity XI
A. Give five (5) examples of monopolistic competition industries, firms, businesses that are
established in Laguna; and five (5) oligopoly market structured industries, firms, or businesses
that are established in the City of Cabuyao.
Activity XII ENUMERATION. Give ten (10) examples of homogenous product and five (5)
examples of heterogeneous products.
Activity XIII IDENTIFICATION. Identify which market model is referred by the following
businesses and products. Choose your answer inside the box.
Perfect Competition Monopoly
Oligopoly Monopolistic Competition
1. Talcum Powder 9. DITTO
2. Tuding Porkchop 10. OTTO
3. Atoy’s 11. BNY apparel
4. Tobby’s 12. Bench
5. CABWAD(Cabuyao Water District) 13. SM hypermarket
6. Facial Wash 14. Savemore
7. Domino’s Pizza 15.Reysal
8. MERALCO
Investments
An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or
appreciation.
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Appreciation refers to an increase in the value of an asset over time. When an
individual purchases a good as an investment, the intent is not to consume the good but rather
to use it in the future to create wealth.
An investment always concerns the outlay of some asset today time, money, or effort in
hopes of a greater payoff in the future than what was originally put in. Another definition
investment is a product that people buy with the hope that they will be beneficial or will generate
income in the future.
The act of investing has the goal of generating income and increasing value over time.
An investment can refer to any mechanism used for generating future income.
This includes the purchase of bonds, stocks, or real estate property, among other examples.
Additionally, purchasing a property that can be used to produce goods can be considered an
investment. In general, any action that is taken in the hopes of raising future revenue can also
be considered an investment. We have two type of investment long term and short term
investments.
Long term investments. A long-term investment is an account on the asset side of a
company's balance sheet that represents the company's investments, including stocks, bonds,
real estate, and cash. Long-term investments are assets that a company intends to hold for
more than a year.
The long-term investment account differs largely from the short-term investment account
in that short-term investments will most likely be sold, whereas the long-term investments will
not be sold for years and, in some cases, may never be sold.
Being a long-term investor means that you are willing to accept a certain amount of risk
in pursuit of potentially higher rewards and that you can afford to be patient for a longer period
of time. It also suggests that you have enough capital available to afford to tie up a set amount
for a long period of time.
A long-term investment is an account a company plans to keep for at least a year such
as stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash. The account appears on the asset side of a company's
balance sheet. Long-term investors are generally willing to take on more risk for higher rewards.
These are different from short-term investments, which are meant to be sold within a year.
Rental
An agreement between a landlord and a tenant that gives the tenant the right to use and
occupy rental property for a period of time.
The flat lease, which is the oldest and simplest type of lease, is becoming harder to find
but is the best deal for the lessee because it is based on a set price for a set period of time. The
danger here is not to be tempted if the term is too short because a series of short-term leases
could cost more in the long run. If your rent term is short but you love your location, you could
wind up paying the landlord's high rent increases over and over again. What a Lease Covers.
A rental lease usually covers any remodeling to the physical structure that needs to be
done and specifies who will pay for it. Some of this remodeling is considered leasehold
improvements. These can include carpeting and other flooring, insulation, electrical wiring,
plumbing, bathroom installations, lighting, wall partitions, windows, ceiling tiles, painting, a
sprinkler system, security systems, some elements of interior design, and sometimes heating
and/or air conditioning systems.
Leasehold improvements in new shopping centers or malls are by far the most
extensive. Prospective operators often discover, to their dismay, that the shopping center
provides only concrete walls and flooring. Although the cost of finish work often comes out of
the retailer's pocket, a construction allowance can sometimes be negotiated with the lessor to
help offset the cost of some leasehold improvements.
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Something else to keep in mind is that the time to ask for that new coat of paint--outside or
inside--is before you sign the lease. Get it in writing, if not in the lease itself, then by a letter of
addendum that automatically becomes part of the lease. Make sure the lease specifies that the
landlord is responsible for damages such as roof leaks, faulty plumbing, or old wiring. You will
have enough to think about running your business without worrying about your building falling
apart on you.
If you need to modify the premises, do not be shy about asking the landlord to cut
appreciably or to forgo the first month's rent. You might not get it, but on the other hand, you
might be pleasantly surprised. Always point out that your business will increase the value of the
property with the improvements you will make to the facility from time to time. Some leases
include charges for common-area expenses such as maintenance of walkways, landscaping,
parking lots, and security. Though charging for these services is acceptable, some lessors try to
turn common-area charges into profit centers, adding on charges such as administration
expenses.
Be wary of leases that give landlords the right to remodel at the tenants' expense without
their prior approval.
If your location is in a shopping area, are there added costs for maintenance of common
areas? What are these costs? Are they fixed or variable? What kind and amount of insurance
does the landlord require you to have? Are you paying for coverage that should be the
landlord's responsibility? If you are in a small complex, are you being charged for more than
your share? Are there municipal or town merchant assessments for common customer parking?
A real estate lease usually covers other important matters, such as any remodeling to
be done, who pays for it, liabilities and duties assumed by each party, and permission for the
tenant to put up signs, engage in additional lines of business, or make future alterations, if
needed. Since a lease is a binding legal document, you must seek competent legal counsel
before signing one.
Remember that leases are not engraved in stone and can usually be negotiated. If you
accept the terms without discussion, you have given up the opportunity to negotiate better
terms. If you ask and the lessor's answer is no, you have lost nothing. You can always look
elsewhere and come back if you do not find a better offer.
Real estate leases are a major financial commitment. Consider not only the present
price per square foot, but also the price at the end of the leasing term. Refer to your financial
projections to see if the lease will continue being affordable in the future.
Wages
The term wage is the regular payment to an employee in return for his work or service
rendered. In economics, the price paid to labour for its contribution to the process of production
is called wages.
Labour is an important factor of production. If there is no labour to work, all other factors, be it
land or capital, will remain idle.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Tax
Taxes are the enforced proportional contribution levied by the law making body of the
state by virtue of its sovereignty upon the persons or property within its jurisdiction for the
support of the government and all public need.
As state power to the inherent power if the state exercised through its legislature to
impose or levy a proportionate burden upon persons, property, rights or transactions to raise
revenue to support and maintain government expenditure and for general and economic
welfare. As a process refers to the act of imposing a tax by a sovereign state to raise revenue
for the use and support of the government.
Taxation is the system of payments that individuals and businesses are required to pay the
government.
Classification of taxation
Activity XV
A. Give five (5) examples of long term investments and five (5) short term investments.
1. Give the classification of taxation. (Subject matter, which bears the burden)
2. Give the different types of payments.
3. Give the two types of investments and give two (2) examples on each.
Activity XVI ESSAY. Write an essay with two (2) paragraphs in answering the question below.
If you are given a chance to won the lottery, where will you invest your money and
why?
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Rubrics:
Content - 5 points
Understanding/Application - 5 points
Original Thinking - 10 points
TOTAL = 20 points
Activity XVII
A. Define the following terms in your own words in not more than four (4) to five (5) sentences.
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Assess your competitors by putting them in strategic groups. For every strategic group,
list their product, its profitability, marketing objectives and assumptions, growth pattern, current
and past strategies, strengths and weaknesses, growth pattern and size in sales.
While undertaking competitive analysis, always try to identify your competitor, products
or services they provide, their market share, their past and current strategies, type of media they
use to market their products or services, how they advertise, competitor’s strength and
weaknesses and potential threat to your competitors.
The best way to know your current and future business rivals is to target products. Once
you have identified your competitors, know their market shares by doing a market research. The
market shares allow you to perform a SWOT which will not only help you to know your
competitor’s opportunities, strength, weakness, strength and threats but also helps you to know
where you currently stand in your industry. After carrying out a SWOT, build a competition
portfolio and plan your strategies.
The External Factors: (O) Opportunities (T) Threats. These are those that affect a company, an
organization, an individual, and those outside their control.
Strengths
Strengths are internal, positive attributes of your company. These are the things that are
within your control.
What business processes are successful?
What assets do you have in your team, such as knowledge, education, network, skills,
and reputation?
What physical assets do you have, such as customers, equipment, technology, cash,
and patents?
What competitive advantages do you have over your competition?
Weaknesses
Weaknesses are negative factors that detract from your strengths. These are things that
you might need to improve on to be competitive.
Are there things that your business needs to be competitive?
What business processes need improvement?
Are there tangible assets that your company needs, such as money or equipment?
Are there gaps on your team?
Is your location ideal for your success?
Opportunities
Opportunities are external factors in your business environment that are likely to
contribute to your success.
Is your market growing? Are there trends that will encourage people to buy more of what
you are selling?
Are there upcoming events that your company may be able to take advantage of to grow
the business?
Are there upcoming changes to regulations that might impact your company positively?
If your business is up and running, do customers think highly of you?
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Threats
Threats are external factors that you have no control over. You may want to consider
putting in place contingency plans for dealing them if they occur.
Do you have potential competitors who may enter your market?
Will suppliers always be able to supply the raw materials you need at the prices you
need?
Could future developments in technology change how you do business?
Is consumer behavior changing in a way that could negatively impact your business?
Are there market trends that could become a threat?
Customers
Are persons who avail a product or service. Success in business requires good
information, steely nerves, patience and the ability to stay cool.
PRICE BUYERS
Price-buying customers care only about the lowest price possible for a given product or
service. They do not commit to any particularly supplier by making sure they are able to change
suppliers easily and at will.
Negotiating with price buyers
Some things to think about when negotiating with a price buyer:
Conduct an extensive cost analysis that includes all costs of service and support before
you develop a price.
Strip away all value-added features in pricing the deal.
Establish a rational walkaway price so you do not agree to a price that will cost your
company money.
RELATIONSHIP BUYERS
Relationship buyers expect their suppliers to invest in understanding the business their
products or services support. They have a high level of trust in and loyalty to their suppliers.
Negotiating with relationship buyers
Here are the tactics to consider when negotiating with relationship buyers:
Develop an intimate knowledge of the prospect, concentrating on specific problems,
value drivers and possible solutions.
Focus on making decisions that are in the customer’s best interest.
Continually probe for areas of dissatisfaction and the impact of current work.
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VALUE BUYERS
Value buyers favor suppliers who add value to their operations in terms of increased
efficiencies, reduced costs, increased sales and high margins.
Negotiating with value buyers
When negotiating with a value buyer:
Do not focus on price during initial discussions.
Focus completely on discovering differential value compared to competitors.
Present an extensive list of where and how you can provide value relative to other
vendors in the negotiation, and quantify that value to defend your position.
POKER PLAYERS
Poker players are value- or relationship-buyers in price buyer disguise. Their intent in
acting like a price buyer is to force the negotiation into a bluffing situation that will benefit the
buyer at the expense of the seller. Poker players try to take advantage of you using a technique
called nibbling – always asking for more – often little things.
Negotiating with poker plays
When negotiating with a poker player.
Establish valued give-gets ahead of time.
Pre-plan tactics that the poker player will use and prepare an appropriate response to
each.
Recognize that you have value, and do not roll over and start discounting, which will
validate poker-playing behavior.
Industry
An industry is a group of manufacturers or businesses that produce a particular kind of goods or
services. Industry comes from the Latin term industria, which means "diligence, hard work.”
Types of Industries
Agribusiness is the business sector encompassing farming and farming-related
commercial activities. The business involves all the steps required to send an agricultural good
to market: production, processing and distribution. It is an important component of the economy
in countries with arable land, since agricultural products can be exported.
Understanding Agribusiness
Agribusiness treats the different aspects of raising agricultural products as an integrated
system. Farmers raise animals and harvest fruits and vegetables with the help of sophisticated
harvesting techniques, including the use of GPS to direct harvesting operations. Manufacturers
develop increasingly efficient machines that can drive themselves. Processing plants determine
the best way to clean and package livestock for shipping. While each subset of the industry is
unlikely to interact directly with the consumer, each is focused on operating efficiently in order to
keep prices reasonable.
Market forces have a significant impact on the agribusiness sector. Changes in
consumer taste alter what products are grown and raised. For example, a shift in consumer
tastes away from red meat may cause demand and therefore prices for beef to fall, while
increased demand for produce may shift the mix of fruits and vegetables that farmers raise.
Businesses unable to rapidly change in accordance with domestic demand may look to export
their products abroad, but if that fails they may not be able to compete and remain in business.
Examples of Agribusiness
Some examples of agribusinesses include farm machinery producers like Deere &
Company (DE), seed and agrichemical manufacturers like Monsanto, food processing
companies like Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), as well as farmer's cooperatives, agri-
tourism companies, and makers of biofuels, animal feeds and other related products.
Manufacturing is the processing of raw materials or parts into finished goods through the use
of tools, human labor, machinery, and chemical processing. Large-scale manufacturing allows
for the mass production of goods using assembly line processes and advanced technologies as
core assets. Efficient manufacturing techniques enable manufacturers to take advantage of
economies of scale, producing more units at a lower cost.
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Manufacturing is a value-adding process allowing businesses to sell finished products at a
higher cost over the value of the raw materials used. It is often reported on by the conference
board, and well examined by economists.
Manufacturing is the process of turning raw materials or parts into finished goods
through the use of tools, human labor, machinery, and chemical processing.
Before the Industrial Revolution, most products were handmade using human labor and
basic tools.
The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century brought with it the advent of mass
production, assembly line manufacturing, and the use of mechanization to manufacture
larger quantities of goods at a lower cost.
Retail and commercial services are urban objects, designated for the purpose of housing
economic activities that fulfill the role of goods and commercial service provision. Examples
include shops, restaurants, credit unions, etc.
Retail sales capture in-store sales, as well as catalog and other out-of-store sales of both
durable (last for more than three years) and non-durable goods (those with a short life span).
These are broken down into a number of different categories including (but not limited to):
Apparel
Department stores
Food and beverage stores
Electronics and appliances
Furniture stores
Gas stations
Car dealers
As a broad economic indicator, the retail sales report is one of the timeliest as it provides data
that is only a few weeks old. Individual retail companies often provide their own sales figures at
the same time per month, and their stocks can experience volatility as investors process the
data.
Major changes in price can affect retail sales figures. These fluctuations in prices are
seen primarily in two main retail sales categories - food retailers and gas stations. Large
increases in food and energy prices can cause sales figures to drop in both categories, thus
affecting the sales of a particular month.
International Trade
International trade allows countries to expand their markets and access goods and services that
otherwise may not have been available domestically. As a result of international trade, the
market is more competitive. This ultimately results in more competitive pricing and brings a
cheaper product home to the consumer.
International trade is the exchange of goods and services between countries.
Trading globally gives consumers and countries the opportunity to be exposed to goods
and services not available in their own countries, or which would be more expensive
domestically.
The importance of international trade was recognized early on by political economists
like Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
Still, some argue that international trade actually can be bad for smaller nations, putting
them at a greater disadvantage on the world stage.
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Understanding International Trade
International trade was key to the rise of the global economy. In the global economy,
supply and demand—and therefore prices—both impact and are impacted by global events.
Political change in Asia, for example, could result in an increase in the cost of labor. This
could increase the manufacturing costs for an American sneaker company that is based in
Malaysia, which would then result in an increase in the price charged for a pair of sneakers that
an American consumer might purchase at their local mall.
Comparative Advantage
These two countries realize that they could produce more by focusing on those products
with which they have a comparative advantage. Country A begins to produce only wine, and
Country B begins to produce only cotton sweaters. Each country can now create a specialized
output of 20 units per year and trade equal proportions of both products. As such, each country
now has access to 20 units of both products.
We can see then that for both countries, the opportunity cost of producing both products
is greater than the cost of specializing. More specifically, for each country, the opportunity cost
of producing 16 units of both sweaters and wine is 20 units of both products (after trading).
Specialization reduces their opportunity cost and, therefore, maximizes their efficiency in
acquiring the goods they need. With the greater supply, the price of each product would
decrease. Thus, their choice to engage in specialization provides an advantage to the end
consumer as well.
Note that, in the example above, Country B could produce both wine and cotton more
efficiently than Country A. In other words, it takes Country B less time to produce both wine and
cotton. This is called an absolute advantage. Country B may have this advantage because of a
higher level of technology.
Socio-economic Impact
Today, putting up a business is not just all about profits. It also concerned with consumer
welfare, job creation, environmental issues, uplifting the quality of life and contributing to the
economy. Let us now look at how a business can impact the consumer, the supplier and the
investors, the government, and households.
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Since the new seller will try to attract buyers, another strategy that could be adopted is to
improve the quality of the good making it a notch higher than those already being sold in the
market. Although this may mean high prices for better quality goods, this could cater to a market
that is more after quality than low price. Initially, businesses starts the seller may make the
product available at introductory prices lower than the other substitute in the market. This
definitely be an advantage to the price conscious buyers who have limited budgets. As long as a
new business can provide new goods and services better quality of goods and more options,
the consumers can benefit from it. But if a business comes up with a low quality good and does
not provide the consumer value for his money, then this business will have a negative impact on
the market.
Consumers - are defined as individuals or businesses that consume or use goods and
services. Customers are the purchasers within the economy that buy goods and services, and
they can exist as consumers or alone as customers.
TYPES OF CONSUMERS
Loyal Customers - make up the bedrock of any business. As the name implies, loyal
customers are those who have made a commitment to your product or service. Even though
they may comprise the smallest percentage of your overall consumer base, your loyal
customers are also the most likely to generate the majority of your income. As an added bonus,
they are far more likely to recommend your company to others.
Impulse Shoppers - are those simply browsing products and services with no specific
purchasing goal in place. This consumer segment generates significant revenue for most
retailers. This type of consumer is usually receptive to upselling and has the potential to become
a loyal customer if products and services meet or exceed their expectations and desires.
Bargain Hunters - are seeking the best deal, period, and most likely would not be swayed by
up selling techniques in fact, this may cause them to move on. This type of customer has very
little potential to become a loyal customer unless it is part of your business strategy to offer the
lowest possible price points at all times. This customer also rarely, if ever, makes purchases on
impulse. Advertising sales is the best way to appeal to those in this customer group.
Wandering Consumers - are somewhat related to impulse shoppers, but they are much less
likely to make purchases. This type of customer is more prevalent in brick- and-mortar locations,
but they do stumble into online retail venues on occasion. It is sometimes possible to make a
sale to those just wandering through provided you can stimulate their interest, but keep in mind
that many of them are simply attracted to the social interaction of shopping and have no
intention of making a purchase.
Need-Based Customers - As the name implies, need-based consumers are driven by the need
for a specific product or service. Although these customers generally make purchases decisively
and quickly once they find what they are seeking, they are easily lured away by competing
businesses. However, they are frequently converted into loyal customers. They often have
practical questions or concerns that can be addressed with a proactive social media presence.
TYPES OF SUPPLIER
1. MANUFACTURERS AND VENDORS
When you work with manufacturers and vendors, you are working with the source of the
supply chain. They research, develop, and produce the product you purchase. Effectively,
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sourcing your materials from the manufacturer means you are not paying any additional
businesses for the handling and storing of the product.
Many manufacturers create the materials after they have been ordered. This can create a
longer wait time than what you will receive with wholesalers and distributors. But, if what you
need is not something readily available or mass-produced, manufacturers can create large
volume orders to the exact specifications you need. Manufacturers are ideal when efficiency
and intricacy are top priorities.
4. IMPORTERS
When you hear talks of overseas manufacturing, the suppliers who import and export
those manufactured goods are known as importers. Importers purchase their materials from one
country, and then they sell those same materials in a different country.
When you source materials through importers, high-volume orders in standard sizes are
where you will find the most benefit. The high-volume helps to offset the costs incurred through
shipping and transporting the materials. It is not uncommon to buy from a wholesaler or
distributor who sources from importers as well.
Impact on Households
New Businesses mean employment opportunities for the Filipinos. Those who have jobs
but are earning low-wages may find better paying jobs with the new companies. Unemployed
workers looking for work may have the chance of being employed by these will enable them to
buy their basic needs and even some luxuries. This means that their quality of life and their
standard of living will improve. Acquisition of wealth and assets can now follow both for the
business owners and the employees they hire. Profits earned by the owners can be invested
back into the business for expansion, or some can be withdrawn by the owners which they can
use to buy new cars or new houses. Success stories on television shows features rags to riches
stories of entrepreneurs who used to be very poor, but with hard work and persistence, were
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able to make their businesses succeed, enabling them to send their children to good expensive
schools, building big house, and buying two or more cars housed in their garaged. The owners,
because of their success, manage to acquire wealth and buy assets which are fruits of their
hard work.
With the growing focus on preserving the environment for future generations, businesses
also get to contribute their share. So called green structures for building are means used to
prevent further damage to the environment. Instilling the value of recycling and reusing of
resource among employees and family members may also become the advocacy of these
businesses. Spreading information on the dangers of global warming may be promoted by the
business owners. Thus, businesses become instruments for society to have a better place to
live in.
International trade allows countries to expand their markets and access goods and services
that otherwise may not have been available domestically. As a result of international trade, the
market is more competitive. This ultimately results in more competitive pricing and brings a
cheaper product home to the consumer.
International trade is the exchange of goods and services between countries.
Trading globally gives consumers and countries the opportunity to be exposed to goods
and services not available in their own countries, or which would be more expensive
domestically.
The importance of international trade was recognized early on by political economists
like Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
Still, some argue that international trade actually can be bad for smaller nations, putting
them at a greater disadvantage on the world stage.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1
Political change in Asia, for example, could result in an increase in the cost of labor. This
could increase the manufacturing costs for an American sneaker company that is based in
Malaysia, which would then result in an increase in the price charged for a pair of sneakers that
an American consumer might purchase at their local mall.
ACTIVITY XIX
A. Give examples of Agri-business, Manufacturing, International Trade in our country.
Agri-business Rentals and Manufacturing International Trade
Commercial Sales
B. EXPERIMENTAL ACTIVITY
1. Discuss how SM Mall impacts positivity on the community and the country.
2. Interview a typical mother or housewife (your mother or father) in a low income community on
how s/he budgets the income of her/his family. Further ask her/him if said family budget can still
provide for some amenities and if so, how much and to what kind?
ACTIVITY XX
A. Make your own business. It can be about services or manufacturing. Write the details of your
business and make a SWOT analysis of your business.
Rubrics: Content = 20 pts. Understanding/Application = 10pts, Original Thinking = 20 pts.
ACTIVITY XXI
A. Define the following terms in your own words and explain your answer briefly. (2 points each)
1. Agri-business 6. Import and Exports
2. Strength 7. International Trades
3. Weaknesses 8. Industry
4. Opportunities 9. Manufacturing
5. Threats 10. Customers
B. Make a SWOT analysis of the Jollibee and McDonalds located near or within your
community. Compare the two restaurants then determine which is better through the analysis
you made.
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Subject: Applied Economics – Module 1