Chapter 2: The Market System and the Circular Flow

A particular set of institutional arrangements + coordinating mechanism used to respond to the economizing problem

Socialism/communism; gov’t owns most property + economic decision-making occurs through central economic plan

Capitalism; private ownership of resources + use of markets/prices to coordinate economic activity

Private individuals + firms own most property resources; encourages investment, innovation, economic growth

Entrepreneurs + businesses can obtain resources to produce + sell goods

Owners can employ property/money as they see fit; consumers can buy goods and services that best satisfy their wants

Each economic unit tries to achieve its own particular goal, usually delivering something of value to others

Between economic units; based on freedom of choice in pursuit of monetary return; spreads economic power between businesses + households

Institution/mechanism that brings buyers + sellers into contact

Use of resources to produce a few goods instead of an entire range

Human specialization

Function of money; makes trade easier

Swapping goods and services for each other; requires coincidence of wants between buyers and sellers

Convenient social invention to facilitate exchanges of goods and services

Consumers spend income on goods they are willing + able to buy

________- Most economically efficient techniques of production.

Consumers using dollars to show what goods + services they want in the market; determine which industries survive and fail

Creation of new products + production methods destroys market positions of firms relying on existing products and older business ways

As firms seek to further their own self-interest in a market system, they simultaneously promote social interests

Shows repetitive flows of goods, services, resources, and money through the economy

Where resources by households sold to businesses

Where goods and services produced by businesses sold to households