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{{Economics_Lectures}}

{{Economics_Lectures}}

One miracle is mentioned in all four Gospels of the Bible: the multiplication of the loaves and fish by Jesus to feed the crowd of thousands.  It illustrates God easily '''''overcoming''''' a scarcity in food.  Similarly, the devout Puritans overcame scarcity and created wealth under harsh in New England in the 1600s.  Scarcity is a bigger problem in the absence of God.

One miracle is mentioned in all four Gospels of the Bible: the multiplication of the loaves and fish by Jesus to feed the crowd of thousands.  It illustrates God easily '''''overcoming''''' a scarcity in food.  Similarly, the devout Puritans overcame scarcity and created wealth under harsh conditions in New England in the early 1600s.  Apparently scarcity is a bigger problem in the absence of God.

Economics is the study of the '''''transfer''''' of goods and services.  What determines the '''''price''''' and '''''quantity''''' of goods transferred?  How much must a buyer pay for the good (the price), and how many units of the good (the quantity) will the seller be able to sell at that price?

Economics is the study of the '''''transfer''''' of goods and services.  What determines the '''''price''''' and '''''quantity''''' of goods transferred?  How much must a buyer pay in order to acquire the good (the price), and how many units of the good (the quantity) will the seller be able to sell at that price?

Let's take an example.  Suppose you '''''own''''' a candy store, and you sell chocolate candy bars.  What price should you use to sell those candy bars?  If you sell them for $1 each, many people will buy them.  But if you charge $5 per candy bar, fewer will buy them at that price.  Your quantity of goods sold will be much less.  If, on the other hand, you sell the candy bars for only 10 cents per bar, you'll sell out quickly as people rush to buy the bars at that low price.  It might seem like you'd be happy at selling so many, but you make much less money overall at 10 cents per bar than at $1 per bar.  As the candy store owner you're worse off if you set the price at only 10 cents per bar, because you receive too little for each bar, and you're worse off if you set the price at $5 per bar, because you sell too few bars.  The price at which you make the most money is probably around $1 per bar.

Let's take an example.  Suppose you '''''own''''' a candy store, and you sell chocolate candy bars.  What price should you use to sell those candy bars?  If you sell them for $1 each, many people will buy them.  But if you charge $5 per candy bar, fewer will buy them at that price.  You will not be able to sell as many candy bars at the price of $5 each.  If, on the other hand, you sell the candy bars for only 10 cents per bar, you'll sell out quickly as people rush to buy the bars at that low price.  It might seem like you'd be happy at selling so many, but you make much less money overall at 10 cents per bar than at $1 per bar.  As the candy store owner you're worse off if you set the price at only 10 cents per bar, because you receive too little for each bar, and you're worse off if you set the price at $5 per bar, because you sell too few bars.  The price at which you make the most money is probably around $1 per bar.

The above example is the sale of a good (a candy bar).  The same analysis applies to the sale of services (such as a car mechanic repairing cars).  People sell their time as much as they sell what they own.  In this sense, "'''''time is money'''''" because time can be converted into money by spending that time working.  You could convert 8 hours of time into about $60 by working at minimum wage.

The above example is the sale of a good (a candy bar).  The same analysis applies to the sale of services (such as a car mechanic repairing cars).  People sell their time as much as they sell what they own.  In this sense, "'''''time is money'''''" because time can be converted into money by spending that time working.  You could convert 8 hours of time into about $60 by working at minimum wage.

The price of a company’s stock is a compromise between (i) the price at which people are willing to sell it (the supply price) and (ii) the price at which other people are willing to buy it (the demand price).  A "sale" of the stock occurs only when '''''the supply price equals the demand price'''''.

The price of a company’s stock is a compromise between (i) the price at which people are willing to sell it (the supply price) and (ii) the price at which other people are willing to buy it (the demand price).  A "sale" of the stock occurs only when '''''the supply price equals the demand price'''''.

Specifically, stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ (the stock exchange for new and often high-tech companies) are determined entirely by the “bid” and “ask” prices of the buyers and sellers.  Someone will “bid” a certain amount to buy a stock, and a seller will “ask” for a higher price.  When the bid and ask prices are equal, then a sales transaction occurs.  Prices can move very quickly and unpredictably when millions of people are involved.  When the overall trend of most stocks from day-to-day is an increase in their prices, then it is known as a "bull market"; when the overall trend of stocks from day-to-day decreases in price, then it is known as a "bear market."  You can remember that by thinking of how bears are scary, and stock markets that crash in price are scary things.

Specifically, stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ (the stock exchange for new and often high-tech companies) are determined entirely by the “bid” and “ask” prices of the buyers and sellers.  Someone will “bid” a certain amount to buy a stock, and a seller will “ask” for a higher price.  When the bid and ask prices are equal, then a sales transaction occurs.  Prices can move very quickly and unpredictably when millions of people are involved.  When the overall trend of most stocks from day-to-day is an increase in their prices, then it is known as a "bull market"; when the overall trend of stocks from day-to-day decreases in price, then it is known as a "bear market."  You can remember that by thinking of how bears are scary, and stock markets that crash in their prices are scary things.

As explained above, the price that a stock trades on the exchange is where the “supply” by sellers equals the “demand” by buyers.  When a seller of stock asks too high a price, then there are no buyers and the stock does not trade.  When a buyer of stock offers to pay too little a price, then there are no sellers at that low price and the stock does not trade.  The transaction (trade) occurs only when SUPPLY EQUALS DEMAND.   

As explained above, the price that a stock trades on the exchange is where the “supply” by sellers equals the “demand” by buyers.  When a seller of stock asks too high a price, then there are no buyers and the stock does not trade.  When a buyer of stock offers to pay too little a price, then there are no sellers at that low price and the stock does not trade.  The transaction (trade) occurs only when SUPPLY EQUALS DEMAND.   

6.  "Time is money."  Explain.  Or, as an alternative, improve on our definition of a "free market."  Or, as a third alternative, explain how the free market is so much powerful than even the wealthiest people in the world.

6.  "Time is money."  Explain.  Or, as an alternative, improve on our definition of a "free market."  Or, as a third alternative, explain how the free market is so much powerful than even the wealthiest people in the world.

7.  Explain ''why'' waiting lists develop in countries (like Canada and England) where the government prohibits anyone from charging more than fixed prices for medical services, assuming that these fixed prices are lower than what the prices would be under supply and demand in the free market.  (Hint: the reason is related to the effect of price controls on the ''supply'' of a good or service.)

7.  Explain ''why'' waiting lists develop in countries (like Canada) where the government prohibits anyone from charging more than fixed prices for medical services, assuming that these fixed prices are lower than what the prices would be under supply and demand in the free market.  (Hint: the reason is related to the effect of price controls on the ''supply'' of a good or service.)

===Honors===

===Honors===