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Line 20: + + + + + + − + − '''10. (Based on a true story.) Imagine that you are riding on an airplane and need to finish a written project by the time it lands in order to earn a fee of $500. The passenger next to you, however, keeps interrupting you by complaining about how she lost a $5 bill in the airport before the plane took off. You keep telling her to forget about it, but she won't. She keeps bothering you so much that you cannot get your work done, which is worth far more than $5. What would make sense in purely economic terms for you to offer to get her to stop bothering you about it? Explain.'''
Economics Homework One Answers - Student Four (view source)
Revision as of 14:06, September 10, 2009
, 14:06, September 10, 2009no edit summary
'''3. Define the concept of "scarcity" in your own words, and give an example of how an increase in scarcity for a good or service increases its price. Your example might be a World Series ticket (a good) or a special medical operation (a service), or anything else you can think of that is "scarce" in an economic sense. Extra credit: when do people exaggerate scarcity in their minds?'''
'''3. Define the concept of "scarcity" in your own words, and give an example of how an increase in scarcity for a good or service increases its price. Your example might be a World Series ticket (a good) or a special medical operation (a service), or anything else you can think of that is "scarce" in an economic sense. Extra credit: when do people exaggerate scarcity in their minds?'''
Scarcity is basically anything that costs money. There can never be infinite amounts of anything (except, of course, air), and therefore, everything can be considered scarce. When there are less of an item, it's scarcity increases, and likewise it's price. An example would be the numerous health food stores or organic specialty stores. They don't put as many items on the shelves, and the things they put out have a label that says they are 'eco-friendly'. This causes people to buy them from the store, rather then a cheaper retail. An example of exaggerated scarcity would be a limited edition DVD. It's more expensive than the regular one, but not in less quantity.
'''4. What is the “invisible hand”? Discuss what it is, using an example (which could be from the story in the lecture about the making of a pencil).'''
'''4. What is the “invisible hand”? Discuss what it is, using an example (which could be from the story in the lecture about the making of a pencil).'''
The invisible hand is what causes people to do the things that most benefit them, and therefore, most benefit society. For example, someone who sells only organic items will attract more customers, and will therefore earn money and help the economy.
'''5. There are many parables by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (and one in Mark) which use familiar concepts of money and economics in order to teach a deeper, more profound spiritual point. Examples are at Matthew 13:18-23 and 44-46; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 20:1-16 and 21:33-46; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 14:15-24; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 16:1-13 and 19-31; Luke 18:9-14; and Luke 19:11-27. Pick one of these parables and explain both the economic point and the deeper spiritual point. Extra credit: why might the Gospel of Matthew have more economic parables than the Gospel of Mark does?'''
'''5. There are many parables by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (and one in Mark) which use familiar concepts of money and economics in order to teach a deeper, more profound spiritual point. Examples are at Matthew 13:18-23 and 44-46; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 20:1-16 and 21:33-46; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 14:15-24; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 16:1-13 and 19-31; Luke 18:9-14; and Luke 19:11-27. Pick one of these parables and explain both the economic point and the deeper spiritual point. Extra credit: why might the Gospel of Matthew have more economic parables than the Gospel of Mark does?'''
Luke 14:15-24 is the story of the great supper. A man invites many people to his feast, but some of them do not come, so the master invites all the blind, lame, mute, deaf and poor. The people who refused the invitation lost an incredible opportunity to dine with this master, a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. And ultimately they lost a chance to enter into the kingdom of God, they were so focused on the good things in their lives they missed out on the best. The economic point would be "carpe diem", "seize the day", if a good opportunity comes your way, take it.
'''6. "Caveat emptor" or "carpe diem": pick one of these concepts and explain what it means to you.'''
'''6. "Caveat emptor" or "carpe diem": pick one of these concepts and explain what it means to you.'''
"Carpe Diem" means "seize the day". This means that if a good opportunity comes your way, you should take it, because you never know what could happen in your future. Don't plan your life around your future.