Basic Economic Concepts

樣
本
基本經濟概念
1.1 Economics 經濟學
Economics is defined as a science to explain or predict human behaviour. It
examines how individuals, firms and societies satisfy their unlimited wants
with limited resources.
經濟學是一門解釋或推測人類行為的科學，它研究個體、廠商和社會
如何以有限的資源滿足他們無窮的欲望。

1.2 Wants and Resources 欲望及資源

A. Wants 欲望

Wants is defined as human desires which can be tangible or intan-

gible in nature. It is unlimited, and it is not necessarily backed up by
people’s purchasing power.
欲望泛指人類的一切欲念，可以是有形或無形的。欲望是無窮
的，不一定需要有購買力支持。

B. Resources 資源

Resources include natural resources, human resources and man-made

resources.
資源包括自然資源、人力資源及人造資源。

1.3 Scarcity 稀少性

Scarcity states that resources are limited in supply relative to unlimited
human wants at a given time.
稀少性指在某一時期內，相對於人類無窮的欲望，資源顯得有限。

Scarcity is a relative concept.

稀少性是一個相對概念。

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 樣
本
The existence of scarcity implies that 稀少性的存在意味着：
Ø Choice and competition (method of allocating resources) are
unavoidable. Scarcity will not be solved even choice is made.
選擇與競爭（分配資源的方法）是無可避免的。即使作出了選擇，
稀少性的問題仍不會被解決。
Ø People need to pay cost for the choice they want.
人們須付出代價以獲取他們想要的選擇。
Scarcity exists in all societies.
稀少性存在於任何社會中。

考生通常忽略稀少性 (scarcity) 是一個相對性的概念，當某物品的供應不

能滿足人們的需求時，稀少性就會出現。所以，不論富人或窮人，都要
面對稀少性的問題，而選擇並非解決稀少性的方法。

Which of the following statements about ‘scarcity’ is correct？

下列哪一項關於「稀少性」的描述是正確的？
A. Once a choice is made, the problem of scarcity will be solved.
在作出選擇後，稀少性的問題便得以解決。
B. A good is scarce if only a small quantity of it is available for consumption.
某物品屬稀少，若它只有少量可供消費。
C. Scarcity means human wants are unlimited. 稀少性指人類的欲望是無窮的。
D. Both rich people and poor people face scarcity problem.
富有的人與貧困的人都要面對稀少性的問題。
Reference: HKCEE10Paper2Q1

B 和 C 都不正確，因為只有無窮的欲望 (unlimited wants) 和有限的資

源 (limited resources) 這兩個相對的條件同時存在，方可構成稀少性
(scarcity)，所以答案是 D。

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1.4 Competition and Discrimination 競爭與分歧
In a one-man economy, there will be no competition or discrimination
even there is scarcity. Competition exists when two or more individuals
in society compete for more of the same good. With competition,
some criterion is needed to determine who wins and who loses, thus
discrimination is resulted.
在一人經濟中，即使稀少性存在，也不會有競爭和分歧。當社會中兩
個或多個個體競爭同一物品時，競爭便會出現。若競爭存在，便須運
用一些標準去決定誰勝誰負，分歧便存在。

A. Price Competition 價格競爭

Price competition refers to situations that people compete for econo-

mic goods by offering the owner other economic goods.
價格競爭即人們為了競爭某經濟物品而向它的擁有人提供其他經
濟物品的情況。

B. Non-price Competition 非價格競爭

Non-price competition refers to situations that people compete for eco-

nomic goods through means other than offering the competing parties
or the owner other economic goods.
非價格競爭即透過非擁有人提供其他經濟物品以外的方法，以競
爭某經濟物品的情況。

1.5. Opportunity Cost 機會成本

Opportunity cost is the highest-valued option forgone.
機會成本是指被放棄的各種選項中的價值最高者。

The word ‘highest’ is essential because the highest-valued option forgone is

the only relevant option in decision making. Those options less preferred to
the highest-valued option forgone are irrelevant.

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

「最高」這詞是必需的，因為在作決策時，被放棄的選項中，價值最高
者是各項選擇中唯一相關者，而那些價值低於被放棄的選項中價值最
高者的選項，都是不相關的。
Cost is an ex ante concept, it is not related to anything that occurs in the past.
成本是一個事前概念，它不牽涉任何過往發生的事。
Sunk cost or historical cost is not a cost as it is the cost incurred by a past
option which is no longer available now. However, it can act as reference in
decision making.
歷史成本不是成本，因為它是關於過去的選項的成本。可是，歷史成
本可作決策之參考。
Whenever there is no alternative, there is no cost.
若是沒有選擇，就表示沒有成本。
Opportunity cost involved only if time, or other resources used in an action
has alternative uses.
若用於某行動的時間及資源有其他的用途，機會成本才會存在。
Cost includes monetary cost and non-monetary cost.
成本包括貨幣性成本及非貨幣性成本。
Price is not always equal to cost. Goods that are obtained at zero price do
not imply that the cost of having or keeping them is zero.
價格不一定相等於成本。在零價格時獲得的物品並非意味擁有或持有
這物品的成本是零。
Full cost includes implicit cost and explicit cost.
總成本包括隱含成本與顯性成本。
The opportunity cost of an action changes only when the highest-valued
option forgone changes.
只有當被放棄的選項中價值最高者的價值轉變時，某行為的機會成本
才會轉變。
The opportunity cost does not change when the value of the chosen option
changes only.
當被選擇的選項的價值轉變時，選擇該選項的機會成本不會轉變。

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 Bruce decided to see a football match of Messi. Which of the following will
lead to an increase in Bruce’s opportunity cost of watching that football match?
布斯將看美斯參與的一場足球比賽。下列哪項會令布斯觀看該場足球比
賽的成本上升？
A. Since there was a traffic jam, Bruce was late for around 30 minutes.
由於交通擠塞，布斯約遲到了三十分鐘。
B. Bruce’s view was blocked by other audience.
布斯的視線被其他觀眾阻擋。
C. The match was postponed for an hour due to a storm.
由於暴風雨，比賽時間延遲了一小時。
D. Messi did not join the match as he was injured.
由於受傷，美斯沒有出場比賽。
Reference: HKDSE13Paper1Q2

布斯看足球賽的成本是布斯看球賽那時段所放棄的其他回報，而不是那
球賽帶給布斯的價值。A、B、D 都是改變布斯看那球賽的價值，所以不
是答案。C 則令布斯看球賽的時間增加，會增加布斯看球賽所放棄的其
他回報，所以 C 是答案。

1.6 Interest 利息
Interest is the premium of present consumption over future consumption of
an identical future good in a given period.
利息是在既定時期內以即時消費某一物品來取代未來消費的溢價。

To the borrower, interest is the cost paid for earlier availability of resources,
or a price one pays for earlier over later consumption.

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

對借方而言，利息是支付提早取得資源的價格，或是用以支付提早消
費的價格。
To the lender, interest is the compensation received for deferring the present
consumption.
對貸方而言，利息是延遲消費所取得的補償。
Interest is a price because it is a sacrifice or returns one makes to exchange
for something valuable.
利息是價格，因為它是一個人為某些有價值的東西進行交易時的犧牲
或回報。
Interest exists even without money. For example, Mr. A loans Mr. B an
apple, and their agreement is that Mr. B has to return an apple plus an
orange a year later. That orange is the interest. Money is not implied in this
case.
即使貨幣不存在，利息依然存在。例如，甲先生借一個蘋果予乙先
生，並協議一年之後要乙先生須還甲先生一個蘋果及一個橙。那麼，
那個橙便是利息。上述個案並不牽涉貨幣。
The existence of interest shows that people are impatient to consume. Peop-
le prefer present to future consumption. The marginal rate of time prefe-
rence of people is positive.
利息的存在意味人們對消費缺乏耐性。人們喜愛即時的享受多於將來
才享受。人們的邊際時間偏好為正數。

Interest Premium
Interest rate = × 100%
Principal
利息溢價
利率 = × 100%
本金

1.7 Goods 物品
Goods refer to anything that can satisfy human wants.
物品是指任何能夠滿足人類欲望的東西。

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 A. Economic Goods VS Free Goods 經濟物品 VS 免費物品
a. Economic Goods / Scarce Goods 經濟物品 / 稀少物品

(i) The quantity of economic goods is insufficient to satisfy all

human wants. More is preferred to less.
經濟物品的供給量不足夠滿足所有人的欲望，愈多便
愈好。
(ii) The quantity demanded of economic goods is larger than its
quantity supplied at zero price.
在價格是零的情況下，經濟物品的需求量大於供應量。
(iii) Production cost is positive.
在生產中涉及機會成本。

b. Free Goods 免費物品

(i) The quantity supplied of free goods is sufficient to satisfy all our
wants. So more is not preferred to less, but some is prefer to none.
免費物品的供給量能夠滿足人們的欲望，所以愈多並不是
愈好，但卻比沒有好。
(ii) The quantity supplied is larger than its quantity demanded at
zero price.
在價格是零的情況下，免費物品的供應量大於需求量。
(iii) Production cost is zero.
在生產中不涉及機會成本。

A free-of-charge good may not be free goods, but free goods must be free
of charge.
一項免費的物品未必是免費物品，但免費物品一定是免費的。
A good has alternative uses does not imply that it is not a free good.
一項物品有其他用途不意味它不是免費物品。

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

Natural resources may not be free goods. However, free goods must be na-
tural resource.
自然資源或不是免費物品，但免費物品一定是自然資源。
Some goods may be free goods in some situations but economic goods in
other situations.
有些物品在某些情況下是免費物品，在另外一些情況下則是經濟物品。

考生常誤會免費的物品必定是免費物品 (free goods)。其實，一些物品在

某些情況下是免費物品，但在另外一些情況下則是經濟物品 (economic
goods)。考生應注意在題目提供的情況下，人們是否想得到更多該種物
品，以及生產該物品有否涉及機會成本 (opportunity cost)。

Which of the following are correct？ 以下哪項是正確的？

( 1 ) An electric shop launched the following promotion campaign：after
purchasing a computer at the regular price, customers can get an USB
Flash Drive free of charge. To society, the USB Flash Drive is a free good.
一家電子產品店推出推廣計劃：顧客以正價購買一部電腦後，可以
免費獲贈一隻隨身碟（USB 手指）。從社會角度看，該免費的隨身碟
（USB 手指）是免費物品。
( 2 ) In restaurants, ice is an economic good because opportunity cost is
involved in producing the ice.
餐廳裏的冰是經濟物品，因為生產這些冰須付出代價。
( 3 ) In the North Pole, ice is a free good because more of the ice is not preferred.
北極裏的冰會被視為免費物品，因為人類並不想得到更多這樣的冰。
A. （1）,（2）
B. （1）,（3）
C. （2）,（3）
D. （1）,（2） ,（3）
Reference: HKCEE10Paper2Q4, HKCEE00Paper1Q1

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答案是 C，因為免費的物品未必是免費物品 (free goods)，人們往往希
望得到更多該物品。此外，隨身碟（USB 手指）的生產是涉及機會成本
(opportunity cost) 的。

B. Consumers Goods VS Capital Goods 消費品 VS 資本品

a. Consumer Goods 消費品

Consumer goods are goods produced for direct consumption.

消費品指專供直接消費的物品。

b. Capital Goods 資本品

Capital goods are goods produced for further production of other

goods.
資本品指用來協助生產其他物品的物品。

C. Private Goods VS Public Goods 私用品 VS 共用物品

a. Private Goods 私用品

(i) Private goods are goods for which one’s consumption depletes
the consumption of other persons. Apple is an example of pri-
vate goods.
私用品是一種當個人享用時會影響其他人享用此物品的物
品。蘋果是私用品的例子。

(ii) Private goods cannot be concurrently consumed.

私用品不能被同時消費。

(iii) Private goods are rival in use.

使用私用品時，競爭性存在。

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

b. Public Goods 共用物品

(i) Public goods are goods that can be consumed by many indivi-
duals at the same time. An example of public goods is the mu-
sic of Mozart.
共用物品是一項可供多於一人同時消費的物品。莫札特的
音樂便是一個共用物品的例子。
(ii) Public goods are non-rivalry, which means that one person’s
consumption of the public good does not decrease the amount
available for another person.
共用物品是非競爭性的，即一個人享用共用物品時並不會
減少其他人可享用該共用物品的數量 。
(iii) Public goods are non-excludability, which means that no one
can be excluded from consuming the good.
共用物品是非排拒性的，即是沒有人能被排拒享用共用
物品。
(iv) The marginal cost of serving an extra consumer is zero.
服務額外多一位消費者的邊際成本是零。
(iv) Public goods can be produced privately. An example of public
goods produced privately is a television program such as
television program produced by paid TV.
共用品可由私人生產，收費電視製作的電視節目，就是私
人生產的共用品例子。

考生常將共用物品 (public goods) 與免費物品 (free goods) 混淆，又誤會政

府免費提供的物品就是共用物品。

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 Which of the following about the TV broadcasting of matches of World Cup is
correct? 以下哪項關於世界杯足球賽事的電視廣播是正確的？
A. If people can see the football matches of World Cup in public places, such
as a restaurant, then the TV broadcasting of these matches refers to a public
good. 若人們可以在公眾地方，如餐廳欣賞世界杯足球賽事廣播，這
些賽事的電視廣播便是共用品。
B. If a local TV broadcasting company bought the exclusive rights to screen
the matches of World Cup in Hong Kong, the TV broadcasting of these
matches refers to a private good. 若某本地電視台購買了在本港的獨家播
映權，這些賽事的電視廣播便是私用品。
C. The TV broadcasting of these World Cup matches refers to a free good. It is
because the cost of serving an additional audience is zero. 這些世界杯賽事
的電視廣播是免費物品，因為服務額外一位觀眾的成本是零。
D. If the football training school teaches the students by playing the videos of
these matches to them, then the broadcasting of these matches refers to a
producer good. 若足球訓練學校向學生播放這些比賽作教學之用，這些
賽事的電視廣播便是生產者物品。
Reference: HKDSE13Paper1Q6

雖然人們可以在餐廳欣賞世界杯足球賽事廣播，但欣賞這些賽事時，餐
廳可容納的觀眾人數可能不多，因此不可以說在餐廳欣賞足球賽事的電
視廣播便是共用品，A 不正確。若某本地電視台購買了在本港的獨家播映
權，而這些賽事的電視廣播觀眾可以在同一時間於家中觀看的話，足球
賽事的電視廣播便是共用品，B 不正確。雖然電視台服務額外一位觀眾
的成本是零，但電視台購入播映權涉及生產成本，所以這些世界杯賽事
的電視廣播並不是免費物品，C 不正確。若足球訓練學校向學生播放這
些比賽作教學之用，則表示這些賽事的電視廣播是用來作訓練用途，所
以這些賽事的電視廣播便是生產者物品，D 是正確。

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

1.8 The Three Basic Economic Problems 三個基本經濟問題

A. What to Produce 生產甚麼
It is about making decision on the types and quantities of goods and
services to produce.
這是有關所生產的物品和服務的種類和數量的決定。

B. How to Produce 怎樣生產

It is about making decision on the methods of production.
這是有關生產方法的決定。

C. For Whom to Produce 為誰生產

It is about making decision on the allocation of output produced.
這是有關分配產品的決定。

1.9 Economic System 經濟制度

A. The Solutions to the Three Basic Economic Questions
解決三個基本經濟問題的辦法
The three basic economic questions can be solved by
三個基本問題可通過以下途徑解決：
a. Society’s customs and traditions 社會風俗及傳統
b. Government decisions 政府決策
c. Market / price mechanism 市場 / 價格機制
B. Market Economy VS Planned Economy 市場經濟 VS 計劃經濟
Market Economy Planned Economy
市場經濟 計劃經濟
Ownership of most
Privately-owned Government-owned
resources
私有 政府擁有
大部分資源的擁有權屬
price mechanism government dominates
Decision of resource dominates 由政府支配
allocation 由價格機制支配 centralized decision
資源分配的決定 decentralized decision making
making 決策權分散 中央決策

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 Which of the following statements about a market-oriented economy is correct？
以下哪項關於市場導向經濟的描述是正確的？
A. Most resources are allocated by price. 大部分資源由市價所支配。
B. Most resources are used to produce consumer goods.
大部分資源會用於生產消費物品。
C. All resources are privately owned. 所有資源是私有的。
D. Most resources are state-owned. 所有資源是由國家擁有的。
Reference: HKCEE09Paper2Q4, HKCEE10Paper2Q5

所謂市場導向經濟 (market-oriented economy)，並非指所有資源都是私

人擁有，只是指大部分資源由私人擁有；而資源分配也並非全由私人決
定，而是大部分由私人支配而已，所以答案是 A。

1.10 Property Right 產權制度

Property rights are social arrangements that govern the ownership, use,
and disposal of resources, goods and services.
產權制度是規範資源、物品和服務的擁有權、使用權和棄置的一種
社會制度。

A. Private Property Right 私有產權

Private property right consists of the following three sets of rights
私有產權制度包括以下三種權利：
a. the exclusive right to use 獨有的使用權
b. the exclusive right to derive income 享受收入的獨有權
c. the exclusive right to transfer 轉讓的獨有權

B. Price 價格
Price refers to a signal for allocating resource. It also serves as a
criterion of determining who wins or loses in competing for goods
and services in the market place. Without well-protected private
property right, market price cannot serves as a signal device to direct
resource allocation effectively.

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

價格是引領資源分配的信號，也是市場中競爭資源時決定誰勝
誰負的標準。但若沒有保護良好的私有產權制度，市價將不能
成為資源分配的有效指引。

1.11 Three Types of Economic Activities 三種經濟活動

The three types of economic activities are 三種經濟活動是：
A. Production 生產
B. Consumption 消費
C. Exchange 交易

Exchange takes place when people do not produce all the goods and ser-
vices they need by themselves. People specialize in producing certain type
of output and trade with one another. Specialization always resulted in high-
er productivity and better living standard of people.
當人們並不自行生產所有他們需要的物品和服務，交易便出現。人們
專注生產特定的物品，然後跟他人交換。專門化往往能提升生產力，
為人們帶來更好的生活水平。
The following circular flow model shows the relationship of Production,
Consumption and Exchange.
下面的環流程模型顯示了生產、消費和交易的關係。
Goods and services bought Goods and services sold
Market of goods and services
購買的物品及服務 (Households buy, firms sell) 出售的物品及服務
物品及服務市場
Expenditure （家庭買，廠商賣） Revenue
支出 銷售收入

Households Firms
(Consumption / Factor input owner) (Production)
家庭 廠商
（消費 / 生產因素投入者） （生產）

Factor income Cost of production

生產因素收入 生產因素成本
Market of goods and services
(Households buy, firms sell)
Labour’ capital 物品及服務市場 Input for production
（家庭買，廠商賣）
勞力、資本 生產因素投入

Flow of goods and services 物品及服務流程

Flow of money 貨幣流程
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1.12 The Postulate of Constrained Maximization
在局限條件下追求極大化的假設
The postulate of constrained maximization (or postulate of selfishness)
states that an individual will always try to maximize his own ‘self-
interest’. Economics is a science resting on such postulate to explain or
predict human behaviour, human choice among options.
追求極大化的假設（或自利假設）指出個人會爭取最大「私利」。
經濟學就是在這個假設下解釋或推測人類行為的一門科學。

The basic constraint of an individual is scarcity. Under scarcity, an

individual must make a choice among options. Choice is assumed to
be predictable, so that an individual’s behaviour can be explained and
predicted.
個人要面對的最基本的局限條件是稀少性。在稀少性存在下，個人必
須在眾多選項中作出選擇。選擇被假定為可被推測的，因此，個人行
為能被解釋及推測。
Other constraints include cost, property rights, transaction cost, information,
etc. When constraints are being specified under maximization, human
behaviour can be predicted.
其他局限條件包括成本、產權制度、交易費用、資訊等。在極大化下
若局限條件被認清，人的行為就能被推測。

1.13 Transaction Costs 交易費用

Transaction cost is a cost that arises from a non-Robinson Crusoe (not
one-man) world. It includes all costs in the operation of all institutional
arrangements in the coordination or regulation of human activities. All
transaction costs are just institutional costs.
交易費用是在非魯賓遜（非一人）世界出現的成本。它包括所有機
構協調制度運作的成本或管制人類活動的成本，所有交易費用也是
制度費用。

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 Basic Economic Concepts 基本經濟概念

When there is only one person, property rights will not occur. Cost incurred
in delineating and enforcing property rights are absent. Also, there will be
no exchange, and so costs in finding trading contracts, enforcing contracts,
marketing, price bargaining, advertising, etc are absent.
當只有一人存在時，產權制度不會存在，執行產權制度的成本也不會
存在。此外，交易不會存在，尋找貿易合約、執行合約、市場推廣、
議價、廣告等成本也不會存在。
Transaction cost is a constraint. Thus, changes in the amount of transaction
costs related to a particular activity will lead to changes in human beha-
viour. When transaction costs related to a particular activity are reduced
（increased）, more（less）of that particular activity will take place.
交易費用是一種局限條件。因此，關乎個別活動的交易費用數額的轉
變，會引致人類行為的轉變。當關乎個別活動的交易費用減低（增加）
時，該項個別活動便會更多（更少）進行。

1.14 Positive Economics VS Normative Economics

實證經濟學 VS 規範經濟學
A. Positive Economics 實證經濟學

Positive economics focuses on facts and avoids value judgments. It

concerns ‘what is’.
實證經濟學注重事實而避免價值判斷，關注「是甚麼」。

B. Normative Economics 規範經濟學

Normative economics involves value judgments. It concerns ‘what

ought to be’, thus has no explanatory power. It is not a science.
規範經濟學涉及價值判斷，關注「應該做甚麼」，沒有解釋能
力，不屬科學。

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