Microsoft - PowerPoint Topic 1 Introduction To Economics

You might also like

You are on page 1of 91

Economics and Market Innovations

Lecturer: Wong, Hean Hoo

© Business eLearning
© Business eLearning
Topic 1: Introduction to Economics -
Basic Principles of Economics
EMI Objectives

• Understand and describe the key features and challenges in relation to allocation.

• Demonstrate and understanding of firm behaviour within a single sided platform setting.

• Explain the important of networks in economics.

• Describe the implication of increased interconnectedness on the allocation process.

• Explain the importance and the fundamental elements associated with multisided platforms.

© Business eLearning
Topic 1: Introduction to Economics -
Basic Principles of Economics
After studying this chapter you will be able to:
• Define economics and distinguish between microeconomics and macroeconomics

• Explain the two big questions of economics

• Explain the key ideas that define the economic way of thinking

• Understanding the interaction of economics and market innovation

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

© Business eLearning
Overview of Economics
– the degree that make you rich ……..

There are many reasons to study


economics – from the huge range of
skills you will gain, to the exciting types
of employment you will be prepared for
them.

Study in 2017

© Business eLearning
Overview of Economics
– Careers in Economics
A student of economics will have a good understanding of how markets functions.

Government Industry Finance


Entry-level
Jobs
(degree)
Large Corporation or Investment bank +
Labour Union Management consulting
Commercial bank

Prepare forecasts and


examine developments
in national or local Strong analytical skills in Strong analytical skills in
markets may affect mathematics and mathematics and
future costs and profits statistics statistics
(analyses of revenues
and expenditures)

© Business eLearning
Overview of Economics
– Careers in Economics
A student of economics will have a good understanding of how markets functions.

Top level in
Academic
business or
employment
government Professional
High-level Jobs degree in
(at least a Business or
master degree) Law

However, majoring in Economics is by no means a prerequisite


for admission to either business school or law school.

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation

What is Economics? Many people hear the word “economics” and think it is all
about money. However, Economics is not just about money.

What Economist Say?

Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce


valuable commodities and distribute them among different people.
- Professor Paul A Samuelson

Behind this definition are two key ideas in economies: that goods are scarce and
that society must use its resources efficiently. Indeed, economics is an important
subject because of the fact of scarcity and the desire for efficiency.

Economics is a study of a fundamental fact that dominates our live: We want


more than we can get.

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation

The basic questions in economy arise from the problem of resource scarcity,
mainly:

- How individuals and societies use limited resources to satisfy unlimited


wants?
- How such choices are made?

Economic decisions are made by the three agents of economy, namely


households (or consumers), firms (or producers), and government that uses
the goods and services.

Economic questions focus on the actions that should be taken by the three
economic agents in making decisions to fulfill unlimited wants and utilize
limited resources.

10

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Economics?

All economic questions arise because we want more than we can get.

Our inability to satisfy all our wants is called scarcity.

Because we face scarcity, we must make choices.

The choices we make depend on the incentives we face.

An incentive is a reward that encourages an action or a penalty that


discourages an action.

11

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Economics?
Economics can best be described as the study of

a. how to make money


b. how to operate a business
c. how to create jobs and control inflation
d. how choices determine the use of scarce resources

Economics is a science that deals with which of the following functions?

a. output, spending and prices


b. output, employment and income
c. production, sales and credit
d. production, distribution and consumption

12

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Economics?

Economics is the social science that studies the choices


that individuals, businesses, governments, and entire
societies make as they cope with scarcity and the
incentives that influence and reconcile those choices.

What is the difference between the scarcity and poverty?

13

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Economics?

What is the difference between the scarcity and poverty?

Economics deals with the problem of scarcity.

Resources are limited, whereas human wants or


desires are almost unlimited.

This scarcity of resources forces us human beings


to choose among alternatives.

Poverty means income is below a certain level. The estimated minimum level of
income needed to secure the necessities of life.

14

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?

Market Innovation - the improvement of the mix of target markets and of


the way in which these are served.

It refers to new markets and to new distribution process in foreign and


local markets.

If you are confronted with growth limits in your industry or face ruinous
competition, you should look for alternatives to your previous field of
activity.

Your products, services or technologies could also be useful in industries


where you have not been active before.

15

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?

Innovation usually associates with a new product.

However, there are many other forms of innovation.

Market innovation is one of them.

You try to transfer the technologies you already use to new fields of
application.

16

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?

17

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?
Which of the following shows the process of creating something new?

a. Business model
b. Modeling
c. Creative flexibility
d. Innovation

Which one of the following is the process of entrepreneurs developing new


products that over time make current products obsolete?

a. New business model


b. Anatomization
c. Creative destruction
d. Innovation

18

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?

However, the term market innovation has no geographical dimension.

It does not mean resolutely opening up new regional markets.

Rather, with a market innovation you are trying to use your existing know-
how to penetrate industries in which you have not been active before.

The measures for this are very different from those you use to expand
into new regions.

19

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- How To Study Market Innovation?

Scarcity breeds innovation

Malcolm Gladwell puts forth this idea in his popular book, David &
Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits And The Art Of Battling Giants. He argues
that a person with limited resources would be forced to be more
creative than someone who had a lot of resources.

20

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Microeconomics – studies individual economic units, such as a


household, a firm and a government, in detail.

As the word ‘micro’ means looking closer into small units,


microeconomics provides an outline for choices and decision
making of an individual, a business and the public at large.

21

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Microeconomics concepts can be applied to our daily lives.


Individual questions: What do I want for lunch? Shall I buy an
iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy? Where should I go for holidays?
Firms questions: Shall we produce cars or LCD TVs? How many
labourers should we employ? Should we use more machines or hire
more labour?
Government questions: Shall we allocate budgets for schools or
hospitals?

22

© Business eLearning
Definition of Economics and Market Innovation
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics – studies the aggregate behaviour of the


entire economy. We study the gross domestic product, the national
income, inflation, deflation, unemployment, public finance, the trade
cycle, international trade and others.

Macroeconomics examples are: What is the unemployment rate


in Singapore? What are the main exports of Singapore? What
causes high inflation? Why did Central Bank cut interest rate by
2%?

23

© Business eLearning
Macroeconomics and Microeconomics –
Class activity
1) Which of the following questions is an example of a
microeconomic or macroeconomic question?

i) What is the effect of Internet access on v) How much more money taxi driver earn than
your living expenses? bus driver in Singapore?

ii) How does an increase in the petrol vi) Why do prices always go up in an
price affects the market for minivans? economy?

iii) What is the effect of a decrease in the vii) What causes changes in unemployment
availability of chocolate chips on the over the long run?
market for chocolate chip cookies?
viii) Is your orange juice from New Zealand?
iv) Is there a vaccine for Ebola virus?

24

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

25

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how,


and for whom goods and services get produced?

26

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how,


and for whom goods and services get produced?

Question 2: When do choices made in the pursuit of self-


interest also promote the social interest?

27

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how,


and for whom goods and services get produced?
Goods and services are the objects that people value and produce to
satisfy human wants.

Question 2: When do choices made in the pursuit of self-


interest also promote the social interest?

28

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how,


and for whom goods and services get produced?
Goods and services are the objects that people value and produce to
satisfy human wants.

Goods are physical objects such as cell phones and automobiles.

Question 2: When do choices made in the pursuit of self-


interest also promote the social interest?

29

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how,


and for whom goods and services get produced?
Goods and services are the objects that people value and produce to
satisfy human wants.

Goods are physical objects such as cell phones and automobiles.

Services are tasks performed for people such as cell-phone services


and auto-repair services.

Question 2: When do choices made in the pursuit of self-


interest also promote the social interest?

30

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions
Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how, and
for whom goods and services get produced?

What to produce?

31

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions
Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how, and
for whom goods and services get produced?

What to produce?

How to produce ?

32

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions
Question 1: How do choices end up determining what, how, and
for whom goods and services get produced?

What to produce?

How to produce ?

For Whom to produce


(Since there are limited resources, a nation or society has to
decide how to allocate its limited resources efficiently to produce
the goods and services to satisfy the needs of the people.)

33

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

34

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

How to produce ?
Goods and services are produced by using productive resources that
economists call factors of production.

35

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

How to produce ?
Goods and services are produced by using productive resources that
economists call factors of production.
Land: all natural resources (air, water, forests and others) that we use to produce goods and
services.

36

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

How to produce ?
Goods and services are produced by using productive resources that
economists call factors of production.
Land: all natural resources (air, water, forests and others) that we use to produce goods and
services.

Labour: work time and work effort that people devote to producing goods and services.
(Quality of labour - depend on Human Capital)

37

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

How to produce ?
Goods and services are produced by using productive resources that
economists call factors of production.
Land: all natural resources (air, water, forests and others) that we use to produce goods and
services.

Labour: work time and work effort that people devote to producing goods and services.
(Quality of labour - depend on Human Capital)

Capital: man-made items including cash capital or fixed capital such as equipment and
machinery, and work capital such as raw materials that are used as inputs in the production
process. Financial Capital is not capital.

38

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions
In everyday language, we talk about money, stocks and bonds as being
“capital”. These items are financial capital. Financial capital plays an
important role in enabling businesses to borrow the funds that they use to
buy physical capital. But financial capital is not used to produce goods and
services and it is not a factor of production.

39

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

What to produce?
What we produce varies across countries and changes over time.

How to produce ?
Goods and services are produced by using productive resources that
economists call factors of production.

Land: all natural resources (air, water, forests and others) that we use to produce goods and
services.

Labour: work time and work effort that people devote to producing goods and services.
(Quality of labour - depend on Human Capital)

Capital: man-made items including cash capital or fixed capital such as equipment and
machinery, and work capital such as raw materials that are used as inputs in the production
process. Financial Capital is not capital.

Entrepreneurship: The human resource that organizes land, labour, and capital.

40

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

41

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:

42

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land

43

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents

44

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor

45

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages

46

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages
- Capital

47

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages
- Capital earns interest

48

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages
- Capital earns interest - Entrepreneurship

49

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages
- Capital earns interest - Entrepreneurship earns profit

50

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

For Whom to produce?


‘Who’ consumes the goods and services that are produced depends on
the incomes that people earn.

People earn their incomes by selling the services of the factors of production
they own:
- Land earns rents - Labor earns wages
- Capital earns interest - Entrepreneurship earns profit
** Which factor of production earns the most income? _________________

51

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions

Question 2: When is the pursuit of self-Interest in the social


Interest?

We make choices that are in our self-interest or choices that we think are best
for us.

Is it possible that all the choices that each one of us makes in the pursuit of
self-interest could end up achieving an outcome that is best for everyone?

Choices that are best for society as a whole are said to be in the social
interest.

52

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions - Class activity

2) Match the key terms and economic concepts with their explanations.

Key terms Explanation A. Natural resources F. The using up of goods and services to
Production satisfy human needs and wants
B. Goods and services:
Consumption the outputs of production G. Individuals and organizations who are
Land processes willing and able to buy goods and services
to satisfy their needs and wants
Labour
Capital C. The benefit gone H. Human effort used up in production
without by giving up the
Enterprise next best alternative use I. Organizations in which entrepreneurs
Firms of some scarce resources combine resources to produce goods
and services
Opportunity D. Business know-how
Cost and the ability to organize J. Man-made resources, such as
Products productive activities machinery, that are used to make other
goods and services
Consumers
E. Using resources to make and deliver goods and services to satisfy the
needs and wants of consumers

53

© Business eLearning
Two Big Economic Questions - Class activity

3) Determine the factor of production:

i) The water used to cool a machine.


ii) The wages paid to workers.
iii) The effort of farmers raising cattle.
iv) The management skill of a small business owner.
v) A share of stock issued by a firm.
vi) A new computer used by a small business owner.
vii) A tractor used by a wheat farmer.
viii) The time worked by elementary school teachers.

4) Explain how the following news headlines concern self-interest and


social-interest.

i) Breadtalk expands in Indonesia


ii) Toyota develops high speed motor-vehicle
iii) Food must be labeled with Nutrition Data

54

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

55

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

56

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

57

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
Conceptual Framework
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

58

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

59

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
Method of Measurement
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

60

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

The economic way of thinking places scarcity and its


implication, choice, at center stage.

Six key ideas define the economic way of thinking:

1) A choice is a tradeoff.
2) People make rational choices by comparing benefits and costs.
3) Benefits is what you gain from something.
Conceptual Framework Method of Measurement
4) Cost is what you must give up to get something.
5) Most choices are “ how-much” choices made at the margin.
6) Choices respond to incentives.

61

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

1) A Choice is a Tradeoff – because we face scarcity, we must make choices.

When we make a choice, we select from the available alternatives. Whatever choice you
make, you could have chosen something else.

- You can think about every choice as tradeoff or an exchange - giving up one thing
to get something else.

( when you choose how to spend your Saturday night, you face a tradeoff between studying
and hanging out with your friends.)

62

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

2) Making a rational choice – the answers turn on benefits and costs.

- A rational choice is one that compares costs and benefits and achieves the
greatest benefit over cost for the person making the choice .

- Only the wants of the person making a choice are relevant to determine its
rationality.

- The idea of rational choice provides an answer to the first question: What goods
and services will be produced and in what quantities?

- The answer is: Those that people rationally choose to buy!

63

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

3) Benefit: What you Gain

- The benefit of something is the gain or pleasure that it brings and is determined
by preferences.

- Preferences are what a person likes and dislikes and the intensity of those
feelings.

Economists measures benefits as the most that a person is willing to give up to get
something.

64

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

4) Costs: What you Must give up

- The opportunity cost of something is the highest-valued alternative that must be


given up to get it.

What is your opportunity cost of going back to school? Opportunity cost has two
components:

1. The things you can’t afford to buy if you go back to school.


2. The things you can’t do with your time if you go back to school.

65

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking

5) How Much? Choosing at the margin

The benefit that arises from an increase in an activity is called marginal benefits.
The opportunity cost of an increase in an activity is called marginal costs.

To make your decision:


Marginal benefit > Marginal cost, you study the extra night.
Marginal benefit < Marginal cost, you don’t study the extra night.

6) Choices Respond to Incentives


Incentive is a reward or a penalty – a “carrot” or a “stick” – that encourages or discourages
an action.
When we make choices, we respond to incentives. A change in Marginal Benefit or a
change in Marginal Cost changes the incentives we face and leads us to change our
choice.

66

© Business eLearning
The Economic Way of Thinking - Class activity

6) In the following events, determine the opportunity cost.

i) On the Saturday morning, you rank your choices for activities in the
following order: go to the library, work out at the gym, have breakfast
with friends and sleep late. Suppose you decide to go to the library,
determine the opportunity cost. (work out at the gym)

ii) You decide to take a vacation and the trips costs you $2000. While
you are on vacation, you do not report to work where you could have
earned $750. Determine the opportunity cost of the vacation. ($2750)

iii) You have made the decision to attend summer school, which you
cannot work at your usual summer job in which you normally earn
$6000. Your tuition fees is $3000, books and supplies cost $300.
Determine the opportunity cost of attending summer schools. ($9300)

67

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

68

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

The New Economy referred to the on-going development evolved from the
notions of the classical economy as a result not only from the transition from a
manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy, but also meant
the new horizons resulted from the constant emerging of new parameters of
new technology and innovation.

Technological change alters the face of business but does not change human
nature. Scarcity is and always will be with us, it is simply part of the human
spirit to want more than is available. This means that the laws of economics
also will always be applicable. How they apply may vary over time, but they
will apply.

69

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

Old Economy New Economy


Winner-takes-all
Larger demand creates larger market
First-mover advantage
Patent creates barrier of entry
Technological Change
The improvement of production alters the production function and thus the cost
functions, typically lowering the average cost curve and altering the long-run cost
curve

Characterized by economies of scale and Characterized by Network, positive


patent races feedback and standards wars

70

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

Old Economy New Economy

Network

Economies of Scale

Positive Feedback

Patent Races Standard Wars


(when two or more incompatible technologies
struggle to become a standard, they are
engaged in a standard war.)

71

© Business eLearning
Old Economy New Economy
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
Network - It can be alliance of firms of it can
refer to a “standard” to which several business
Economies of Scale - In microeconomics, comply. Where there is more than one
economies of scale are the cost network, then whether members of one
advantages that enterprises obtain due networks are interconnected.
to their scale of operation, with cost per
unit of output decreasing with increasing Positive Feedback - It refers to the idea that the
scale. benefits to an individual on joining a network
go to every member of the network, not just
the member joining.

Patent Races - R&D is referred to as a Standard Wars - It must have a distinct


patent race in that firms compete to capability that has value: efficiency in
develop a new product or process and manufacturing or operations, patents or other
then obtain a patent on it. However, means to own intellectual property rights, first-
gaining that property right is not mover advantages, brand-name reputation, or
necessarily gaining the profit. size.

72

© Business eLearning
Old Economy New Economy
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

What does it take to win


a standard war?

What do we do that
is unique and has How can we
value? sustain that
value?

Standard Wars - It must have a distinct


capability that has value: efficiency in
manufacturing or operations, patents or other
means to own intellectual property rights, first-
mover advantages, brand-name reputation, or
size.

73

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

Innovation is not necessary something that is high-tech, overly advanced, or


even entirely new, and is therefore different from invention. From an economic
development standpoint, innovations can be categorized as being market-
creating, sustaining, or improving efficiency.

Market-creating innovation transform complicated and expensive products into


products that are simple and affordable.

Market-creating innovations have been the foundation upon which corporations


and countries have built new growth engines that have triggered economic
prosperity. For example, by leveraging digital technology, some market-creating
innovations can scale more quickly today than ever before.

74

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

Market-creating innovations, in particular, provide a strong economic foundation.


They share several characteristics.

1. Offering product and services that was previously unaffordable or otherwise


unattainable. ( non consumer goods  consumer goods)

2. Leveraging business models and value chains that focus on profitability before
growth. ( borrow existing technology and insert it into different business models)

3. Generation for and by local market (think local, go global). ( the capitalisation of
labour force mobilities does not necessarily mean exploitation nor does it connotate
taking advantage of low wages in other economies to make a profit)

Continue
next slide

75

© Business eLearning
Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation

Market-creating innovations, in particular, provide a strong economic foundation.


They share several characteristics.

4. Generation of local jobs to fuel economies. ( these jobs arise specifically to serve
the local market; they cannot be outsourced to other countries)

5. Scaling up. ( Market creating innovations make a product simple and affordable,
bringing it within many people’s reach. Economies of scale rule and the law of
diminishing returns is one that is hardly met)

76

© Business eLearning
Outline of Lesson

• Overview of Economics
• Definition of Economics and Market innovation
• Two Big Economic Questions
• The Economic way of thinking
• Interaction of Economics and Market Innovation
• Graphs in Economics

77

© Business eLearning
Graphs in Economics

A graph reveals a relationship.

A two-variable graph uses two perpendicular


scale lines.

The vertical line is the y-axis.


The horizontal line is the x-axis.
The zero point in common to both axes is
the origin.

78

© Business eLearning
Graphs in Economics

Variables That Move in the Same Direction

A relationship between two variables


that move in the same direction is called
a positive relationship or a direct
relationship.

A line that slopes upward shows a


positive relationship.

A relationship shown by a straight line is


called a linear relationship.

79

© Business eLearning
Graphs in Economics

Variables That Move in the Opposite Direction

A relationship between two variables


that move in the opposite direction is
called a negative relationship or a
inverse relationship.

A line that slopes downward shows a


negative relationship.

80

© Business eLearning
Graphs in Economics – Obstacles and
Pitfalls

Obstacles and Pitfalls in Economics - Economists cannot easily do


experiments and most economic behaviour has many simultaneous causes.

To isolate the relationship of interest in a laboratory experiment, a scientist


holds everything constant except for the variable whose effect is being study.
Ceteris paribus means “if all other relevant things remain the same.”

Example of Ceteris Paribus: Customer satisfaction in Fast Food Industry

Customer satisfaction = product quality + physical design + price +


physical environment + taste + promotion

81

© Business eLearning
Graphs in Economics – Obstacles and
Pitfalls

Example of Ceteris Paribus: Customer satisfaction in Fast Food Industry

Customer satisfaction = product quality + physical design + price +


physical environment + taste + promotion

What is the meaning of “ceteris paribus”?

a) An expression that means “other things being equal”.


(true and false)
b) What is true of the whole is not necessarily true of the parts.
(true and false)
c) Value free and testable.
(true and false)

82

© Business eLearning
Review Questions and Answers

1. Describe the economic problem faced by all economies. How can you solve
the economy’s problem?
Answer: We want more than we can get but the limited resources not allow us to
get everything we want.
The most fundamental economic problem is scarcity.
Societies make choices to cope with scarcity and cope with the incentives that
influence and reconcile those choices.

2. Explain the difference between tradeoff and opportunity cost.


Answer: An opportunity cost is the next best decision (what you gave up). A
tradeoff is when you gain something, but you also lose something (what you
lose/gave up, is the opportunity cost).

83

© Business eLearning
Review Answers

3. Differentiate between microeconomics and macroeconomics.


Answer: Microeconomics is the study of the choices that individuals and
business make, the way these choices interact in markets, and the
influence of governments. Macroeconomics is the study of the performance
of the national economy and the global economy.

4. Describe an economic model.


Answer: An economic model is a description of some aspect of the
economic world that includes only those features of the world that are
needed for the purpose at hand. A good model can predict a better
outcome. Example: Customer buying decision in McDonald’s - an
economic model might include features such as the prices of meal, the
number customer, and the waiting time. But the model would ignore toilet
cleanliness and floor layout.

84

© Business eLearning
Review Question and Answer

Use headlines from the recent news to illustrate the potential for conflict
between self-interest and the social interest?

Globalization means the expansion of international trade, borrowing and


lending, and investment.
Globalization is in the self-interest of those consumers who buy low-cost goods
and services produced in other countries; and it is in the self-interest of the
MNC that produce in low-cost regions and sell in high-price regions.
When Nike produces sports shoes, people in Malaysia get work; and when
China Airline buys new airplanes, Americans who work at Boeing in Seattle
build them.
While globalization brings expanded production and job opportunities for some
workers, it destroys many domestic jobs.

85

© Business eLearning
Review Question and Answer
a) Economic, b) factors of production, c) productivity, d) scarcity, e)
service

1) The amount of output that results from a given level of input. _______

2) A situation in which people do not have enough resources to satisfy every desire.
_______

3) Land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship. _________

4) The study of how individual, families, businesses, and societies use limited
resources to fulfill their unlimited wants. _________

5) Activities done for a fee. _________

86

© Business eLearning
Review Question and Answer
a) labour, b) goods, c) capital, d) entrepreneurship, e) economic model

1) A simplified representation of the real world. _______

2) Manufactured goods used to make other goods and services. _______

3) The work people do. _________

4) The ability of individual to start new businesses, introduce new products and
processes, and improve management techniques . _________

5) Tangible items that people buy. _________

87

© Business eLearning
Key Terms:

1) Definition of Economics
- Scarcity, from the fact that wants exceed the resources available to satisfy
them.
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

2) Two Big Economic Questions


- What, How and for Whom
- Self-interest and Social-interest

3) The Economic Way of Thinking


- Tradeoff and Opportunity Cost

4) Economics as Social Science and Policy Tool


- Normative and Positive statements
- Ceteris Paribus

88

© Business eLearning
Worksheet – Basic Economic Concepts

1) The fundamental economic problem facing all societies is that of _________.


2) The three basic questions every society must answer in dealing with scarcity are:
__________, ___________ and _________ to produce.
3) The resources required to produce the things we would like to have are called the
__________ , include _______, _________, _________, and _________.
4) The loss of the highest-valued alternative defines the concept of ________.
5) The expression that means ‘other things being equal’ is __________.
6) Studying the effects choices have on the individual markets within the economy is part
of ________.
7) In an economy, ________, ________, and _________ are three groups of decision
makers.

89

© Business eLearning
Worksheet – Basic Economic Concepts

List each term below into the table columns. No terms will apply to more than one
column. All columns will be filled.

Coal Natural Gas Hammer SIA owner Nurse


Pizza hut Lecturer Computer SIA pilot Receptionist
River Telephone operator Oil SIA plane Tractor
Bill Gates Liverpool Club owner Cook Telephone Forest

Land Labour Capital Entrepreneur

90

© Business eLearning
Topic 1: Introduction to Economics

Have a good day ahead!

91

© Business eLearning

You might also like