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Principles of logic example: A (rational choice) = B + C stalls of Japanese street food called takoyaki,
+ D (alternative choices); popularity of ramen houses, and the demand for samgyupsal
UNIT 1: REVISITING ECONOMICS AS A SOCIAL SCIENCE A. (korean food).
Jollibee = KFC + Mcdo +_ Wendys Geography:
Starch diet or eating rice, corn, and potatoes
a. Definition of Economics is staple agricultural land dwellers. Seafood diet for
In every rational choice, trade off, opportunity coastal region dweller is a need.
Economics is a social science concerned with the analysis cost and sunk cost happens. Trade-off is a situation Social status: Families who belong to the elite class can
and description of production, distribution and between choosing two things that you cannot have at the afford luxury in terms of food such as high class wine
consumption of wealth. According to English Economist same time. For example: riding the bus while riding the and caviar.
Lionel Robbins, economics is the science of human train cannot happen at the same time.
behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means
which have alternative uses. To simply put, economics is While opportunity cost refers to cost of the lost Business enterprises should know these factors on
a social science that deals with how individuals, alternatives or the value we place on the best the consumption habits of people. They influence the
business firms, governments, and societies as a whole opportunity that we have to give up if the action is not taste and behavior of consumers through marketing and
make choice under conditions of limited wealth. taken. If the rational choice sometimes does not work, advertising. Media influence through marketing and
sunk cost happens. It refers to cost that is already advertising
transform ordinary products which is usually a
Strands in the Definition of Economics incurred and cannot be recovered. It should be ignored in human want (normal goods or luxury good) to be a human
making economic choices because it is like a spilled milk need
. But this poses a problem in our society due
1. Economics as a study of wealth that you cannot recover. expanding and multiplying human wants in the light of
limited wealth and resources.
Economics is a study of wealth getting and wealth In business opportunities, individuals must
as a material resource as well. The motivation is how to maximize the use of rational choices in their economic d. Resources and the study of economics
use wealth or the utilization of wealth for individual decisions. For example, understanding the nature of
satisfaction and the society’s welfare. All individuals consumers in the present time would tell us that there is Resources or wealth can be defined as products of nature,
must satisfy material needs to survive before fulfilling a need to conserve time. Anticipating products that have qualities of individuals and man-made things which give
other needs or what we call wants taken from Maslow’s time saving effect is the trend in business most satisfaction or value in the present or future. The types
Hierarchy of Needs Theory. In businesses, all processes especially for two worker families that finds instant, of resources include the following:
of production, consumption and distribution are mainly microwaveable meals instead of home cooked meals or
focused on using and gaining wealth. appliances doing most of the household chores. Natural Resources Human Resources Physical
Resources
2. Economics as a study making of choices c. Economic Analysis of Human Needs and Human Wants
Economics is a study about making choices which is Human needsare basic necessities for material survival.
based on a set of options and alternatives. The Human wants are described as differentiated or expanded
perspective is taken from the Rational Choice Theory in human needs.
Economics by George Homanns which has the following
premises: Human needs are permanent.
Human wants can be in the form of luxury or unnecessary
● People estimate the probable costs and benefits of human needs. Luxury goods example include designer
every action. clothing, sports cars, jewelry, international cruise
● People choose based from their goals, priorities trips, perfumes, rubber shoes
or objectives.
● People are encouraged by money and making earnings What is the trend?
● People choose based on greatest satisfaction at
lower cost. Human needs can manifest in the form of differentiated
human wants due to following social factors: taste,
b. Rational Choice versus Alternative Choice income, geography and social status.
Rational Choice is final option selected that has For example:
a larger economic impact, value or utility in the present
or future. Alternative Choice refers to options that Food is a basic human need. Family income, food tastes
were not selected but it exists as an alternative. and preferences, geography and social status turn this
Alternative options have lesser value or economic gain human need to human wants.
compared to rational choice in economics. It does not
mean that it is a bad choice. Family Income : Average income families prefer rice meals
Economic Rule states that rational choice must have equal compared to rich families wherein pizza and pasta is a
or same benefits as the options or alternatives that you staple food in the household.
did not choose. Preferences or food taste : It can be influenced by the
fusion of other cultures in our society. For example,
2. Difficulties in production and the competition of Manifestation of Scarcity
It is composed of It refers to the It refers to the resource use (Competitive uses)
products of qualities of man-made For example: Shortage is a specific manifestation of scarcity. It is a
nature which individuals which equipment, Difficulties in production condition when the supply of a good, service or resource
include marine, can be used to technology, not enough to meet the demand. Shortage or shortfall
forest, gain wealth such infrastructures, ● Natural resources - Rice takes time to grow for 6 means temporary like goods being out of stock for the
agricultural and as: buildings, plants months, farmers have to endure the back breaking moment.
mineral and factories task of
resources. ● Labor which helps in planting and taking Surplus happens when the amount supplied is greater than
● Intellige the production of care of them until they produce grains the demand. Surplus happens because of overproduction of
Productive usage: nce goods and ● Human resources - It is hard to be proficient in a goods or oversupply of manpower or physical capital.
● Creativit services. certain skill so more training and experience is
It can be used y need, seasoned For example, oversupply of workers but less demand for
for primary goods ● Health Productive usage: employees versus fresh the product; oversupply of goods but less buyers;
and intermediate ● Education graduates oversupply of machines but less raw materials needed for
goods. ● Talents Productive ● Physical capital - It is hard to produce a production
capacity means specialized application for a specific company for
Primary Goods - the tool has the transactions Wastage of resources happens in surplus wherein resources
available and Productive usage: capacity to are not used properly to create value. This can lead to
ready for Creates value produce goods and Competitive uses - resources can be used in different huge opportunity costs to a society. Business enterprise
consumption through services services for the purposes but since trade off happens, once you use it for need to find a way to sell surplus products like giving
without and through present and a specific purpose you discounts, buy one take one promo, or mega sales.
processing. For factors of future usage and cannot use it for something else.
example, freshly production: consumption.
picked lettuce Services are For example:
can be consumed intangible ● Natural resources: allocated land can either be a References:
immediately. properties or school or used for farming, seas can be used as
Intermediate tasks at hand and resort property or fishing grounds for normal Burrow, J.L (2012) Marketing, Third edition,
2009
Goods - raw goods consumed at that citizens South-Western Cengage Learning.
that are moment of sale. ● Human resources: People can choose only one full
subjected for For example, time job. A secretary cannot be the
processing. For hosting and president/executive at the same time. McEachern, W.A. (2013) Contemporary Economics,Third
example, using waiter ● Physical resources: Cutting machines for meat edition, 2008 South-Western Cengage Learning.
harvested skills/services cannot be used for vegetables
tomatoes as raw Carnaje, G.P. (2016) Applied Economics
, Vibal Group Inc,
goods for making 1253 G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.
tomato sauce and e. Scarcity as an Economic Problem
tomato paste Tullao, T.S. (2016) Applied Economics For a Progressive
Scarcity happens in the expansion of human wants and the Philippines, Phoenix Publishing House Inc, 927
limitation of resources. Scarcity is a permanent Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.
condition of limitation that individuals and societies
face to survive. Cadile, P.V. and Pefianco, E.C. (2017)
Applied Economics,
Key Characteristics of Resources Phoenix Publishing House Inc, 927 Quezon
1. Limited due to time constraints Key Contributing Factors in Scarcity Avenue, Quezon City.
For example:
Natural resources such as crude oil and mineral resources Expansion of human wants happen due to social factors Rosete, ML. (2017) Applied Economics: An Introduction,
took several million years to produce which is such as taste or preference, income, geography, social Abiva Publishing House Inc, Araneta Ave,
non-renewable. Human resource undergoes processes of status intensified by marketing and advertising. Quezon City
growth and development, socialization and enculturation,
education and training to hone and develop these Limitation of resources is a key characteristic and
marketable skills, you need to wait for the age of skill economic reality that happens due to length of time,
maturity. difficulty of production and competing uses.
Physical resources like appliances needs to be replaced
if they are not working due to longer processes of
production or they experience wear and tear or the normal
breaking or natural damage of materials due to aging
which is contributes to depreciation of value .