The Economic Problem “C”

Economic Coordination
To make coordination work, four complimentary social institutions have evolved over the
centuries:
 Firms: A firm is an economic unit that hires factors of production and organizes those
factors to produce and sell goods and services.
 Markets: A market is any arrangement that enables buyers and sellers to get information and
do business with each other.
 Property rights: Property rights are the social arrangements that govern ownership, use,
and disposal of resources, goods or services.
 Money: Money is any commodity or token that is generally acceptable as a means of
payment.

Circular Flows through Markets

Figure 2.7 illustrates how households and firms interact in the market economy.

 Factors of production and

goods and services flow in
one direction.

 Money flows in the opposite

direction.

 Markets coordinate individual

decisions through price
adjustments.

Test your
understanding
1. Trade is organized using the social institutions of all of the following except
a. firms.

Page 1 of 2
 b. property rights.
c. money.
d. labour unions
2. A property right is
a. any commodity or token that is generally acceptable as a means of payment.
b. an economic unit that hires factors of production and organizes those factors to produce
and sell goods and services
c. any arrangement that enables buyers and sellers to get information and to do business
with each other.
d. a social arrangement that governs the ownership, use, and disposable of anything that
people value.
3. The main functions of markets include
a. promoting the social interest, but not the self-interest
b. selling goods, but not factors of production
c. enabling buyers and sellers to get information about each other
d. establishing a physical location for business transactions.
4. Goods and services flow from households to firms through
a. Factors market
b. Goods market
c. Capital market
d. Labour market
5. Wages, rent, interest, and profits flow from
a. Households to firms
b. Firms to households
c. Financial intermediaries to firms
d. Firms to financial intermediaries
6. The price of land is
a. Wages
b. Rent
c. Interest
d. Profit
7. Profits are taken as a return for
a. Labor
b. Capital
c. Land
d. Entrepreneur

Page 2 of 2