A Level Economics AQA

This subject is broken down into 112 topics in 14 modules:

  1. The Economic Problem 5 topics
  2. The Competitve Markets 12 topics
  3. Business Economics 12 topics
  4. Market Structures 8 topics
  5. Market Failure 8 topics
  6. Governement Intervention 11 topics
  7. The Labour Market 12 topics
  8. Measuring Economic Performance 5 topics
  9. Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply 5 topics
  10. Governement Economic Policy Objectives 10 topics
  11. Macroeconomic Policy Instruments 5 topics
  12. The Financial Sector 6 topics
  13. The Global Economy 9 topics
  14. Economic Development 4 topics
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  • 14
    modules
  • 112
    topics
  • 39,812
    words of revision content
  • 5+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Economics

The Economic Problem

An introduction to Economics

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An introduction to Economics

  • Understanding the very essence of economics starts with acknowledging its definition - it's the study of how individuals, firms, and governments make choices on allocating limited resources to satisfy their unlimited wants and needs.

  • In reality, resources (including time, money, and human labour) are scarce, however desires and requirements are numerous; this is what constitutes the economic problem, also known as the problem of scarcity.

  • Key concepts linked to the economic problem include opportunity cost, economic systems, and productivity.

  • Opportunity cost relates to the value of the next best alternative forgone when a decision is made. It's the "real" cost of making a choice as you're always giving up the opportunity to do or have something else.

  • Economics interprets the working of different economic systems like capitalism, socialism, and communism, which are solutions proposed to solve the economic problem.

  • Productivity is a crucial idea in comprehending the economic problem. It comprises the efficiency with which factors are used to produce goods and services.

  • The basic economic problem will always exist because human wants are infinite while resources are limited. This results in the need to make choices.

  • Economics also deals with the concept of scale and scope of business operations.

  • Economists employ models to understand and predict how certain factors affect the economy. These models involve making assumptions to simplify complex situations.

  • Economics can be broken down into two distinct areas of study: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Microeconomics focuses on the actions of individual agents within the economy, like households and businesses. Macroeconomics, on the other hand, looks at the economy as a whole.

  • The economic problem isn't only about how to use and allocate resources, but also about who should make these decisions - individuals, firms, or governments.

  • Solving the economic problem chiefly involves making decisions about the allocation of resources, which will always lead to some degree of societal impact.

  • Economics also encompasses the study of supply and demand and what effects it has on the prices of goods and services in the market.

  • An essential part of understanding economics includes knowing its key goals like economic growth, low unemployment, and steady inflation.

  • Unresolved economic problems can lead to serious societal issues, like poverty and inequality, making the subject absolutely vital in understanding society.

Course material for Economics, module The Economic Problem, topic An introduction to Economics

Economics

The Labour Market

Labour demand

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Labour demand

  • The labour demand reflects the number of workers that employers wish to hire at any given wage rate.
  • Demand for labour is derived, emerging from the desire of firms to produce goods and services. It is not a direct demand, but a derived demand.
  • The Law of Diminishing Marginal Productivity has direct implications for labour demand. It states that as more units of a variable input (for instance, labour) are added to fixed inputs (like machinery), the additional output will eventually decrease.
  • Wage rate plays a significant role in labour demand. All other factors being equal, as wages increase, the quantity of labour demanded decreases, ceteris paribus. Hence, the labour demand curve is downward-sloping.
  • Productivity affects labour demand. More productive workers are more beneficial to companies, prompting businesses to hire more workers if they anticipate higher productivity.
  • Economic conditions and business cycles can also impact labour demand. In periods of economic upturn, firms may increase labour demand to meet heightened production needs, and conversely during an economic downturn.
  • The substitution effect may also influence labour demand. If the wage rate rises, labour becomes comparatively more costly than capital, potentially leading to substitution of capital for labour, decreasing labour demand.
  • Labour demand elasticity varies depending on several factors, like time period, ease of substitution, and proportion of labour costs in total cost.
  • Non-wage factors, such as working conditions and job security, affect labour demand, especially in competitive markets where businesses seek to attract and retain the best talent.
  • Skillsets and requirements of specific jobs significantly impact labour demand. Some roles necessitate specialised training or education, hence affecting the demand for specific types of labour.
  • Technological advancements can both increase and decrease labour demand, depending on whether they complement or substitute labour. Emerging technologies like AI and automation are leading to rapid changes in labour demand across various industries.
  • Firms demand labour up to the point where the cost of employing an additional worker equals the revenue that the worker brings into the firm – the Marginal Revenue Product (MRP) of labour. Therefore, MRP curve becomes the labour demand curve for a firm in perfectly competitive labour market.

Course material for Economics, module The Labour Market, topic Labour demand

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