government has the monopoly of important goods and services. A different
kind of monopoly arises when a country has control over major natural
resources or important services. Such monopolies can be called natural
monopolies. Legal monopolies occur when the law of a country permits
certain producers, authors and inventors a full monopoly over the sale of
their own products. These types of monopoly are distinct from the sole
trading opportunities. This action is often called "cornering the market"
and is illegal in many countries.
In the market systems, competition answers the basic questions of what,
how, for whom, and how much. Competition among producers is for the highest
profits. Competition among consumers is for the best goods and services at
the lowest prices.
In a market economy three basic resources - land, labour and capital - are
bought and sold for the best price. Market for labour is constantly
changing.
№6. Economic Growth.
If you spent all the money you have now, you might be able to buy many of
the things you want. But you realise that by saving some now, you will save
more for the future. Societies also must save some of what they produce
today in order to have more for tomorrow. Every society must produce
capital goods as well as consumer goods to meet future economic needs. Long-
range economic growth depends on the continued production of capital goods
(goods used to produce other items).
Everyone who works contributes to the growth of capital resources. Suppose
you earn $72 a week. Your labour must be valuable enough to earn more than
just the money to cover your wages. Your labour may earn your company $100
a week. Since you are paid $72, you are helping the company to collect $28
a week. Some, or all, of this money can be used for capital resources.
Company can use this money to replace old tools and equipment for example.
The manager may decide to replace the old tools, hire more help, or expand
the shop.
In recent years, many people have argued that economic growth is a mixed
blessing. The advantages of growth are fairly clear. As people produce more
goods and services, the average standard of living goes up. Bat there is
some disadvantages: (1) use of natural resources that cannot be replaced,
(2) generation of waste products, (3) destruction of natural environments,
(4) uneven growth among different groups in society.
In the past, growth has allowed poor people to improve their economic
conditions. Nevertheless, continuing economic growth at the pace of today
may permanently damage our world, polluting air, land, and waters, and
using up natural resources. Growth, however, sometimes provides solution to
the problems.
№13 The cost of growth.
Long-range economic growth depends on producing capital goods. Everyone
who works contributes to the growth of capital resources. Your labor must
be valuable enough to earn more than just the money to cover your wages.
In recent years many people have argued that economic growth is a mixed
blessing. As people produce more goods and services the standard of living
goes up. Growth also keeps people employed and earning income. It provides
people with more leisure time, since they can decrease their working hours
without decreasing their income. But what are the disadvantages: use of
natural resources that can’t be replaced, generation of waste products,
destruction of natural environments, uneven growth among different groups
of society.
In the past, growth has allowed poor people to improve their economic
conditions.
So, if our natural, human, capital resources are overused now to promote
economic growth, future growth may be much slower.
Growth, however, provides solutions to the problems.
№7. The nation's economy. GNP. Economic indicators.
Economists study different sides of the economy in different ways.
Microeconomics is the part of economics that analyses specific data
affecting an economy. Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that
analyses interrelationships among sectors of the economy.
Macroeconomists measure gross national product, or GNP, which is the value
of all goods and services produced for sale during one year. Three factors
limit the types of products counted.
First, only goods and services produced during a specific year are counted
Second, economists count a product or a service only in its final form.
Third, GNP includes only goods sold for the first time. When goods are
resold or transferred, no wealth is created.
One way in which economists measure GNP is the flow-of-product approach.
Using this method, they count all the money spent on goods and services to
determine total value. Each time a new product is sold, GNP increases.
Spending for products falls into four categories. The first, and the
largest, consumer spending, includes all expenditures of individuals for
final goods and services. Called personal consumption expenditures, this
category accounts for about 65 per cent of GNP. The second category
includes all spending of businesses for new capital goods. It accounts for
about 13 % of GNP. The third category includes spending of all levels of
government. Government purchases of goods and services account for about 21
per cent of GNP. The fourth category is net exports of goods and services,
about 1% of GNP.
Another way of determining GNP is the earnings-and-cost approach. This
method accounts for alt the money received for the production of goods and
services, it mea-sures receipts. Figuring gross national product by
counting what people receive requires calculating what the entire country
earns for the goods it makes and the services it performs. Included in
earnings are such things as business profits, wages and salaries, and
taxes' the government receives for its services. Also counted are interest
on deposits, money received as rent, and any other forms of income.
Business and government planners, investors, and consumers make decisions
based on their expectations of future economic performance. To help predict
expansion or contraction of the economy, government economists identified a
number of indicators. They fall into three categories: leading, coincident,
and lagging. Leading economic indicators rise or fall just before a major
change in economic activity. Coincident economic indicators change at about
the same time that shifts occur in general economic activity. Lagging
economic indicators rise or fall after a change in economic activity.
Following and interpreting all economic indicators is time-consuming. The
US Commerce Department, therefore, lists a composite index, or single
number, for each of the three sets of indicators. These composite indexes
are an average of all the indicators in each category.
№ 12 The rights of a customer and the responsibilities of a supplier.
When you buy something from a shop, you are making a contract. But you
want to make sure if this contract means that it's up to the shop to deal
with your complaints if the goods are not satisfactory. The first thing
that comes to your mind is that the goods must not be broken or damaged and
must work properly. The second thing that you find important is that the
goods must be as described - whether on the pack or by the salesman. It
makes you understand the third principle: The goods should be fit for their
purpose. This means the purpose for which most people buy those particular
goods. If you wanted something for a special purpose, you must have said
exactly what for.
Many people think that complaining about faulty goods or bad service is
never easy. Most of them dislike making a fuss. However, when you are
shopping, it is important to know your rights. You are quite sure that if
the shop sells you faulty goods, it has broken its side of the bargain. And
that is absolutely right. In this situation customer have the right to
return the goods and have a complete refund.
At that time if the good is broken and it was your fault than seller
shouldn’t return your money to you. That’ll be his right.
№8. Income and Spending.
Income is the money a person receives in exchange for work or property.
There are five basic types of income:
1. Employee compensation is the income earned by working for others. It
includes wages and fringe benefits such as health and accident insurance.
2. Proprietor compensation is the income that self-employed people earn.
3. Corporation profit is the income corporations have left after paying
all the expenses.
4. Interest is the money received by people and corporations for
depositing their money in savings account or lending it to others.
5. Rent is income from allowing others to use one's property temporarily.
The total income is the sum of 5 basic types.
One other type of income is a transfer payment - money one person or group
gives to another, though the receiver has not provided a specific good or
service. For example it can be gifts, inheritances, and aid to the poor are
three examples of transfer payments.
Now lets speak about work people. By the type of work people do workers
fall into one of four broad categories.
1. White collar workers are people who do jobs in offices, for example as
secretaries, teachers, and insurance agents.
2. Blue collar workers are people who do jobs in factories or outdoors.
3. Service workers provide services to other individuals or businesses.
4. Farmworkers are people who work on their own farms or those of others.
In the market system a person's income is determined by how the market
