1、 2007 Thomson South-WesternThinking Like an EconomistEvery field of study has its own terminologyMathematics 每一研究領(lǐng)域都有自己的術(shù)語體系Integrals(積分) axioms(公理) vector spaces 矢量空間PsychologyEgo(自我) id(本我) cognitive dissonance(認(rèn)知的不一致性)Lawpromissory estoppel 禁止翻供 torts民事侵權(quán) venues(案發(fā)地點(diǎn))Economicssupply opportunity c

2、ost elasticity consumer surplus demand comparative advantage deadweight loss(無謂損失)Thinking Like an Economist像經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家那樣思考Economics trains you to. . . . Think in terms of alternatives.以可變換的術(shù)語思考Evaluate the cost of individual and social choices.評估個(gè)人與社會選擇的成本Examine and understand how certain events and iss

3、ues are related.考察和理解特定事件與問題是相互聯(lián)系的THE ECONOMIST AS A SCIENTISTThe economic way of thinking . . .經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家思考的方式Involves thinking analytically and objectively.涉及分析性與客觀性思考Makes use of the scientific method. 采用科學(xué)的方法Uses abstract models to help explain how a complex, real world operates.使用抽象的模型以幫助闡釋一個(gè)復(fù)雜的真實(shí)的世界

4、是如何運(yùn)行的.Develops theories, collects and analyzes data to evaluate the theories.開發(fā)出各種理論, 收集并分析評估理論的數(shù)據(jù).The Scientific Method: Observation, Theory, and More Observation科學(xué)方法: 觀察、理論以及更多的觀察Uses abstract models to help explain how a complex, real world operates.使用抽象的模型以幫助闡釋一個(gè)復(fù)雜的真實(shí)的世界是如何運(yùn)行的.Develops theories

5、, collects and analyzes data to evaluate the theories.開發(fā)出各種理論, 收集并分析評估理論的數(shù)據(jù).Economists use different assumptions to answer different questions.經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家使用不同的假設(shè)來回答不同的問題The Role of AssumptionsHold other things constantEconomists make assumptions in order to make the world easier to understand.經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家采用假設(shè)是為了使世

6、界比較容易被理解The art in scientific thinking is deciding which assumptions to makeEconomic ModelsEconomists use models to simplify reality in order to improve our understanding of the world.經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家使用模型來簡化現(xiàn)實(shí)是為了改善我們對世界的理解。Our First Model: AD-AS modelFirms-suppliers/producers/-supply side Produce and sell goods

7、 and services生產(chǎn)和出售商品與服務(wù) Hire and use factors of production雇傭和使用生產(chǎn)要素Households/demanders/individualdemand side Buy and consume goods and services購買和消費(fèi)商品與服務(wù) Own and sell factors of production擁有和出售生產(chǎn)要素Our First Model: labor demand and labor supplyMarkets for Goods and Services 商品與服務(wù)市場 Firms sell 企業(yè)出售 H

8、ouseholds buy 家庭購買Markets for Factors of Production 生產(chǎn)要素市場 Households sell 家庭出售 Firms buy 企業(yè)購買Our First Model: The Circular-Flow DiagramFactors of Production 生產(chǎn)要素 Inputs used to produce goods and services用來生產(chǎn)商品與服務(wù)的投入 Land, labor, and capital土地、勞動(dòng)力和資本Our Second Model: The Production Possibilities Fro

9、ntierThe production possibilities frontier is a graph that shows the combinations of output that the economy can possibly produce given the available factors of production and the available production technology.生產(chǎn)可能性邊界是展示在可獲得的生產(chǎn)要素和生產(chǎn)技術(shù)給定的情況下，經(jīng)濟(jì)有可能產(chǎn)出的產(chǎn)量之圖形。Figure 2 The Production Possibilities Front

10、ierProductionpossibilitiesfrontierBDAQuantity ofCars Produced2,2006001,00030007002,0003,0001,000Quantity ofComputersProducedCOur Second Model: The Production Possibilities FrontierConcepts illustrated by the production possibilities frontier 生產(chǎn)可能性邊界所描述的概念Efficiency 效率Trade-offs 權(quán)衡取舍Opportunity cost

11、機(jī)會成本Economic growth 經(jīng)濟(jì)增長Figure 3 A Shift in the Production Possibilities FrontierQuantity ofCars Produced2,2006002,30065004,0003,0001,000Quantity ofComputersProducedAGMicroeconomics and MacroeconomicsMicroeconomics focuses on the individual parts of the economy.微觀經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)關(guān)注經(jīng)濟(jì)中的個(gè)案部分How households and firm

12、s make decisions and how they interact in specific markets家庭與企業(yè)如何做出決策以及他們?nèi)绾卧谔囟ǖ氖袌鲋邢嗷ビ绊慚acroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole. 微觀經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)把經(jīng)濟(jì)看作一個(gè)整體Economy-wide phenomena, including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth 經(jīng)濟(jì)范圍現(xiàn)象包括通貨膨脹、失業(yè)與經(jīng)濟(jì)增長。THE ECONOMIST AS POLICY ADVISOR 作為政策顧問的經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家When econ

13、omists are trying to explain the world, they are scientists.當(dāng)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家試圖解釋世界時(shí)，他們是科學(xué)家。When economists are trying to change the world, they are policy advisors.當(dāng)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家試圖改變世界時(shí)，他們是政策顧問。Positive versus Normative AnalysisPositive statements are statements that attempt to describe the world as it is. 實(shí)證性描述是試圖描述世界

14、到底是什么樣的描述Called descriptive analysis 稱為描述性分析Normative statements are statements about how the world should be.規(guī)范性描述是有關(guān)世界應(yīng)當(dāng)是什么樣的描述Called prescriptive analysis 稱為處方性分析Positive Versus Normative AnalysisAre the following positive or normative statements?An increase in the minimum wage will cause a decre

15、ase in employment among the least-skilled.最低工資的增加將引起無技能或低技能者就業(yè)的減少POSITIVEHigher federal budget deficits will cause interest rates to increase.更高的聯(lián)邦預(yù)算赤字將導(dǎo)致利率的提高POSITIVE?Positive Versus Normative AnalysisAre the following positive or normative statements? 下列是實(shí)證性陳述還是規(guī)范性陳述？The income gains from a higher

16、 minimum wage are worth more than any slight reductions in employment.來自更高的最低工資水平所獲得的收入獲益要比就業(yè)的任何輕微減少都更有價(jià)值。NORMATIVEState governments should be allowed to collect from tobacco companies the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses among the poor.州政府應(yīng)當(dāng)被獲許向煙草公司收取治療窮人與吸煙有關(guān)之疾病的費(fèi)用。NORMATIVE?Economists

17、in Washington. . . serve as advisers in the policymaking process of the three branches of government:華盛頓的經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家作為治理政體三大分支的決策顧問參與決策過程Legislative 立法Executive 行政Judicial 司法Economists in WashingtonSome government agencies that collect economic data and make economic policy include:有些收集經(jīng)濟(jì)數(shù)據(jù)并制定經(jīng)濟(jì)政策的政府機(jī)構(gòu)包括：D

18、epartment of Commerce商務(wù)部Bureau of Labor Statistics 勞工統(tǒng)計(jì)局Congressional Budget Office 國會預(yù)算辦公室Federal Reserve Board 聯(lián)邦儲備委員會WHY ECONOMISTS DISAGREEThey may disagree about the validity of alternative positive theories about how the world works.他們有可能在有關(guān)世界是如何運(yùn)行的各種可替換的實(shí)證理論的有效性方面產(chǎn)生分歧WHY ECONOMISTS DISAGREETh

19、ey may have different values and, therefore, different normative views about what policy should try to accomplish. 他們也可能具有不同的價(jià)值觀，因此就具有關(guān)于政策應(yīng)當(dāng)達(dá)到什么目標(biāo)而具有不同的規(guī)范性觀點(diǎn)Economists try to address their subjects with a scientists objectivity.經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家試圖以科學(xué)家的客觀性來表達(dá)他們的主題They make appropriate assumptions and build simpli

20、fied models in order to understand the world around them.他們做出適宜的假設(shè)，并建立起簡化模型，以便理解他們周圍的世界。Two simple economic models are the circular-flow diagram and the production possibilities frontier.兩個(gè)簡化的經(jīng)濟(jì)模型是循環(huán)流動(dòng)圖和經(jīng)濟(jì)可能性邊界。Economics is divided into two subfields:Microeconomics is the study of decision-making by households and firms in the marketplace.Macroeconomics is the study of the forces and trends that affect the economy as a whole.經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家被劃分為兩個(gè)分支領(lǐng)域：微觀經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)是對家庭與