Economic Efficiency
ight now, we are seeing the beginning of the rollout of Obamacare, the kludge solution to America's broken health care system. The Affordable Care Act is a suite of laws and regulations that are designed to improve access to health care services in the United States, and the rollout has been spaced out over the course of a few years. ight now, the rollout is intensifying but the most significant elements will not arrive until 2014. As with any major policy change, there are myriad criticisms, and in this case one of those criticisms is the impact that Obamacare will have on the economics of health care in the United States. This paper will examine the effect of the law from the perspective of allocative efficiency.
Background
The key concept here is allocative efficiency. When a market operates under the condition of allocative efficiency, "the value consumers place on a good…...
mlaReferences:
Economics Online. (2013. Types of market failure. Economics Online. Retrieved November 4, 2013 from http://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Market_failures/Types_of_market_failure.html
Fisher, D. (2012). The big problem with Obamacare: It doesn't help many. Forbes. Retrieved November 4, 2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/03/28/the-big-problem-with-obamacare-it-doesnt-help-many/
Frakt, A. (2011). Health care market failures. The Incidental Economist. Retrieved November 4, 2013 from http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/health-care-market-failures-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/
HHS.gov (2012). The Affordable Care Act and the prevention and public health fund report to Congress for FY2012. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved November 4, 2013 from http://www.hhs.gov/open/recordsandreports/prevention/fy2012_aca_rpt_to_congress.pdf
The need for the preservation of these resources is because of the fact that it is finite or limited. Abused utilization of these resources will deplete it and will eventually endanger the future inhabitants of the earth, leaving them nothing for the production of their own needs. Without the resources, there will be nothing to work on in the first place. Achievement of economic stability is the first step in order to achieve the other social goals. Since there are resources, there can be economic efficiency whereby goods can be produced at a lowest possible cost because of the availability of resources. Economic freedom or the right of a man to engage in voluntary economic activities, economic equity or justice particularly in terms of taxation and welfare economics, and economic security or security in employment can be settled between the government and the people in order to achieve them.…...
Thus, a region or nation experiencing economic depression will be unable to use the interest rate lever to boost the economy. Similarly a country with high inflation will be unable to independently raise interest rates to contain inflation. Moreover, Islamic countries, which form a large part of the geography, do not believe in interest rates.
Political barriers -- Political differences between nations make it extremely difficult for them to adopt a common currency. It can lead to a loss in political sovereignty as monetary interests would need to surpass political interests. This is unlikely to be acceptable to most of the nations and the idea of a single currency may be difficult to implement (Gimp, 2008).
Will Pros and Cons change Over Time? Depending On the Country?
The economic conditions to determine a monetary union depend on: the openness and size of the economy involved to trade; the free movements of capital…...
mlaBibliography
BBC. (1997, November 21). European monetary union - pros and cons. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/single_currency/25081.stm
Filho, F.F. (2003). Is it possible to achieve a monetary union in MERCOSUR? (South America). Retrieved May 11, 2009, from Vanderbilt University: http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/files/egnZLy/Ferrari%20Filho%202.pdf
Frankel, J. (1999, August). No single currency regime is right for all countries or at all times. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from Princeton University: http://www.princeton.edu/~ies/IES_Essays/E215.pdf
Gimp, F. (2008, June 27). A world currency - pros and cons and can it become a reality. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from Piponomics: http://www.babypips.com/blogs/piponomics/a_world_currency_pros_and_cons.html
Economic Crisis
The recession of 2008-2009 and the subsequent government responses provides a good test for economic theories. There are no controlled experiments in economics, so we can only work with case studies in order to understand how economies work. A good starting point is to consider the issue through multiple different lenses, so that we can understand how the crisis occurred and what prescriptions might be best suited for response either to address the root problems or to engage in prevention. This paper will consider the works of Marx, Schumpeter and Keynes in analyzing the financial crisis. All three of these men would have been able to understand its causes, but likely would have taken very different approaches to solving the problem.
The second issue at hand is the question of the future of capitalism. We have a pretty good sense at this point of what the response of government is…...
mlaReferences
Cox, W. & Alm, R. (2013). Creative destruction. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/CreativeDestruction.html
Eichengreen, B. (2010). The crisis of financial innovation. University of California at Berkeley. Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://emlab.berkeley.edu/~eichengr/crisis_finan_innov.pdf
Isfeld, G. (2012). Canada's banks shake off global sector crisis. Financial Post. Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/10/canadas-banks-shake-off-global-sector-crisis/
Liu, H. (2008). Too big to fail moral hazard. Asia Times. Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JI23Dj12.html
Instead Dahl
assumes the notion that it would be best to have "a system of economic
enterprises collectively owned and democratically governed by all the
people who work in them," meaning that he differs from the notions of Okun
and the Friedman's by proposing something radically different to promote
the ultimate goal of democracy (Dahl 92). Neither equality nor freedom is
necessary to fix the relationship between the economy and democracy, but
rather a completely different and even radical outlook on the relationship
between the economy and government can solve the dilemma. Furthermore Dahl
argues to how it is possible to retain the democratic principle within
firms, and prevent problems such as oligarchy. These notions in which the
economy becomes compatible with the political notions are completely
different than the Friedman's and Okun's notion that there lies a problem
with democracy. Dahl is even casting serious doubt on Tocqueville's long
lasting reflection on America's democracy.
Dahl's argument, which would account for drastic changes to…...
Economic Ideas
Economics can be considered as the study of the allocation of scarce resources that have potential alternative uses among the competing and virtually limitless want of consumers in society. The allocation of resources is necessary both at an individual and societal level. Economics considers the manner in which people are organized for economic tasks. Economics is applicable everywhere. Economics should be thought of in all the aspects rather than considering the things in the way they already are. This particular proposal explains the reason cars have their fuel doors on different sides. People line up and fuel their cars at the petrol station. However, it is noteworthy that some cars have their fuel filler door on the side of the driver while others have their fuel filler opening on the side of the passenger. This might be perceived as a normal aspect but is largely linked to economics. This…...
mlaReferences
Frank, R. (2009). Why Do Cars Have Fuel Doors on Different Sides? PBS Newshour. Retrieved 28 October, 2015 from: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/why-do-cars-have-fuel-doors-on/
Lanteri, A., Vromen, J. (2014). The Economics of Economists: Institutional Setting, Individual Incentives and Future Prospects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mankiw, N. (2012). Principles of Economics. Stamford: Cengage Learning.
Marshall, A. (2013). Principles of Economics. New York: Palgrave MacMilan.
Economic Crisis
The revelation of the financial crisis that unfolded in United States in 2008 is considered to be the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, 1929. The distinctive causative factors that have contributed to the U.S. economic crisis 2008- 2009 are differentiated by aggravated financial control, higher risks in capital investment, the housing bubble phenomena in relation to the brisk credit expansion. The aggregation of these factors in the U.S. economy directed the economy towards the de- leverage and credit crunches as the bubble burst. The following paper shall be discussing about the degree of correlation between the tax implications policies with respect to the financial crisis in U.S.. The precise review of strong linkages between the taxation and economic crises is the explicit explanation of the crisis that shook America. The paper also highlights the key factors that demonstrated their abilities and rescued U.S. In the economic crisis.
Introduction
The…...
mlaReference
Carr, D.A. (2011). Responses to Local Fiscal Shocks: Path Dependency Effects of the Clean Air Act. Public Finance and Management, 11(2), 160+. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5050180027
Hendrickson, J.M., & Nichols, M.W. (2010). Did Commercial Banks Close Branches in Low-income Neighborhoods in Response to the Cra? Implications for Understanding the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis. Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 13(1), 17+. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5044499375
Johnson, E.M. (2010, April). Mr. Trust Buster. In These Times, 34, 7+. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5041402599
Robinson, S.N., & Nantz, D.P. (2009). Lessons to Be Learned from the Financial Crisis. Journal of Private Enterprise, 25(1), 5+. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5037768696
Economic Systems:
An economic system is basically described as specific set of principles that addresses the production, distribution, and consumption of products and services. The involved parties in the production, distribution, and consumptions processes are usually determined by or dependent on the economic system. Throughout the history of humanity, different types of economic systems have evolved because different societies have placed varying emphasis on distinctive goals and priorities as part of their efforts to obtain answers to certain economic questions. In addition, the difference in economic systems is fueled by the tendency by different societies to develop very broad economic approaches to manage their resources. One of the main reasons for the development of different economic systems is to address the challenge of scarcity. The challenge of scarcity is an essential problem that confronts individuals and nations. hile there are four major types of economic systems recognized by economists, there are…...
mlaWorks Cited:
"Economic Systems." Hilliard Bradley High School. Hilliard Bradley High School, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. .
"Factors of Production." Enotes.com - Study Smarter. Enotes.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. .
"Types of Economic Systems." Economic Systems. Shmoop University, Inc., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. .
Unfortunately most growth oriented economic policies such as "supply-side" economic policies tend to exacerbate inequality. A greater role of the government in the economy such as increased taxation on the rich can reduce inequality. Inflation and unemployment are usually inversely proportional in most economies, i.e., increase of money supply through deficit financing reduces unemployment but increases inflation while tight monetary policies reduce inflation but increase unemployment. According to a number of analysts, a major cause of terrorism in the world is an acute sense of deprivation among a large section of the population. Economic measures can, arguably prove more effective in rooting out terrorism than military action.
Part C-Theory
What, How and for Whom to Produce:
In 'free market economies' decentralized decision making by individuals and firms based on consumers' desires (which determine the price of goods) and the profit motive determine what goods are produced and in what quantities. For example,…...
mlaReferences
Free Market Economy" (2003). Article in Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. CD Rom Version, 2003.
O'Connor, D.E. & Faille, C. (2000). Basic Economic Principles: A Guide for Students. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
The Rural Poverty Trap." (2004). Oxfam Briefing Paper # 59. [Available online] Accessed on January 26, 2005 at http://www.maketradefair.com/en/assets/bp59_The_Rural_Poverty_Trap.pdf
According to FAO statistics more than 900 million people live on less than $1 a day in the rural areas of the developing world (The Rural Poverty Trap, 2004)
These decisions necessarily entail that some potentially productive opportunities are sacrificed in order to make what is estimated as the most productive choice.
Supply and demand refer to specific products and services, the ability to provide these, and the level at which they are desired by the target market. uyers desire a product or services, and therefore demand a certain quantity of these at a certain price. The relationship between the price and quantity of desirability is the demand relationship. Supply is the actual quantity of the product or service that the market can provide. The concept of supply relationship is the correlation between supply and the price received by the supplier, who is willing to supply a certain amount of products at the price received.
The dynamic in the relationship between demand and supply has a direct influence on the efficient allocation of resources within an economy, as well as…...
mlaBibliography
NetMBA.com. (2002-2007). Production Possibility Frontier.
Economic Challenges Canada Faces
In recent years, the challenging economic condition in Canada has emerged as a concern for citizens, policy makers and the government alike. Canada faces challenges in terms of creating a more innovative society, as the country continues to experience a significant productivity gap compared to other advanced industrial economies. The Canadian industry appears to be slower in successfully developing, applying and marketing innovative products, processes and services than a majority of other nations. This lack of innovation is the cause of Canada's low productivity growth and competitiveness, and therefore must be addressed in order to increase employment growth, a higher standard of living and an improved quality of life for all Canadians.
Current research predicts that although Canada's economic performance will gradually strengthen out of the recent mild slowdown into a better pattern of growth in 2004, Canada's economy still faces the longer-term challenge of increasing productivity growth…...
mlaBibliography
Department of Finance Canada. (2004). The Economy in Brief. Retrieved March 8,
2005, from the Department of Finance Web site: 12e.htmlhttp://www.fin.gc.ca/ECONBR/ecbr04-
Economic Survey Canada. (2004). Building Partnerships for Progress. Retrieved March 8, 2005, from the Economic Survey Canada Web site: http://www.oecd.org/document/24/0.02340.en_2649
Environment Canada, Informing Canadians on Pollution. (2002) Highlights of the 2002 National Pollutant Release Inventory, Environment Canada.
4. The role that the FDA plays in setting food safety requirements is inherently costly to the economy. The function is not based on economic concerns but rather public health concerns -- the FDA's mandate dates to Congressional concern about the Elixir sulfanilamide disaster and traces its roots to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, which documented meat production in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century (FDA.gov, 2009). Thus, decisions about FDA regulations are not made on the basis of economic good, but rather public good. Increased regulations would impose increased costs on business. In classical economics, these costs would act as a form of tax, increasing risk and discouraging investment. Eliminating these requirements would lower these costs, which would allow for an expansion of the food business. It could be argued that the threat of litigation today would counterbalance the need for regulations, but that claim has not been…...
mlaWorks Cited:
Roubini, N. (1997). Supply side economics: Do tax rate cuts increase growth and revenues and reduce budget deficits? Or is it voodoo economics all over again? Stern School of Business. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~nroubini/SUPPLY.htm
No author. (2010). Classical economics. TheShortRun.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://www.theshortrun.com/classroom/doctrines/classicals.html
McCallum, B. (2008). Monetarism. Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Monetarism.html
FDA.gov. (2009). FDA history part I. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/History/Origin/ucm054819.htm
Energy costs increased substantially and the yen's exchange rate was shifted to a floating rate. The eventual recession reduced expectations of future growth and reduced private investment. Economic growth went down from 10% to 3.6% during the period 1974-79 and to 4.4% in the decade of the 80s. ut despite the oil crisis and its consequences, Japan's major export industries stayed competitive through its cost-cutting policy and increasing efficiency. It reduced industrial energy demands and allowed the automobile industry, along with other industries, to improve. y the late 70s, the computer, semiconductor and other technology and information-intensive industries entered a period of rapid growth. During this high-growth era, exports continued to support Japan's robust economic growth in the 70s and in the 80s. However, the problems encountered on account of its growing balance of payments surplus urged for the opening of domestic markets and a stronger focus on domestic…...
mlaBibliography
Answers.com. (2007). Shigeru Yoshida. 4 pages. Encyclopedia Britannica: Answers Corporation
Bernier, B. (1980). The Japanese peasantry and economic growth since the land reform of 1946-47. 40 pages. Vol 12 issue 1. Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars: Questia Media America, Inc.
Luu, L.T. et al. (1996). Summary report on Japan. Team # 6. Chinman: University of Hawaii..
Retrieved March 14, 2007 at http://www2/hawai.edu/~chiman/file2,htm
Economics
A price discrimination strategy is one where different customers are charged different amounts. The price charged for my shop's submarine sandwiches will therefore be different for locals than for visitors. There are a number of ways to achieve this. In the context of a sandwich shop, the prices are going to be listed publicly on the menu, so it is impossible to openly discriminate with respect to prices. One technique that can be utilized to lower the average cost for each sub-for locals is to offer a loyalty card. The local would then receive either a discount or a free sub-after making enough purchases. This would deliver a lower price to locals in the long run. Alternately, a loyalty club can allow the locals to receive discounts if they are members of the club. A certain amount of annual sales would be required for club membership, or even a small…...
mlaWorks Cited:
Investopedia. (2010). Perfect competition. Investopedia. Retrieved October 16, 2010 from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/perfectcompetition.asp
ACC. (2010). U.S. antitrust agencies issue revised merger guidelines. Association of Corporate Counsel. Retrieved October 16, 2010 from http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=cf23ba87-0ed6-4db5-9739-d7cf74bcdf8f
The nation will enforce law and order to protect its public property, regulate monetary frameworks and correct market failures. The government will be responsible for protecting private life of its citizens and property (Grant & Vidler, 2000).
Market and Competition Forces: the country's economy should be designed in such a way that it will promote competition. This is because competition means a fair deal in obtaining results. The government should increase sellers and buyers in the market because this would promote competition thus increasing the quality and efficiency. With competition, the country will be able to control and manage different functions of its economy (Grant & Vidler, 2000). Demand and supply are the prime market forces determining the production of a country produces and the suitable ways to do so.
Market equilibrium, price and output, are determined by market forces. Therefore, I would recommend that any least developed nation to emphasize…...
mlaReferences
Bahl, Roy, W. (2008). Land taxes vs. property taxes in developing countries. Cambridge,
MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Grant, S. & Vidler, C. (2000). Economics in Context. New York: Heinemann.
Hyman, D.N. (2011). Public finance: A contemporary application of theory to policy (10th ed.).
Capitalism
1. The Impact of Capitalism on Economic Growth: Analyze how capitalism, with its emphasis on private property, free markets, and competition, has contributed to economic growth and development.
2. The Inequality and Social Justice Implications of Capitalism: Discuss the potential drawbacks of capitalism, including the creation of wealth inequality, the exploitation of workers, and the erosion of social welfare programs.
3. Government Intervention in Capitalism: Is it Necessary or Detrimental? Evaluate the role of government intervention in capitalist economies, considering both its potential benefits (e.g., regulation, social safety nets) and its potential drawbacks (e.g., market distortions, reduced economic efficiency).
4. The Evolution of....
Protectionist Trade Policies and the Development of Emerging Economies
Protectionism, a trade policy aimed at shielding domestic industries from foreign competition, shapes the trajectory of emerging economies in the global marketplace. While it can provide short-term relief, protectionism often hinders long-term economic growth and international integration.
Short-Term Benefits of Protectionism:
Infant Industry Argument: Protectionist measures can provide temporary support to nascent industries in emerging economies, allowing them to develop and compete with established foreign firms.
Job Creation: Protectionism can protect certain domestic industries, preserving jobs that might otherwise be lost to foreign competitors.
National Security: In some cases, protectionism can safeguard critical....
Objectives of the Go Bike Project
The Go Bike Project is an initiative dedicated to promoting cycling as a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation. Its objectives encompass a wide range of goals aimed at creating a more bike-friendly environment in communities across the globe.
1. Increase Ridership:
Encourage more people to adopt cycling as their primary or secondary mode of transport.
Promote the benefits of cycling for health, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency.
2. Improve Infrastructure:
Advocate for the expansion and enhancement of bike lanes, paths, and other cycling facilities.
Collaborate with local authorities to design and implement safer and more accessible....
Mixed Economies: Striking a Balance Between Intervention and Market Freedom
Mixed economies represent a hybrid economic model that combines elements of both government intervention and free market principles. This delicate balance aims to leverage the strengths of both systems while mitigating their respective drawbacks. Understanding how mixed economies achieve this equilibrium is crucial for grasping their complexities.
Government Intervention
Government intervention in mixed economies primarily focuses on areas where the free market has proven inadequate or inefficient. This includes:
Public Goods and Services: The provision of essential goods and services, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, that are not adequately supplied by private....
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