INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ECONOMICS Nios Class 12th Chapter 12th

Economics is a vast subject encompassing various topics related to production, consumption, saving, investment, inflation, employment and unemployment, national income, international trade, quality of life, fiscal policy, monetary policy etc so on and so forth. The list is unending. From the point of view of better understanding of the subject and finding a solution to the problem, it is imperative to know the nature of the economic issue under study and the area or branch under which the issue is dealt with

OBJECTIVES

After seen this video you will be able to:

  • understand the meaning of economics;
  • distinguish between positive and normative economics;
  • differentiate between micro and macroeconomics and highlight their components;
  • examine the significance of microeconomics and macroeconomics;
  • relate the interdependence of microeconomics and macroeconomics.

MEANING OF ECONOMICS

The term ‘Economics’ is derived from two Greek words OIKOS and NEMEIN, meaning the rule or law of the household. Economics therefore is concerned with not just how a nation allocates its resources to various uses but it ideals with the process by which the productive capacity of these resources can be further increased and with the factors which in the past have led to sharp fluctuations in the rate of utilization of resources. British economist Robbins has defined economics as follows:

“Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.

Robbins definition is comprehensive in explaining the scope of Economics. It is the problem of ‘choice’ which is all pervasive in areas of consumption, production and exchange. For example, a consumer has to choose that combination of goods which yields maximum satisfaction. Similarly, a firm has to choose that size of output which ensures maximum profit. Nobel Laureate Prof. Samuelson has spelled out Economics as follows:

POSITIVE VS NORMATIVE ECONOMICS

While discussing the issues related to the economic conditions and trying to find solutions to economic problems, economists often talk about positive and normative nature of these issues. Positive economics deals with economic analysis which are based on facts and statistical data. When an economic phenomenon is being described with statistical support, then we call it positive economics. So positive economics relates to the phenomenon of ‘what is’. On the other hand, normative economics deals with the issue of ‘what ought to be’. Normative economics is based on value judgement and debate which are required to arrive at some conclusion. Issues related to framing policies for the society, mostly come under normative economics. Take the example of the issue of India’s population.

It is the fact that as per 2011 census, India’s population was around 121 crore. Since it is based on data, the statement relates to positive economics. But when we discuss about the problems faced due to population pressure, economists and policy makers recommend several solutions such as ‘India should control its population by adopting family planning’ etc. such a thing comes under normative economics because these can be debate on this policy. There are lot of economic problems faced by the citizens and the economy as a whole. Data are required to justify that a problem exists which is part of positive economics. When we try to find solutions to the problem then value judgements are made and debates take place which comes under normative economics.

MICROECONOMICS VS MACROECONOMICS

Modem economics is studied in two parts- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Micromeans small. So, when the study or the problem relates to an individual unit or part of the economy then the subject of study is micro economics. Macro means large. When the study relates to the whole economy or to aggregates relating to the whole economy then the subject of study is macro economics.

Microeconomics

Microeconomics is the study of economic activity of an economic unit or a part of the economy or a small group of more than one unit. Derived from the Greek word micros meaning small, it relates to the individual economic agent’s behaviour and the result of such interactions in determining the price of goods and services.It is, thus, also called Price Theory.

Further, micro economics also puts emphasis on behaviour patterns and role of firms and individuals in income distribution and study of conditions of efficiency in production and attainment of overall efficiency. Efficiency implies optimum allocation of resources among the consumers and producers so that there is neither excess demand nor excess supply of goods and services. The analysis of the three central problems of an economy- what goods and services to be produced, how to produce them and how they can be distributed in the economy are all subject matter of micro economics.

Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the economic aggregates of a country as a whole. The word macro is derived from the Greek word macros meaning large. It has emerged after the British economist John Maynard Keynes published his famous book The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 1936. The Great Depression of 1929 made economists think about the subject in a newer way which was holistic and macroeconomic study developed. It is also called the Theory of Income and Employment.

The study area involves the analysis of effects in the market of taxation, budgetary policies, policies on money supply, role of state, rate of interest, wages, employment, and output. It is, therefore, also called income theory as it is concerned with the economy as a whole and seeks to study the causes and solutions for economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, balance of payment deficits and so on.

INTERDEPENDENCE OF MICRO AND MACROECONOMICS

Micro economics and macro economics are two parts of economics but they are not mutually exclusive. In other words, they are interrelated. A close interlink exists between macro and micro economics. All micro economic studies can help in better understanding and analysis of the macro economic variables. Such studies also help in the formulation of economic policies and programmes. As you know that the changes and processes in an economy are a result of a variety of large and small scale elements which have a capacity to affect each other and are also affected by each other. For example, increased taxes are a macroeconomic decision but their impact on savings of a firm is microeconomic analysis. Further, how this saving impacts the economy is a macroeconomic analysis

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MICRO AND MACRO ECONOMICS

  1. Differences in the scale of study –  Macroeconomics is related to the study of the aggregate while microeconomics relates to the individual economic agents
  2. Differences in the field of study – Macroeconomic analysis is concerned with the broadest level of policies pertaining to income, employment and growth of resources while microeconomics is concerned with problems and policies relating to the optimum allocation of resources and economic activities such a price determination.
  3. Differences in importance given to price and income concepts – Microeconomic analysis focuses on price determination in the market for goods and serviceswhile macroeconomics focuses on income determination in the economy as a whole.Every good and service has its market where buyers and sellers interact with one another to determine its price and quantity. Since decisions are taken by the individual buyers who demand the goods and the sellers who supply the goods, it forms the part of micro economics. On the other hand, determination of income of the entire economy involves mobilisation of resources by all the sectors of the economy taken together. So it forms the part of macro economics.
  4. Differences in the methods of study – Microeconomic study is dominated by the method called Partial Equilibrium Analysis which is focussed on significant factors related to an economic activity. Under macroeconomics, the mutual dependence of important economic aggregates is studied and this is called Quasi General Equilibrium Analysis.
  5. Differences in Analytical Factors – Microeconomics deals with the study of the behaviour of economic variables in an equilibrium position while macroeconomic analysis deals with the study of the behaviour of.economic aggregates in a disequilibrium position.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MACRO AND MICRO ECONOMICS

Both the branches of economic analysis are complementary and supplementary to each other. The applied aspects of these relate to the fields of economics and commerce. The significant areas of microeconomic analysis lie in agricultural economics, labour economics, international economics, consumer economics, comparative economics, welfare economics, regional economics, aspects of public finance and other fields.Macroeconomic studies are applied in the fields of formulation and execution of economic policies, understanding microeconomics, studying economic development, welfare studies, inflation and deflation studies and international comparisons as well.