economic terms 2013 week 2
TRANSCRIPT
Economics
Pertaining to the production, distribution, and use
of income, wealth, and commodities.
Traditional Economy
An economic system in which decisions about
production and consumption are based on
custom and tradition.
Free Enterprise System
An economic system in which people are free to
operate their businesses as they see fit, with little
government interference.
Capitalism
An economic system based on private ownership
and on the investment of money in business
ventures in order to make a profit.
Command Economy
An economic system in which economic decisions
about production and distribution are made by
some central authority
Laissez Faire
A policy based on the idea that government
should play as small a role as possible in the
economy
Consumer
A person who uses goods or services
Good
An article of trade. A product created to satisfy a
human want.
Commodity
A good that is the same no matter who produces
it.
Service
Work done by one person or group that benefits
another but does not produce a physical product
Capital
Any form of wealth that can be used to produce
more wealth
Capital Resource
A tool, machine, or building that people use to
produce goods and services. It also includes
money.
Human Resource
The people who make products or provide
services (the most expensive part of producing
goods and services)
Natural Resource
Any material in nature that people use and value
Opportunity Cost
The best alternative that is given up, when a
choice or decision is made.
Entrepreneur
A person who risks time and money to start and
manage a business.
Strike
To stop work in order to get an employer to meet
certain demands
Robber Baron
A business leader who became wealthy through
dishonest methods
Captain of Industry
An industrious leader who transformed the
American economy through business skills
Philanthropist
a wealthy person who gives money and time to
help make life better for other people
Vertical Integration
Practice where a single entity controls the entire
process of a product, from the raw materials to
distribution
Kickback
A partial refund of the original price of the
product
Monopoly
Exclusive control of a commercial activity
Trusts
Firms or corporations that combine for the
purpose of reducing competition and controlling
prices (establishing a monopoly).
Interest
A fixed charge for borrowing money
Company
A business
Corporation
A business owned by investors who share in its
profits but are not personally responsible for its
debts
Stock
A share in the ownership of a corporation.
Piecework
Employment where a worker is paid a fixed rate
per piece completed, instead of an hourly wage
Distribution
The act of giving or delivering something to
people. The way something is divided or spread
out.
Byproduct
A secondary product that comes from the
manufacturing process. It is not the main product
being produced.
Trade
The skilled practice of a practical occupation (ex:
electrician, carpenter, nurse)
Union
An organization of workers that have come
together to achieve goals that alone, they would
not have the power to achieve.
Tenement
A rundown, often overcrowded, apartment house
barely meeting minimal standards
Gilded
Covered in a thin layer of gold
OR
Having a showy appearance that hides
something of little worth
Progressive
Reformer who works to stop unfair business
practices and corruption in government.