Nature & Scope of Business Economics

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Business
Economics
Nature & Scope
of Business Economics
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CA FOUNDATION|BUSINESS ECONOMICS NATURE AND SCOPE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS
CHAPTER-1
NATURE AND SCOPE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS
UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter we will learn meaning and different definitions of economics, meaning and scope of business
Economics.
(A) What is Economics about?

The term ‘Economics’ owes its origin to the Greek word ‘Oikonomia’ which means ‘household’. Till
19th century, Economics was known as ‘Political Economy.’ The book named ‘An Inquiry into the Nature
and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’ (1776) usually abbreviated as ‘The Wealth of Nations’, by Adam
Smith is considered as the 1st modern work of Economics.
 In words of Alfred Marshall:
“Economics is the study of people in the ordinary business of life”
 In words of Lionel Robbins:
“Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between given ends
and scarce means which have alternative uses”
 In words of Paul A. Samuelson:
“Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities
and distribute them among different people”.
These two fundamental facts that:
(i) Human beings have unlimited wants and
(ii) The means to satisfy these unlimited wants are relatively scarce form the subject matter of
Economics.
 Economics is the study of the processes by which the relatively scarce resources are allocated to
satisfy the competing unlimited wants of human beings in a society. Of course, the available
resources will be efficiently used when they are allocated to their highest valued uses. Economics
is, thus, the study of how we work together to transform the scarce resources into goods and
services to satisfy the most pressing of our infinite wants and how we distribute these goods and
services among ourselves.
 Economics, therefore, concerns itself not just with the crucial concern of how a nation allocates its
scarce productive resources to various uses; it also deals with the processes by which the productive
capacity of these resources is increased and with the factors which, in the past, have led to sharp
fluctuations in the rate of utilisation of these resources.
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 The study of Economics will enable us to develop an analytical approach that helps us in
understanding and analysing a wide range of economic issues. It would also provide us with a
number of models and frameworks that can be applied in different situations.
 The tools of Economics assist in choosing the best course of action from among the different
alternative courses of action available to the decision maker. However, it is necessary to remember
that most economic problems are of complex nature and are affected by several forces, some of
which are rooted in Economics and others in political set up, social norms, etc.
 The study of Economics cannot ensure that all problems will be appropriately tackled; but, without
doubt, it would enable a student to examine a problem in its right perspective and would help him
in discovering suitable measures to deal with the same.
((B) Meaning of Business Economics (Managerial Economics) :-
 As we are aware, the survival and success of any business depends on sound decisions. Decision
making refers to the process of selecting an appropriate alternative that will provide the most
efficient means of attaining a desired end, from two or more alternative courses of action.
 Decision making involves evaluation of feasible alternatives, rational judgement on the basis of
information and choice of a particular alternative which the decision maker finds as the most
suitable. As explained above, the question of choice arises because our productive resources
such as land, labour, capital, and management are limited and can be employed in alternative
uses. Therefore, more efficient alternatives must be chosen and less efficient alternatives must
be rejected.
The management of a business unit generally needs to make strategic, tactical and operational decisions.
A few examples of issues requiring decision making in the context of businesses are illustrated below:
 Should the firm be in this business?
 Should the firm launch a product, given the highly competitive market environment?
 If the firm decided on launching the product, which available technique of production should be
used?
 From where should the firm procure the necessary inputs and at what prices so as to have
competitive edge in the market?
 Should the firm make the components or buy them from other firms?
 How much should be the optimum output and at what price should the firm sell?
 How will the product be placed in the market? Which customer segment should we focus on and
how to improve the customer experience? Which marketing strategy should be chosen? How
much should be the marketing budget?
 How to combat the risks and uncertainties involved?
Business Economics, also referred to as Managerial Economics, generally refers to the integration of
economic theory with business practice. While the theories of Economics provide the tools which explain
various concepts such as demand, supply, costs, price, competition etc., Business Economics applies
these tools in the process of business decision making. Thus, Business Economics comprises of that part
of economic knowledge, logic, theories and analytical tools that are used for rational business decision
making. In brief, it is Applied Economics that falls the gap between economic theory and business practice.
Business Economics has close connection with Economic theory (Micro as well as Macro-Economics),
Operations Research, Statistics, Mathematics and the Theory of Decision-Making. A professional business
economist has to integrate the concept and methods from all these disciplines in order to understand and
analyse practical managerial problems. Business Economics is not only valuable to business decision
makers, but also useful for managers of ‘not-for-profit’ organisations.
DEFINITIONS OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS:
 Business Economics may be defined as the use of economic analysis to make business decisions
involving the best use of an organization’s scarce resources.
 Joel Dean defined Business Economics in terms of the use of economic analysis in the formulation
of business policies. Business Economics is essentially a component of Applied Economics as it
includes application of selected quantitative techniques such as linear programming, regression
analysis, capital budgeting, break even analysis and cost analysis.
((C) SUBJECT MATTER OF ECONOMICS
Economics has been broadly divided into two major parts i.e. Micro Economics and Macro Economics.
Micro Economicsis basically the study of the behaviour of different individuals and organizations
within aneconomic system. In other words, Microeconomics examines how the individual units (consumers
or firms) make decisions as to how to efficiently allocate their scarce resources. Here, the focus is on a
small number of or group of units rather than all the units combined, and therefore, it does not explain
what is happening in the wider economic environment.
We mainly study the following in Micro-Economics:
(i) Product pricing;
(ii) Consumer behaviour;
(iii) Factor pricing;
(iv) The economic conditions of a section of people;
(v) Behaviour of firms; and
(vi) Location of industry.
Macro Economicsis the study of the overall economic phenomena or the economy as a whole, ratherthan
its individual parts. Accordingly, in Macro-Economics, we study the behaviour of the large economic
aggregates, such as, the overall levels of output, total consumption, total saving and total investment and
also how these aggregates shift over time. It analyses the overall economic environment in which the
firms, governments and households make decisions. However, it should be kept in mind that this economic
environment represents the overall effect of the innumerable decisions made by millions of different
consumers and producers.
A few areas that come under Macro Economics are:
(i) National Income and National Output;
(ii) The general price level and interest rates;
(iii) Balance of trade and balance of payments;
(iv) External value of currency;
(v) The overall level of savings and investment; and
(vi) The level of employment and rate of economic growth.
While Business Economics is basically concerned with Micro Economics, Macro economic analysis also has
got an important role to play. Macroeconomics analyses the background of economic conditions in an
economy which will immensely influence the individual firm’s performance as well as its decisions.
Business firms need a thorough understanding of the macroeconomic environment in which they have to
function. For example, knowledge regarding conditions of in nation and interest rates will be useful for
the business economist in framing suitable policies. Moreover, the long-run trends in the business world
are determined by the prevailing macroeconomic factors.
(D) Nature of Business Economics:
The following points will describe the nature of Business Economics:
 Business Economics is a Science:Science is a systematized body of knowledge which establishes
cause andeffect relationships. Business Economics integrates the tools of decision sciences such
as Mathematics, Statistics and Econometrics with Economic Theory to arrive at appropriate
strategies for achieving the goals of the business enterprises. It follows scientific methods and
empirically tests the validity of the results.
 Based on Micro Economics: Business Economics is based largely on Micro-Economics. A business
manageris usually concerned about achievement of the predetermined objectives of his
organisation so as to ensure the long-term survival and pro table functioning of the organization.
Since Business Economics is concerned more with the decision making problems of individual
establishments, it relies heavily on the techniques of Microeconomics.
 Incorporates elements of Macro Analysis: A business unit does not operate in a vacuum. It is
affected bythe external environment of the economy in which it operates such as, the general
price level, income and employment levels in the economy and government policies with respect
to taxation, interest rates, exchange rates, industries, prices, distribution, wages and regulation
of monopolies. All these are components of Macroeconomics. A business manager must be
acquainted with these and other macroeconomic variables, present as well as future, which may
influence his business environment.
 Business Economics is an art as it involves practical application of rules and principles for the
attainment of set objectives.
 Use of Theory of Markets and Private Enterprises: Business Economics largely uses the theory of
marketsand private enterprise. It uses the theory of the firm and resource allocation in the
backdrop of a private enterprise economy.
 Pragmatic in Approach: Micro-Economics is abstract and purely theoretical and analyses
economicphenomena under unrealistic assumptions. In contrast, Business Economics is pragmatic
in its approach as it tackles practical problems which the firms face in the real world.
 Interdisciplinary in nature: Business Economics is interdisciplinary in nature as it incorporates
toolsfrom other disciplines such as Mathematics, Operations Research, Management Theory,
Accounting, marketing, Finance, Statistics and Econometrics.
 Normative in Nature: Economic theory has developed along two lines – positive and normative.
Apositive or pure science analyses cause and effect relationship between variables in an objective
and scientific manner, but it does not involve any value judgement. In other words, it states ‘what
is’ of the state of a airs and not what ‘ought to be’. In other words, it is descriptive in nature in the
sense that it describes the economic behaviour of individuals or society without prescriptions
about the desirability or otherwise of such behaviour. As against this, a normative science involves
value judgements. It is prescriptive in nature and suggests ‘what should be’ a particular course of
action under given circumstances. Welfare considerations are embedded in normative science.
(E) SCOPE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS:
The scope of Business Economics is quite wide. It covers most of the practical problems a manager or a
firm faces. There are two categories of business issues to which economic theories can be directly applied,
namely:
1. Microeconomics applied to operational or internal Issues
2. Macroeconomics applied to environmental or external issues
Therefore, the scope of Business Economics may be discussed under the above two heads.
1. Microeconomics applied to Operational or Internal Issues
Operational issues include all those issues that arise within the organisation and fall within the purview
and control of the management. These issues are internal in nature. Issues related to choice of business
and its size, product decisions, technology and factor combinations, pricing and sales promotion,
financing and management of investments and inventory are a few examples of operational issues.
The following Microeconomic theories deal with most of these issues.
(a) Demand analysis and forecasting:Demand analysis pertains to the behaviour of consumers in
themarket. It studies the nature of consumer preferences and the effect of changes in the
determinants of demand such as, price of the commodity, consumers’ income, prices of related
commodities, consumer tastes and preferences etc.
Demand forecasting is the technique of predicting future demand for goods and services on the
basis of the past behaviour of factors which affect demand. Accurate forecasting is essential for a
firm to enable it to produce the required quantities at the right time and to arrange, well in
advance, for the various factors of production viz., raw materials, labour, machines, equipment,
buildings etc. Business Economics provides the manager with the scientific tools which assist him
in forecasting demand.
(b) Production and Cost Analysis:Production theory explains the relationship between inputs and
output. Abusiness economist has to decide on the optimum size of output, given the objectives
of the rm. He has also to ensure that the firm is not incurring undue costs. Production analysis
enables the firm to decide on the choice of appropriate technology and selection of least - cost
input-mix to achieve technically efficient way of producing output, given the inputs. Cost analysis
enables the firm to recognise the behaviour of costs when variables such as output, time period
and size of plant change. The firm will be able to identify ways to maximize profits by producing
the desired level of output at the minimum possible cost.
(c) Inventory Management: Inventory management theories pertain to rules that firms can use to
minimisethe costs associated with maintaining inventory in the form of ‘work-in-process,’ ‘raw
materials’, and ‘ finished goods’. Inventory policies affect the profitability of the firm. Business
economists use methods such as ABC analysis, simple simulation exercises and mathematical
models to help the firm maintain optimum stock of inventories.
(d) Market Structure and Pricing Policies:Analysis of the structure of the market provides information
aboutthe nature and extent of competition which the firms have to face. This helps in determining
the degree of market power (ability to determine prices) which the firm commands and the
strategies to be followed in market management under the given competitive conditions such as,
product design and marketing. Price theory explains how prices are determined under different
kinds of market conditions and assists the firm in framing suitable price policies.
(e) Resource Allocation:Business Economics, with the help of advanced tools such as linear
programming,enables the firm to arrive at the best course of action for optimum utilisation of
available resources.
For maximizing its profits, the firm has to carefully evaluateits investment decisions and carry out
a sensible policy of capital allocation. Theories related to capital and investment provide scientific
criteria for choice of investment projects and in assessment of the efficiency of capital. Business
Economics supports decision making on allocation of scarce capital among competing uses of
funds.
(f) Profit Analysis: Profits are, most often, uncertain due to changing prices and market conditions.
Profittheory guides the firm in the measurement and management of profits under conditions of
uncertainty. Profit analysis is also immensely useful in future profit planning.
(g) Risk and Uncertainty Analysis: Business firms generally operate under conditions of risk and
uncertainty.Analysis of risks and uncertainties helps the business firm in arriving at efficient
decisions and in formulating plans on the basis of past data, current information and future
prediction.
2. Macroeconomics applied to environmental or external issues
Environmental factors have significant influence upon the functioning and performance of business.
The major macro economic factors relate to:-
 the type of economic system
 stage of business cycle
 the general trends in national income, employment, prices, saving and investment.
 Government’s economic policies like industrial policy, competition policy, monetary and social
policy, price policy, foreign trade policy and globalization policies
 working of financial sector and capital market
 socio-economic organisations like trade unions, producer and consumer unions and cooperatives.
 social and political environment.
REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS
Definitions of Economics
 Adam.Smith is known as father of economics.
 Wealth definitions of economics are given by Adam Smith, J.B.Say and other classical writers.
 Welfare definitions of economics are given by Marshall, Pigou and other neo-classical writers.
 Robbins has given the scarcity definition of economics.
 Samuelson has given the growth definition of economics.
 Scarcity is a relative term which means that all the wants of all the people can never be
satisfied.
 The concept of scarcity is applicable to the poor as well as the rich countries.
 According to Robbins economics is a science of choice making.
 According to Robbins economics is a positive or pure science while according to Marshall
and Pigou economics is a normative science.
 A normative science is the one which is concerned with moral or value judgments.
 A positive science is the one which is concerned with objective truths and analysis of cause
and effect relationship between various variables. It does not consider the ethical aspects of
any law.
 According to Robbins economics should be neutral between ends which means that the
economists have no right to pass value judgements regarding human economic decisions.
 Rational decision making is the fundamental premises of economics. It means that individuals
choose that alternative for which they believe that their economic gain would be the greatest.
 Rational decision making is requires that choice of an economic unit should be consistent
with its goal.
Methods of Studying Economics
 There are two methods of studying any science namely deductive method and inductive
method.
 The deductive method is known as a priori method, axiomatic method or subjective method.
It is based upon abstract reasoning and not upon actual facts. It goes from general to particular.
 The Inductive method is known as scientific method, empirical method or objective method.
It is based upon actual experiments and data. It goes from particular to general.
Micro Economics and Macro Economics
 According to the modern writers the economics is divided into two parts namely micro
economics and macro economics.
 Micro economics is also known is price theory and it is concerned with allocation of economic
resources at the level of individual economic units.
 Micro Economics is also known as price theory. It studies allocation of resources at the level
of individuals and firms.
 Macro economics was developed by Keynes. Macro economics is also known as theory of
income and employment. It is concerned with the allocation of resources at the national
level. It is concerned with aggregates.
UNIT : 2
BASIC PROBLEMS OF AN ECONOMY AND ROLE OF PRICE MECHANISM
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter we will learn basic problems of an economy, types of economy and how different economies
solve their basic problems of an Economy.
(A) BASIC PROBLEMS OF AN ECONOMY

Every economic system, be it capitalist, socialist or mixed, has to deal with this central problem of
scarcity of resources relative to the wants for them. This is generally called ‘the central economic
problem’. The central economic problem is further divided into four basic economic problems.
These are:
(1) What to produce?
(2) How to produce?
(3) For whom to produce?
(4) What provisions (if any) are to be made for economic growth?
(i) What to produce?: Since the resources are limited, every society has to decide which goods
andservices should be produced and how many units of each good (or service) should be produced.
An economy has to decide whether more guns should be produced or more butter should be
produced; or whether more capital goods like machines, equipments, dams etc., will be produced or
more consumer goods such as, cell phones will be produced. Not only the society has to decide
about what goods are to be produced, it has also to decide in what quantities each of these goods
would be produced. In a nutshell, a society must decide how much wheat, how many hospitals, how
many schools, how many machines, how many meters of cloths etc. have to be produced.
(ii) How to produce?: There are various alternative techniques of producing a commodity. For
example,cotton cloth can be produced using handlooms, power looms or automatic looms. Production
with handlooms involves use of more labour and production with automatic loom involves use of
more machines and capital. A society has to decide whether it will produce cotton cloth using
labour-intensive techniques or capital-intensive techniques. Likewise, for all goods and services, it
has to decide whether to use labour- intensive techniques or capital - intensive techniques. Obviously,
the choice would depend on the availability of different factors of production (i.e. labour and capital)
and their relative prices. It is in the society’s interest to use those techniques of production that
make the best use of the available resources.
(iii) For whom to produce?: Another important decision which a society has to take is ‘for whom’ it
shouldproduce. A society cannot satisfy each and every want of all the people. Therefore, it has to
decide on who should get how much of the total output of goods and services, i.e. How the goods
(and services) should be distributed among the members of the society. In other words, it has to
decide about the shares of different people in the national cake of goods and services.
(iv) What provision should be made for economic growth?: A society would not like to use all itsscarce
resources for current consumption only. This is because, if it uses all the resources for current
consumption and no provision is made for future production, the society’s production capacity
would not increase. This implies that incomes or standards of living of the people would remain
stagnant, and in future, the levels of living may actually decline. Therefore, a society has to decide
how much saving and investment (i.e. how much sacrifice of current consumption) should be made
for future progress.
(B) ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND ITS TYPES:
An economic system refers to the sum total of arrangements for the production and distribution of goods
and services in a society. In short, it is defined as the sum of the total devices which give effect to
economic choice. It includes various individuals and economic institutions. Three types of economy:
(1) Capitalist Economy
(2) Socialist Economy
(3) Mixed Economy
(1) CAPITALIST ECONOMY
 It is an Economic system in which all means of production are owned and controlled by private
individuals for profit.
 Private property is the mainstay of capitalism and profit motive is its driving force.
 The government has a limited role in the management of the economic affairs under this system.
Some examples of a capitalist economy may include U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, Mexico, Singapore,
etc.
 An economy is called capitalist or a free market economy or laissez-faire economy if it has the
following characteristics:
(1) Right to private property: The right to private property means that productive factors such as
land,factories, machinery, mines etc. can be under private ownership. The owners of these factors
are free to use them in any manner in which they like and bequeath it as they desire. The government
may, however, put some restrictions for the benefit of the society in general.
(2) Freedom of enterprise: Each individual, whether consumer, producer or resource owner, is free to
engagein any type of economic activity. For example, a producer is free to set up any type of firm and
produce goods and services of his choice.
(3) Freedom of economic choice: All individuals are free to make their economic choices
regardingconsumption, work, production, exchange etc.
(4) Profit motive:Profit motive is the driving force in a free enterprise economy and directs all
economicactivities. Desire for profits induces entrepreneurs to organize production so as to earn
maximum profits.
(5) Consumer Sovereignty: Consumer is the king under capitalism. Consumer sovereignty means that
buyersultimately determine which goods and services will be produced and in what quantities.
Consumers have unbridled freedom to choose the goods and services which they would consume.
Therefore, producers have to produce goods and services which are preferred by the consumers. In
other words, based on the purchases they make, consumers decide how the economy’s limited
resources are allocated.
(6) Competition:Competition is the most important feature of the capitalist economy. Competition
bringsout the best among buyers and sellers and results in efficient use of resources.
(7) Absence of Government Interference: A purely capitalist economy is not centrally planned, controlled
orregulated by the government. In this system, all economic decisions and activities are guided by
self- interest and price mechanism which operates automatically without any direction and control
by the governmental authorities.
How do capitalist economies solve their central problems?
A capitalist economy has no central planning authority to decide what, how and for whom to produce. In
the absence of any central authority, it looks like a miracle as to how such an economy functions. If the
consumers want cars and producers choose to make cloth and workers choose to work for the furniture
industry, there will be total confusion and chaos in the country. However, this does not happen in a
capitalist economy. Such an economy uses the impersonal forces of market demand and supply or the
price mechanism to solve its central problems.
Deciding ‘what to produce’The aim of an entrepreneur is to earn as much profits as possible. This
causesbusinessmen to compete with one another to produce those goods which consumers wish to buy.
Thus, if consumers want more cars, there will be an increase in the demand for cars and as a result their
prices will increase. A rise in the price of cars, costs remaining the same, will lead to more profits. This will
induce producers to produce more cars. On the other hand, if the consumers’ demand for cloth decreases,
its price would fall and profits would go down. Therefore, business firms have less incentive to produce
cloth and less of cloth will be produced. Thus, more of cars and less cloth will be produced in such an
economy. In a capitalist economy (like the USA, UK and Germany) the question regarding what to produce
is ultimately decided by consumers who show their preferences by spending on the goods which they
want.
Deciding ‘how to produce’: An entrepreneur will produce goods and services choosing that technique
ofproduction which renders his cost of production minimum. If labour is relatively cheap he will use
labour-intensive method and if labour is relatively costlier he will use capital-intensive method. Thus,
the relative prices of factors of production help in deciding how to produce.
Deciding ‘for whom to produce’: Goods and services in a capitalist economy will be produced for those
whohave buying capacity. The buying capacity of an individual depends upon his income. How much
income he will be able to make depends not only on the amount of work he does and the prices of the
factors he owns, but also on how much property he owns. Higher the income, higher will be his buying
capacity and higher will be his demand for goods in general.
Deciding about consumption, saving and investment:Consumption and savings are done by consumers
andinvestments are done by entrepreneurs. Consumers’ savings, among other factors, are governed by
the rate of interest prevailing in the market. Higher the interest rates, higher will be the savings. Investment
decisions depend upon the rate of return on capital. The greater the profit expectation (i.e. the return on
capital), the greater will be the investment in a capitalist economy. The rate of interest on savings and the
rate of return on capital are nothing but the prices of capital.
MERITS:
Capitalism is self- regulating and works automatically through price mechanism. There is no need of
incurring costs for collecting and processing of information and for formulating, implementing and
monitoring policies.
1. The existence of private property and the driving force of profit motive result in greater efficiency
and incentive to work.
2. The process of economic growth is likely to be faster under capitalism. This is because the investors
try to invest in only those projects which are economically feasible.
3. Resources are used in activities in which they are most productive. This results in optimum allocation
of the available productive resources of the economy.
4. There is usually high degree of operative efficiency under the capitalist system.
5. Cost of production is minimized as every producer tries to maximize his profit by employing methods
of production which are cost-effective.
6. Capitalist system offer incentives for efficient economic decisions and their implementation.
7. Consumers are benefitted as competition forces producers to bring in a large variety of good quality
products at reasonable prices. This, along with freedom of choice, ensures maximum satisfaction to
consumers. This also results in higher standard of living.
8. Capitalism offers incentives for innovation and technological progress. The country as a whole
benefits through growth of business talents, development of research, etc.
9. Capitalism preserves fundamental rights such as right to freedom and right to private property.
Therefore, the participants enjoy maximum amount of autonomy and freedom.
10. Capitalism rewards men of initiative and enterprise and punishes the imprudent and inefficient.
11. Capitalism usually functions in a democratic framework.
12. The capitalist set up encourages enterprise and risk taking and emergence of an entrepreneurial
class willing to take risks.
DEMERITS :
1. There is vast economic inequality and social injustice under capitalism. Inequalities reduce the
aggregate economic welfare of the society as a whole and split the society into two classes namely
the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, sowing the seeds of social unrest and class conflict.
2. Under capitalism, there is precedence of property rights over human rights.
3. Economic inequalities lead to wide differences in economic opportunities and perpetuate unfairness
in the society.
4. The capitalist system ignores human welfare because, under a capitalist set up, the aim is profit and
not the welfare of the people.
5. Due to income inequality, the pattern of demand does not represent the real needs of the society.
6. Exploitation of labour is common under capitalism. Very often this leads to strikes and lock outs.
Moreover, there is no security of employment. This makes workers more vulnerable.
7. Consumer sovereignty is a myth as consumers often become victims of exploitation. Excessive
competition and profit motive work against consumer welfare.
8. There is misallocation of resources as resources will move into the production of luxury goods. Less
wage goods will be produced on account of their lower profitability.
9. Less of merit goods like education and health care will be produced. On the other hand, a number of
goods and services which are positively harmful to the society will be produced as they are more
profitable.
10. Due to unplanned production, economic instability in terms of over production, economic depression,
unemployment etc., is very common under capitalism. These result in a lot of human misery.
11. There is enormous waste of productive resources as firms spend huge amounts of money on
advertisement and sales promotion activities.
12. Capitalism leads to the formation of monopolies as large firms may be able to drive out small ones
by fair means.
13. Excessive materialism as well as conspicuous and unethical consumption lead to environmental
degradation.
(2) SOCIALIST ECONOMY
The concept of socialist economy was propounded by Karl Marx and Frederic Engels in their work ‘The
Communist Manifesto’ published in 1848. In this economy, the material means of production i.e. factories,
capital, mines etc. are owned by the whole community represented by the State. All members are entitled
to get benefit from the fruits of such socialised planned production on the basis of equal rights. A socialist
economy is also called as “Command Economy” or a “Centrally Planned Economy”. Here, the resources
are allocated according to the commands of a central planning authority and therefore, market forces
have no role in the allocation of resources. Under a socialist economy, production and distribution of
goods are aimed at maximizing the welfare of the community as a whole.
Some important characteristics of this economy are:
(i) Collective Ownership:There is collective ownership of all means of production except small
farms,workshops and trading firms which may remain in private hands. As a result of social ownership,
profit-motive and self- interest are not the driving forces of economic activity as it is in the case of
a market economy. The resources are used to achieve certain socio-economic objectives.
(ii) Economic planning:There is a Central Planning Authority to set and accomplish socio- economic
goals;that is why it is called a centrally planned economy. The major economic decisions, such as
what to produce, when and how much to produce, etc., are taken by the central planning authority.
(iii) Absence of Consumer Choice:Freedom from hunger is guaranteed, but consumers’ sovereignty
getsrestricted by selective production of goods. The range of choice is limited by planned production.
However, within that range, an individual is free to choose what he likes most.
The right to work is guaranteed, but the choice of occupation gets restricted because these are
determined by the central planning authority on the basis of certain socio-economic goals before
the nation.
(iv) Relatively Equal Income Distribution:A relative equality of income is an important feature of
Socialism.Among other things, differences in income and wealth are narrowed down by lack of
opportunities to accumulate private capital. Educational and other facilities are enjoyed more or
less equally; thus the basic causes of inequalities are removed.
(v) Minimum role of Price Mechanism or Market forces: Price mechanism exists in a socialist economy;
butit has only a secondary role, e.g., to secure the disposal of accumulated stocks. Since allocation of
productive resources is done according to a predetermined plan, the price mechanism as such does
not influence these decisions. In the absence of the profit motive, price mechanism loses its
predominant role in economic decisions. The prices prevailing under socialism are ‘administered
prices’ which are set by the central planning authority on the basis of socio-economic objectives.
(vi) Absence of Competition: Since the state is the sole entrepreneur, there is absence of competition
undersocialism.
The erstwhile U.S.S.R. is an example of socialist economy. In today’s world there is no country which is
purely socialist. North Korea, the world’s most totalitarian state, is another prominent example of a
socialist economy. Other examples include China and Cuba.
MERITS:
1. Equitable distribution of wealth and income and provision of equal opportunities for all help to
maintain economic and social justice.
2. Rapid and balanced economic development is possible in a socialist economy as the central planning
authority coordinates all resources in an efficient manner according to set priorities.
3. Socialist economy is a planned economy. In a socialistic economy, there will be better utilization of
resources and it ensures maximum production. Wastes of all kinds are avoided through strict economic
planning. Since competition is absent, there is no wastage of resources on advertisement and sales
promotion.
4. In a planned economy, unemployment is minimised, business fluctuations are eliminated and stability
is brought about and maintained.
5. The absence of profit motive helps the community to develop a co-operative mentality and avoids
class war. This, along with equality, ensures welfare of the society.
Socialism ensures right to work and minimum standard of living to all people.
6. Under Socialism, the labourers and consumers are protected from exploitation by the employers
and monopolies respectively.
7. There is provision of comprehensive social security under socialism and this makes citizens feel
secure.
DEMERITS:
1. Socialism involves the predominance of bureaucracy and the resulting inefficiency and delays.
Moreover, there may also be corruption, red- tapism, favouritism, etc.
2. It restricts the freedom of individuals as there is state ownership of the material means of production
and state direction and control of nearly all economic activity.
3. Socialism takes away the basic rights such as the right of private property.
4. It will not provide necessary incentives to hard work in the form of profit.
5. Administered prices are not determined by the forces of the market on the basis of negotiations
between the buyers and the sellers. There is no proper basis for cost calculation. In the absence of
such practice, the most economic and scientific allocation of resources and the efficient functioning
of the economic system are impossible.
6. State monopolies created by socialism will sometimes become uncontrollable. This will be more
dangerous than the private monopolies under capitalism.
7. Under socialism, the consumers have no freedom of choice. Therefore, what the state produces has
to be accepted by the consumers.
8. No importance is given to personal efficiency and productivity. Labourers are not rewarded according
to their efficiency. This acts as a disincentive to work.
9. The extreme form of socialism is not at all practicable.
(3) THE MIXED ECONOMY

In a mixed economy, the aim is to develop a system which tries to include the best features of both the
controlled economy and the market economy while excluding the demerits of both. It appreciates the
advantages of private enterprise and private property with their emphasis on self-interest and pro t
motive. Vast economic development of England, the USA etc. is due to private enterprise.
Features of mixed economy
(i) Co-existence of private and public sector: The first important feature of a mixed economy is theco-
existence of both private and public enterprise.
In fact, in a mixed economy, there are three sectors of industries:
(a) Private sector: Production and distribution in this sector are managed and controlled by
privateindividuals and groups. Industries in this sector are based on self-interest and pro t motive.
The system of private property exists and personal initiative is given full scope. However, private
enterprise may be regulated by the government directly and/or indirectly by a number of policy
instruments.
((b) Public sector: Industries in this sector are not primarily pro t-oriented, but are set up by the State for
thewelfare of the community.
((c) Combined sector: A sector in which both the government and the private enterprises have equal
access,and join hands to produce commodities and services, leading to the establishment of joint
sectors.
Mixed economy has the following merits available to capitalist economies and socialist economies.
1. Economic freedom and existence of private property which ensures incentive to work and capital
formation.
2. Price mechanism and competition forces operating in the private sector promoting efficient decisions
and better resource allocation.
3. Consumers are benefitted through consumers’ sovereignty and freedom of choice.
4. Appropriate incentives for innovation and technological progress.
5. Encourages enterprise and risk taking.
6. Advantages of economic planning and rapid economic development on the basis of plan priorities.
7. Comparatively greater economic and social equality and freedom from exploitation due to greater
state participation and direction of economic activities.
8. Disadvantages of cut-throat competition averted through government’s legislative measures such
as environment and labour regulations.
However, mixed economy is not always a ‘golden path’ between capitalism and socialism. It suffers from
substantial uncertainties. Mixed economy is characterised by excessive controls by the state resulting in
reduced incentives and constrained growth of the private sector, poor implementation of planning, higher
rates of taxation, lack of efficiency, corruption, wastage of resources, undue delays in economic decisions
and poor performance of the public sector. Moreover, it is very di cult to maintain a proper balance
between the public and private sectors. In the absence of strong governmental initiatives, the private
sector is likely to grow disproportionately.
REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS :
Central Economic Problems

 There are five central economic problems before any economy; what to produce, how to
produce, how to distribute, how to provide for growth and the division of production of private
and public goods. However, when to produce is not an economic problem.
 Economics is a science as well as an art.
Economic systems
 There are three most important features of a capitalist economy; private property, allocation
of resources through market and production of goods and services according to the choice of
private consumers.
 There are three most important features of a socialist economy; collective ownership of
means of production, allocation of resources through centralised planning and production of
goods and services according to the needs of the community.
 There are three most important features of a mixed economy; co-existence of private sector
and public sector, limited economic planning and presence of economic controls side by side
economic freedoms.
 The greatest limitation of allocating resources through the use of market system is that
economic resources are wasted.
 In capitalist society production takes place according to market demand while in socialist
economy it takes place according to need of the society.
 In a mixed economy there is planning by inducement or financial planning.
 In a mixed economy the role of the state is that of preventing undesirable competition and
promoting a rational allocation of resources.
 In a mixed economy the public sector and private sector exist side by side and both of them
are complementary.
 In a mixed economy there is a dual system of pricing.
 Consumer’s sovereignty is found in a free market economy and it means that the allocation of
resources as between various activities is decided by consumer’s choices and preferences.
 In socialist society cost benefit analysis is used to decide allocation of resources.
 In capitalist society the national income is more unevenly distributed than in socialist society.
(a) Planned economies allocate resources
CLASS WORK via government departments.
(b) Most transitional economies have
1. Economists regard decision making as experienced problems of falling output
important because: and rising prices over the past decade.
(a) The resources required to satisfy our (c) There is a greater degree of consumer
unlimited wants and needs are finiteor sovereignty in market economies than
scarce. planned economies.
(b) It is crucial to understand how we can (d) Reducing inequality should be a major
best allocate our scarce resources to priority for mixed economies.
satisfy society’s unlimited wants and 6. In every economic system, scarcity imposes
needs. limitations on
(c) Resources have alternative uses. (a) households, business firms,
(d) All the above. governments, and the nation as a whole.
2. Business Economics is (b) households and business firms, but not
(a) Abstract and applies the tools of the governments.
Microeconomics. (c) local and state governments, but not the
(b) Involves practical application of federal government.
economic theory in business decision (d) households and governments, but not
making. business firms.
(c) Incorporates tools from multiple e) business firms, governments, and the
disciplines. nation as a whole.
(d) ((b) and ((c) above. 7. Macroeconomics is also called———
3. In Economics, we use the term scarcity to economics.
mean; (a) applied
(a) Absolute scarcity and lack of resources in (b) aggregate
less developed countries. (c) experimental
(b) Relative scarcity i.e. scarcity in relation (d) none of the above
to the wants of the society. 8. An example of ‘positive’ economic analysis
(c) Scarcity during times of business failure would be:
and natural calamities. (a) an analysis of the relationship between
(d) Scarcity caused on account of excessive the price of food and the quantity
consumption by the rich. purchased.
4. What implication(s) does resource scarcity (b) determining how much income each
have for the satisfaction of wants? person should be guaranteed.
(a) Not all wants can be satisfied. (c) determining the ‘fair’ price for food.
(b) We will never be faced with the need to (d) deciding how to distribute the output of
make choices. the economy.
(c) We must develop ways to decrease our 9. A study of how increases in the corporate
individual wants. income tax rate will affect the national
(d) The discovery of new natural resources unemployment rate is an example of
is necessary to increase our ability to (a) Macro-Economics.
satisfy wants. (b) Descriptive Economics.
5. Which of the following is a normative (c) Micro-economics.
statement? (d) Normative economics.
10. Which of the following does not suggest a (a) Should our firm be in this business?
macro approach for India? (b) How much should be produced and at
(a) Determining the GNP of India. price should be kept?
(b) Finding the causes of failure of ABC Ltd. (c) How will the product be placed in the
(c) Identifying the causes of inflation in market?
India. (d) How should we decrease unemployment
(d) Analyse the causes of failure of industry in the economy?
in providing large scale employment 16. Which of the following is a normative
economic statement?
11. Ram: My corn harvest this year is poor.
(a) Unemployment rate decreases with
Krishan: Don’t worry. Price increases will
industrialization
compensate for the fall in quantity supplied.
(b) Economics is a social science that studies
Vinod: Climate affects crop yields. Some years human behaviour.
are bad, others are good.
(c) The minimum wage should be raised to ‘
Madhu: The Government ought to guarantee 200/- per day
that our income will not fall. (d) India spends a huge amount of money
In this conversation, the normative statement on national defence.
is made by 17. Which of the following would be considered a
(a) Ram (b) Krishan topic of study in Macroeconomics?
(c) Vinod (d) Madhu (a) The effect of increase in wages on the
12. Consider the following and decide which, if profitability of cotton industry
any, economy is without scarcity: (b) The effect on steel prices when more
(a) The pre-independent Indian economy, steel is imported
where most people were farmers. (c) The effect of an increasing inflation rate
(b) A mythical economy where everybody is on living standards of people in India
a billionaire. (d) The effect of an increase in the price of
(c) Any economy where income is coffee on the quantity of tea consumed
distributed equally among its people. 18. The difference between positive and
(d) None of the above. normative Economics is:
(a) Positive Economics explains the
13. Which of the following is not a subject matter
performance of the economy while
of Micro-economies?
normative Economics finds out the
(a) The price of mangoes.
reasons for poor performance.
(b) The costofproducing a truck for the fire (b) Positive Economics describes the facts of
department of Delhi, India. the economy while normative Economics
(c) The quantity of mangoes produced for involves evaluating whether some of
the mangoes market. these are good or bad for the welfare of
(d) The national economy’s annual rate of the people.
growth. (c) Normative Economics describes the facts
14. The branch of economic theory that deals with of the economy while positive Economics
the problem of allocation of resources is involves evaluating whether some of
(a) Micro-Economic theory.(b) Macro- these are good or bad for the welfare of
economic theory. the people.
(c) Econometrics. (d) Positive Economics prescribes while
(d) none of the above. normative Economics describes.
15. Which of the following is not the subject 19. Which of the following is not within the scope
matter of Business Economics? of Business Economics?
(a) Capital Budgeting (a) Firms decide whom to hire and what to
(b) Risk Analyses produce.
(c) Business Cycles (b) Firms aim at maximizing profits.
(d) Accounting Standards (c) Households decide which firms to work
20. Which of the following statements is for and what to buy with their incomes.
incorrect? (d) Government policies are the primary
(a) Business economics is normative in forces that guide the decisions of firms
nature. and households.
(b) Business Economics has a close 26. In a mixed economy
connection with statistics. (a) all economic decisions are taken by the
(c) Business Economist need not worry central authority.
about macro variables. (b) all economic decisions are taken by
(d) Business Economics is also called private entrepreneurs.
Managerial Economics. (c) economic decisions are partly taken by
21. Economic goods are considered scarce the state and partly by the private
resources because they entrepreneurs.
(a) cannot be increased in quantity. (d) None of the above.
(b) do not exist in adequate quantity to 27. The central problem in economics is that of
satisfy the requirements of the society. (a) comparing the success of command
(c) are of primary importance in satisfying versus market economies
social requirements. (b) guaranteing that production occurs in the
(d) are limited to man made goods. most efficient manner.
22. In a free market economy the allocation of (c) guaranteing a minimum level of income
resources is determined by for every citizen.
(a) voting done by consumers (d) allocating scarce resources in such a
manner that society’s unlimited needs or
(b) a central planning authority.
wants are satisfied inthe best possible
(c) consumer preferences. manner.
(d) the level of profits of firms. 28. Capital intensive technique would get chosen
23. A capitalist economy uses in a
____________________ as the principal means (a) labour surplus economy where the
of allocating resources. relative price of capital is lower.
(a) demand (b) supply (b) capital surplus economy where the
(c) efficiency (d) prices relative price of capital is lower.
24. Which of the following is considered as a (c) developed economy where technology
disadvantage of allocating resources using the is better.
market system? (d) developing economy where technology
(a) Income will tend to be unevenly is poor.
distributed. 29. Which of the following is not one of the four
(b) People do not get goods of their choice. central questions that the study of economics
(c) Men of Initiative and enterprise are not is supposed to answer?
rewarded. (a) Who produces what?
(d) Profits will tend to be low. (b) When are goods produced?
25. Which of the following statements does not (c) Who consumes what?
apply to a market economy? (d) How are goods produced?
30. Larger production of ____goods would lead to
higher production in future.
HOME WORK
(a) consumer goods
(b) capital goods 1. Right to own private property is found in:
(c) agricultural goods (a) Socialism (b) Capitalism
(d) public goods (c) Mixed economy (d) Both b and c
31. The economic system in which all the means 2. Macro economics doesn’t include one
of production are owned and controlled by example from the following:
private individuals for profit. (a) National income and output
(a) Socialism (b) Study of firms
(b) Capitalism (c) General price level
(c) Mixed economy (d) Saving and Investment
(d) Communism 3. With the same amount of resources a farmer
32. Macro Economics is the study of can feed following combinations of goats and
________________________. horses
(a) all aspects of scarcity. Goats Horses
(b) the national economy and the global OPTION 1 168 44
economy as a whole. OPTION2 150 50
(c) big businesses. Given the option available with him, what is
(d) the decisions of individual businesses the opportunity cost to the farmer of feeding
and people. one horse?
33. Freedom of choice is the advantage of (a) 1 goat (b) 3 horses
(a) Socialism (b) Capitalism (c) 3 goats (d) 18 goats
(c) Communism (d) None of the 4. Price of essential goods are decided by the
above Government and prices of normal goods are
decided by market forces of demand and
34. Exploitation and inequality are minimal under:
supply. This concept is called-
(a) Socialism (b) Capitalism
(a) Pricing mechanism
(c) Mixed economy (d) None
(b) Market mechanism
35. Administered prices refer to:
(c) Dual system of pricing
(a) Prices determined by forces of demand
(d) Unregulated pricing
and supply
5. Micro economics is also called
(b) Prices determined by sellers in the
market (a) Price theory
(c) Prices determined by an external (b) Income theory
authority which is usually the (c) Irrelevant theory
government (d) Development theory
(d) None of the above 6. Economic laws are essentially _______ and
_______
(a) hypothetical, conditional
(b) hypothetical, unconditional
(c) neutral, rigid
(d) neutral, flexible
7. Which type of economic system does the 13. Economics is the study of
United States have? (a) production technology
(a) traditional (b) consumption decisions
(b) Command (c) how society decides what, how, and for
(c) Free whom to produce
(d) Mixed (d) the best way to run society
8. The tribe relied on hunting and farming for 14. Scarcity is a situation in which
food. The boy knew he would be a farmer just (a) wants exceed the resources available to
like his dad had been. What kind of economic satisfy them
system does this describe? (b) something is being wasted
(a) Mixed economy (c) people are poor
(b) Free economy (d) none of the above
(c) Traditional economy 15. Oikonomia means
(d) Command economy (a) Aikonomia (b) Wikipedia
9. In the former Soviet Union consumers had to (c) household (d) None
wait in long lines to buy everyday items like
16. ___________________ refers to the process of
bread. They did not have many choices and
selecting an appropriate alternative that will
the government controlled factories. What
provide the most efficient means of attaining
type of economy did they live in?
a desired end, from two or more alternative
(a) Mixed economy courses of action.
(b) Command economy (a) Organisation
(c) Free economy (b) Management
(d) Traditional economy (c) Decision making
10. There is little or no government control in a (d) Supervision
_____________ economy.
17. The concept of socialist economy was
(a) Mixed economy propounded by
(b) Free economy (a) Karl Marx and Frederic Engels
(c) Controlled economy (b) Marshall
(d) Traditional economy (c) Adam Smith
11. The fundamental economic problem faced by (d) None of the above
all societies is:
18. Economics is
(a) unemployment (b) inequality
(a) Science only
(c) poverty (d) scarcity
(b) Science and an art both
12. If you were working full-time now, you could
(c) An art
earn $20,000 per year. Instead, you are working
part-time while going to school. In your (d) None of the above
current part-time job, you earn $5,000 per year. 19. The concept of per-capita income is concept
At your school, the annual cost of tuition, of
books, and other fees is $2,000. The (a) Public economics
opportunity cost of completing your education (b) International economics
is: (c) micro economics
(a) $2,000 (b) $5,000 (d) macro economics
(c) $17,000 (d) $20,000
(e) $22,000
20. Which of the following is an economic activity?
(a) Seeing TV
(b) Teaching one’s own son at home
(c) Medical facilities rendered by a hospital
(d) A housewife preparing food for
household
21. Economic laws can be compared with the laws
of
(a) physics (b) biology
(c) chemistry (d) tides
22. India has adopted
(a) socialist economy
(b) capitalistic economy
(c) mixed economy
(d) Russian type economy
23. Economic laws are
(a) very accurate
(b) less accurate than the laws of
management
(c) less accurate than the laws of physical
sciences
(d) universal
ANSWER KEY
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c)
4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (a)
7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (b)
10. (b) 11. (d) 12. (c)
13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (c)
16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (b)
19. (d) 20. (c) 21. (d)
22. (c) 23. (c)
ht to you b www.navkardigitalinstitute.com
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B NC E 1997
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Navkar
Digital
Institute
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Nature & Scope of Business Economics

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OUNDAT

(A) What is Economics about?

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS

(A) BASIC PROBLEMS OF AN ECONOMY

(3) THE MIXED ECONOMY

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS :

Central Economic Problems

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