ECON 300: Fundamentals of Economics

Explore the concept of government-created monopolies, which are entities granted exclusive rights, like licenses, patents, and copyrights. While they can promote innovation and efficiently operate in high-cost industries, they might also introduce inefficiencies and stifle competition. Weighing the pros and cons is essential.

Discover the intricate components of an economy, including savings, budgets, and trade balances. Learn how these elements interconnect and influence private investment. Understand an economic identity that determines an economy's investment levels.

Explore the fundamental concept of the circular-flow diagram in economics, which simplifies the intricate interactions between households and firms. Includes examples illustrating how money, labor, and services flow between these economic actors.

Unexpected inflation can shift wealth between lenders and borrowers. This phenomenon affects the real value of money repaid, disadvantaging the creditors. Additionally, businesses face operational expenses like menu costs during inflation adjustments.

Understand the economic implications of "cost" and its relevance in daily decision-making. Learn about shoeleather costs, including its tangible and intangible components. Grasp how different scenarios impact these costs and ways to optimize them.

Discover the pivotal role of assumptions in economics as we navigate the challenges of studying intricate market behaviors and human actions. Unveil how these simplifications foster comprehensive economic analyses and predictions.