© 2010 Pearson Education Canada
Two Big Economic Questions
Figure 1.1 shows the trends in what the Canadian economy has produced over the past 60 years. It shows the decline of agriculture, mining, construction, and manufacturing, and the expansion of services.
Chapter 1
What is Economics?
© 2010 Pearson Education Canada
In this lecture, we will learn:
• What is Economics all about? • What are the two major branches of economics?
Choices that individuals, businesses and the entire society make in order to allocate their limited resources, determine their economic future and their economic well-being.
© 2010 Pearson Education Canada
The Economic Way of Thinking
Choosing at the Margin
People make choices at the margin, which means that they evaluate the consequences of making incremental changes in the use of their resources. The benefit from pursuing an incremental increase in an activity is its marginal benefit. The opportunity cost of pursuing an incremental increase in an activity is its marginal cost.