In macroeconomics, understanding the behavior of consumers and firms is essential, particularly when examining their decision-making processes regarding work, leisure, and profit maximization.
a measure of total factor productivity obtained as a residual fromthe production function, given measures of aggregate output, labourinput, and capital input
Cobb-Douglas production function
a particular mathematical form for the production functionthat fits Canadian aggregate data well
representative firm
a stand-in for all firms in the economy
decreasing returns to scale
a property of the production technology whereby if the firmincreases all inputs by a factor x, this increases the output byless than the factor x
increasing returns to scale
a property of the production technology whereby if thefirm increases all inputs by factor x, this increases theoutput by more than the factor x
constant returns to scale
a property of the production technology whereby if thefirm increases all inputs by a factor x, this increasesoutput by more than the factor x
marginal product
the additional output produced when another unit of a factorof production is added to the production process
total factor productivity
a variable in the production function that makes allfactors of production more productive if it increases
production function
a function describign the technological possibilities forconverting factor inputs into outputs
perfect substitutes
two goods with a constant marginal rate of substitutionbetween them
perfect complements
two goods that are always consumed in fixedproportions
labour supply curve
a relationship describing the quantity of labour suppliedfor each level of the real wage
substitution effect
the effect on the quantity consumed of a good of a price change,holding the consumer's welfare constant
income effect
the effect on the quantity consumed of a good of a pricechange, because of having effectivilly different income
pure income effect
the effect on the consumers optimal consumptionbundle because of a change in real disposale incomeholding prices constant
relative price
the price ofa good in units of another good
optimal consumption bundle
the consumption bundle for which the consumer is aswell off as possible while satifying the budget constraint
rational
describes a consumer who makes an informed optimization decision
budget constraint
condition that consuption equals wage incomeplus nonwage income minus taxes
lump-sum tax
a tax that is unaffected by the actions of teh consumeror firm being taxed
dividend income
profits of firms that are distributed to the consumer,who owns the firm
numeraire
a good in which prices are dominated
real wage
the wage rate in units of the consumption good
time constraint
condition that hours worked plus leisure time sumto total time available to the consumer
barter
and exchange of goods for goods
competitive behaviour
actions taken by a consumer or firm if market pricesare outside its control
marginal rate of substitution
minus the slope of indifference curve, or the rate atwhich the consumer is just willing to trade good foranother
indifference curve
a set if points that represent consumption budles among whicha consumer is indifferent
indifference map
a set of indifference curves representing a consumer'spreferences over goods: has the same information as theutility function
inferior good
a good for which consumption decreases as income increases
normal good
a good for which consumption increase as income increase
consumption bundle
a given consumption-leisure combination
utility function
a function that captures a consumer's preferences over goods
representative consumer
a stand-in for all consumers in the economy
leisure
time spend not working in the market
consumption good
a single good that represents an aggregation of all consumergoods in the economy
dynamic decision
a decision made by a consumer or firm for more thanone time period
static decision
a decision made by consumer or firm for only one time period
The Representative Firm
THE PROFIT MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM OFTHE REPRESENTATIVE FIRM
THE EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN TOTAL FACTORPRODUCTIVITY AND THE PRODUCTION FUNCTION
The Representative Consumer
CONSUMER OPTIMIZATION
An Example
Consumption and Leasureare Perfect Complements
The Representative Consumer and ChangesIn the Real Wage:Income and Substitution Effects
How Does the Representative ConsumerRespond to a Change in Real Dividends orTaxes