ECONOMICS
ECONOMICS
WEEK 1
PRODUCTION POSSBILITY CURVE
A production possibility curve (PPC) is a graphical or diagrammatic illustration of all possible
bundles or combinations of two types of goods which a society can produce using its present
level of resources and given the existing level of technology.
The idea behind the production possibility curve is that in order to produce a particular
commodity, the production of another commodity has to be sacrificed.
For example, the production possibility curves for the production of cattle and motor vehicles in
South Africa.
Production Possibility Table for The Production of Cattle and Motor vehicles by South Africa
Possible combination head of cattle no of motor vehicles
A 200 0
B 170 30
C 100 70
D 80 130
E 40 150
F 0 180
The table shows the alternative open to South Africa to substitute the production of cattle for
vehicle on a monthly basis, assuming a given state of technology and a given total of resources.
PPC
200 A
B Official use of resources
160 Non feasible area
O
C P
120
80 D
40 E
F
0
40 80 120 160 200
Production Possibility curve for the Production of cattle and motor vehicle in South Africa.
INTERPRETATION OR POINTS TO NOT FROM THE GRAPH
i. Points A to F on the graph indicate efficient use of resources
ii. At points O and P (outside the curve), production is not feasible. Production of these
points is not feasible due to the limited resources and technology.
iii. At point K and L (inside the curve), production is feasible. It represents where resources
are not efficiently utilized.
iv. The downward slope of the PPC indicate that there is an opportunity cost of producing
more of one type of commodity and less of the other due to limited resources and
technical know how
1. TOTAL PRODUCT (TP): Total product refers to the total quantity of goods produced at a
particular time as a result of the use of all the factors of production.
Symbolically written as TP = AP X Q
output TP
2. AVERAGE PRODUCT (AP): Average product is defined as the output per unit of the variable
factor (labour or capital) employed. This is obtained by dividing the total output by the number
of labour or capital employed.Symbolically written as AP:TP/Q
Y
AP
AP
3.MAGINAL PRODUCT (MP): This is the additional product produced as a result of the
application of additional unit of a variable factor when all other factors are fixed.
MP
Unit of labour
MP
1 3 8 8 ……
2 3 18 9 10
3 3 36 12 18
4 3 48 12 12
5 3 55 11 7
6 3 60 10 5
7 3 60 86 0
8 3 56 7 -4
The relationship between total products, average product and marginal product can be
demonstrated by a graph. Both TP and MP initially rise. The TP curve remains at maximum
point when MP is zero. To declines after MP = 0 and MP afterwards assumes negative values.
QUESTIONS
0 1000 …….
1 1100 100
2 1250 150
3 1500 250
4 …….. 400
5 …….. 250
6 ……. 125
7 2350 ……..
8 2380 ……..
9 2330 ……..
WEEK 2
COST CONCEPT
MEANING OF COST OF PRODUCTION
Cost of production can be defined as the sum of total of all the payment to the factors of
production used in production of goods and services.
For goods and services to be produced, all the four factors of production, which are land, capital,
labour and entrepreneur, must work together.
Total cost
Fixed Cost
0 Output
Total Cost (TC)
2. FIXED COST (FC): Fixed cost, also called overhead cost or unavoidable cost, is defined
as the cost that remains constant in the short run no matter the level of output. E.g.
money spent on rent, etc.
FC = Total Cost – Variable or TFC = AFC x Q
Fixed Cost
Cost
3. 0
VARIABLE OutputVariable cost, also called direct cost, is defined as the cost
COST (COST):
of production which varies or changes directly with the level of output. E.g. cost of raw
materials, labour, etc. VC = TC – FC
Variable cost
Cost
Output
Variable Cost (VC)
4. AVERAGE COST (AC) OR AVERAGE TOTAL COST (ATC): Average cost is defined
as cost per unit of output.
Average cost is the total cost of producing a given output divided by the number of units
of output.
Total cost (TC )
AC = ∨ATC= AFC + AVC
Total output ( tq )
AC or ATC
Cost
0 Output
s
t
5. AVERAGE VARIABLE COST: The average variable cost is the cost per unit of
variable cost of output.
TVC
AVC = =ATC− AFC
TQ
Cost
AVC
0 Output
6. AVERAGE FIXED COST (AFC): This is the fixed cost per unit of output.
¿
AFC = Total ¿ Cost Quantity
Cost
AFC
O Output
ASSIGNMENT
COST SCHEDULE OF A FIRM
Output (TFC) (TVC) (TC) (AVC) (AFC) (Mc)
0 100 1 C 0 100 -
1 100 40 D 40 140 K
2 100 A 164 G 84 L
3 100 B 180 H 60 8
4 100 88 188 22 I 8
5 100 96 196 19.5 J 8
WEEK 3
REVENUE CONCEPT
Revenue refers to the income derived by a producer or firm from business activities or from the
sale of his or its products.
TYPES OF REVENUE
1. TOTA REVENUE (TR): This refers to the total income which a firm derives from the
sale of its products.
Total Revenue = Price x Quantity (TR = PxQ)
2. AVERAGE REVENUE (A.R): The average revenue is the same as the price per unit of
the commodity. It is derived by dividing the total revenue by the total unit of the
commodity sold.
Total Revenue TR PQ
AR= = = =P
Quantity sold Q Q
3. Marginal revenue: This is the additional income earned by selling an extra unit of a
commodity.
Change∈total revenue ∆ TR
MR= =
change∈quantity ∆Q
Revenue TR
AR
MR
ASSIGNMENT
TABLE OF A FIRM OF REVENUE AND COST
Quantity of yams Total Revenue Marginal Total Cost (TC) Marginal Cost
(kg) (TR) N Revenue (ML) N N (MC) N
0 0 - 5 -
1 9 9 8 3
2 18 9 10 1
3 24 6 21 5
4 28 Q 25 4
5 30 2 25 U
6 P 1 25 O
7 28 -3 25 1
8 24 R 24 -2
Use the table to answer the following questions
a) Complete the table by calculating the missing figures P, Q, R, S, T and U
b) At what output is profit maximized
c) Calculate the profit when the quantity sold is 5
d) At what output does MC begins to rise
WEEK 4
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
An economic system may be defined as a medium or an organized way by which the means of
production in a state are utilized in order to satisfy human wants.
The major types of economic systems are capitalism, socialism, and the mixed economy.
CAPITALISM OR FREE MARKET ECONOMY
Capitalism or free market economy may be defined as the type of economic system in which the
means of production are owned and controlled by private individuals.
A country which practices capitalism could be said to have a market economy, a laissez-faire
economy, an uncontrolled economy, a free enterprises, or a capitalist economy.
Examples of countries which practice capitalism include the U.S.A, Japan, Australia, France,
Italy etc.
FEATURES OF CAPTALISM
1. Private ownership of properties: There is high degree of private ownership and control of
means of production with minimal participation by the state
2. Existence of competition: In a market economy there is competition among the various
individuals and firms as a result of an effort to acquire wealth or control means of
production.
3. Profit maximization motive: Capitalism is characterized by high level of profit
maximization by private investors.
4. Freedom of choice: Consumers in this economy are free to choose from a wide range of
goods and services
5. Production and consumption are regulated by price system: The price system determines
what producers have to produce, taking into consideration the demand of the consumers
and the price offered for the goods
6. Development of individual initiatives: Individual initiatives are well developed in a
market economy
7. Wealth accumulation: In a free market system wealth is accumulated by the capitalists.
ADVANTAGES OF CAPITALISM
1. Competition and rivalry lead to efficiency and full utilization of societal resources both
human and materials
2. Freedom to own properties and factor of production
3. It promotes increased standard of living
4. It facilitates rapid economic growth and development
5. There is increased efficiency in production
6. Capitalism removes the tendency for the growth of dictatorship
7. Talent are fully utilized
8. It enhances technological development
9. Provision of alternatives choice
10. High standard of living
DISADVANTAGES OF CAPITALSIM
1. There may be waste and inefficiency in the use of productive resources as a result of
unhealthy competition among the producers
2. There is an exploitation of consumers
3. It creates disparity of income and wealth. There is inequality in income and wealth in a
capitalist economy
4. It creates monopoly: As a result of economic activities of a few individual investors,
monopoly can easily be created
5. Profit maximization at all cost: In capitalist economy, private individuals are interested
in making profit by all means.
SOCIALISM
Socialism also called centrally planned or controlled economic system is defined as type of
economic system in which the means of production and distribution are collectively owned and
controlled by the state (the government).
A country which practices socialism is said to have a controlled economy, a centrally planned
economy, a socialist economy, or a command economy. Good examples of countries operating
under socialism are Tanzania and Poland.
FEATURES OF SOCIALISM
1. State ownership of means of production: Ownership and control of industries resources
and means of production and distribution are vested in the hands of the government.
Private individuals are not allowed to own properties
2. Collective decision making: Decision on what to produce, how to produce and for whom
to produce are taken jointly by the people
3. Promotion of social welfare: It is a system characterized by maximization of social
welfare
4. Absence of competition: In this type of economic system, economic rivalry associated
with capitalism is non-existent
5. Absence of profit motive: The major reason for carrying out productive activities is not
to maximize profit but to provide for people’s welfare and raise the general standard of
living
6. Allocation of goods and services is carried out by the central planning committee
7. Various committees are set up by the government to help in estimating people’s wants
and to regulate production and consumption.
ADVANTAGES OF SOCIALISM
1. Equitable distribution of Income: Incomes are equitable or fairly distributed among the
people based on their needs or wants
2. Job security: The interest of labour is protected in socialist economy. Jobs are secured,
therefore, unemployment is minimal
3. Growth of private monopoly is checked: All productive resources are owned and
controlled by the government
4. No overproduction of goods: Goods are produced according to the needs or wants of
individuals. There is no room for excess capacity or over production.
5. Absence of exploitation: There is always absence of exploitation since government
provides all the goods and services required by the citizens
6. Absence of economic rivalry: Economic rivalries among private individuals are absent in
a socialist economy system.
DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIALISM
1. Absence of consumer choice and satisfaction: There is no room for consumer choice and
satisfaction. Any goods produced must be accepted. Goods are provided on group basis.
For example, there are teachers groups, nurses’ group etc.
2. It suppresses individual initiatives
3. It shows down economic development.
4. Absence of competition: There is complete absence of competition in a socialist
economy as all goods and services are provided by the government
5. It leads to state monopoly: As the state provides all essential goods and services for the
citizen
6. Absence of creativity and innovation
7. Socialism may give rise to the growth of dictatorship
Labour force is the working population and it comprises all persons who have jobs and who are
seeking for jobs in the labour market. They are between the age of 18 years and 60 years.
Working population varies from one country to another.
MOBILITY OF LABOUR
The mobility of labour refers to the ease with which workers or labour can move from one
occupation to another or from one geographical area to another.
QUESTIONS
1. What factors do you consider likely to affect the efficiency of labour in your country
2. Distinguish between occupation and geographical mobility of labour
WEEK 6
SUPPLY OF LABOUR
Supply of labour may be defined as the total number of people of working age offered for
employment at a particular time and at a given wage rate.
This supply of labour also relates to the quantity of labour.
FACTOS AFFECTING SUPPLY OF LABOUR
1. The size of population and population growth
2. The age structure of the population
3. The official school leaving age
4. Official age of entry and retirement
5. The number of people the pursue full time education beyond the normal school leaving
age
6. The number of married women who take up paid employment
7. The number of people of working ages in the country who are disable or incapacitated
8. The number of able bodied person in the country who are not willing to work
9. The number of working hours per week
10. The rate of remuneration or the wage rate
TYPES OF WAGES
1. Nominal Wages: It is the actual money paid for labour in a particular period of time
2. Real Wages: This is the purchasing power of labour. Real wages refer to wages in term
of goods and services the wages can buy.
DETERMINATION OF WAGERS
a) The forces of demand and supply in a market economy. The wages of labour in a market
economy can be determined through the forces of demand and supply.
Wage rate in a competitive labour market can be determined in the following manner
i. When the supply of labour exceeds the demand, wage rate will fall
ii. When the demand for labour exceeds the supply, wage rate will rise
iii. When the demand for labour equals the supply wage rate will be favourable to
both the employer and the employee.
S
D
Wage rate (per week)
N100
0 15 30 45 60
Quantity of labour demand and supplied
b) Government activities and policies: Government institution and wages commissions set
up by the government help in determining wages, especially in the public services.
In fixing wages, the government agency or wage commission takes the following factors
into consideration.
i. Cost of living: The higher the cost of living, the higher wages are likely to be
ii. Level of productivity: The greater the level of production in the country, the
higher the wage rate.
iii. Type of occupation: The wage structure varies from one occupation to another.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Unemployment is defined as a situation in which persons of working age, able and willing to
work are unable to find paid employment.
Unemployment of labour occurs in the economy if there are people who are capable of working
and who are qualified by age, law, custom, and other factors to work, but who cannot find jobs.
TYPES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
1. Structural Unemployment: This is the type of unemployment which arises as a result of
changes in the pattern of demand of certain commodity. If the demand is low, it could
lead to industries reducing their workforce and this eventually results in structure
unemployment.
2. Seasonal Unemployment: This type of unemployment occurs in industries whose
production is subject to seasonal variations.
3. Voluntary Unemployment: Voluntary unemployment arises from the deliberate refusal
of labour to work, even though employment opportunities exist (and such people are fit to
work).
4. Technological Unemployment: This is a type of unemployment which results when
industries introduce capital intensive technique of production.
5. Frictional Unemployment: It is associated with switching from one job to another.
Frictional unemployment occurs in the process of search for new jobs. The time it takes
to find new jobs will cause frictional unemployment.
6. Casual Unemployment: It usually occurs with jobs of an unsettled nature or jobs which
are not permanent
7. Residual Unemployment: This type of unemployment includes all these who cannot
work due to physical or mental disabilities.
8. Cyclical Unemployment: This type of unemployment occurs during the depression or
recession stage of the business or trade cycle.
9. Disguised Unemployment: Disguised unemployment occurs if workers are not
efficiently utilized in production or if they are underemployed.
CAUSES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
1. Economic recession
2. Changes in the pattern of demand
3. Seasonal changes in agricultural and other forms of production
4. Economic reform policies
5. Inadequate educational curricular and poor educational planning
6. Use of capital intensive methods of production
7. Rapid population growth and slow rate of economic growth
8. Physical and mental disability.
CONSEQUENCES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
1. Increase in crime rate
2. Threat to peace and stability
3. Waste of human resources
4. High rate of dependency
5. Migration
TRADE UNION
A trade union is an association of workers formed to enable the members to take collective,
rather than individual, action against their employers in matters relating to their welfare and
conditions of work. E.g. Academic staff union of universities (ASUU), National union of
petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) etc.
TYPES OF MARKET
A. Market based on types of commodities
i. Consumer goods market: It is made up of buyer and sellers of consumer goods
ii. Labour market: It is made up of workers and employers and deals with the recruitment of
unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and professional workers.
iii. Capital Market and Money Market: The capital market is a financial market which deals
in long-term loans. The money market deals in short-term loans.
iv. Stock-Exchange Market: It consists of buyers and sellers of second-hand securities.
v. Foreign Exchange Market: This is a market that deals with foreign exchange transaction.
B. Market Based on the Channel of Distribution
i. Wholesale market
ii. Retail market
C. Types of market according to Price
i. Perfect market
ii. Imperfect market
PERFECT MARKET
A perfect market is a market structure in which prices are determined by the forces of demand
and supply.
AC
Price
S
P P=D=MR=AR
O R
0 Quantity
Price AC
b
P P =D= MR= AR
AR AR -P
0 q Quantity
Long-Run Equilibrium Position of a Perfect
The firm produces Oqi and sell at OP. The producer will be making normal profit because the
average cost is tangential to average revenue.
MC
Price
AC
b
a
c
P AR
q1 Output
In the figure above, at price P, the firm suffers losses since price is below the average cost. Loss
is therefore represented by apbc. If the firm cannot cover its average cost it may close down.
This may be the point of exit from the market.
QUESTIONS
1. In what two ways do consumers benefit from perfect competition?
2. Outline any two differences between monopoly and perfect competition.
WEEK 8: IMPERFECT MARKET
An imperfect market may be defined as the market in which prices of goods or services
can easily be influenced by the sellers or buyers.
In other words, an imperfect market is a market situation in which the force of
demand and supply do not operate freely.
Price MC
and AC
cost
P C
D
B D=AR
Total Revenue = OPC Q1 S
Total Cost=BDOQ1
Profit=PBCD (Abnormal profit
MR
0 Quantity
Q1
MONOPOLIST EARNING NORMAL PROFIT
A monopolist can also make normal profit. The equality of marginal cost and marginal revenue
at point b determines the quality Q1 which is sold at price A. The monopolist earns normal profit
when average cost curve is tangential to the average revenue at this level of output.
AR
0 Q1 Quantity
MONOPOLIST EARNING LOSS
In a monopoly market, loss can be made if the variable cost is outside the revenue area. The
equilibrium position is that MC=MR. The price of the monopolist as fixed by the demand does
not cover the average cost. Therefore, there can be loss. This will be illustrated below.
MC
Price
and
a
cost e
d
b
MR
0 Q1 Quantity
Total Revenue = bdoQ1
Total Cost = aocQ1
Loss = abcd
The loss is represented by rectangle abcd. The average cost is above the average revenue. It
simply means that the monopolist cannot cover its lost
Questions
1. Output any two differences between monopoly and perfect competition
2. Explain the following,
i. Monopolistic competitive market
ii. Oligopoly
iii. Oligosony.
WEEK 9: INDUSTRIES IN NIGERIA
Meaning Industry
An industry consists of a group of firms producing broadly similar commodities. Examples are
the shoe industry, the transport industry, the cement industry, etc.
The production side of business activity is referred as industry. It is a business activity, which is
related to the raising, producing, processing or manufacturing of products.
The products are consumer's goods as well as producer's goods. Consumer goods are goods,
which are used finally by consumers. E.g. Food grains, textiles, cosmetics, VCR, etc. Producer's
goods are the goods used by manufacturers for producing some other goods. E.g. Machinery,
tools, equipment’s, etc.
Expansion of trade and commerce depends on industrial growth. It represents the supply side of
market.
Firm
The firm is an independently administered business unit carrying out production, construction,
or distribution activities. Examples of firm in Nigeria are Dangote cement, Cadbury Nigeria Plc.
PLANT
This is the same as the factory. It consists of the tools, equipment, machines and buildings of a
business concern. It is a business establishment or the actual place where production is
organized. E.g Aladja steel plant, etc.
Types of Industries
1. Primary Industry
Primary industry is concerned with production of goods with the help of nature. It is a nature-
oriented industry, which requires very little human effort. E.g. Agriculture, farming, forestry,
fishing, horticulture, etc.
2. Genetic Industry
Genetic industries are engaged in re-production and multiplication of certain spices of plants and
animals with the object of sale. The main aim is to earn profit from such sale. E.g. plant
nurseries, cattle rearing, poultry, cattle breeding, etc.
3. Extractive Industry
Extractive industry is concerned with extraction or drawing out goods from the soil, air or water.
Generally products of extractive industries come in raw form and they are used by manufacturing
and construction industries for producing finished products. E.g. mining industry, coal mineral,
oil industry, iron ore, extraction of timber and rubber from forests, etc.
4. Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturing industries are engaged in transforming raw material into finished product with the
help of machines and manpower. The finished goods can be either consumer goods or producer
goods. E.g. textiles, chemicals, sugar industry, paper industry, etc.
5. Construction Industry
Construction industries take up the work of construction of buildings, bridges, roads, dams,
canals, etc. This industry is different from all other types of industry because in case of other
industries goods can be produced at one place and sold at another place. But goods produced and
sold by constructive industry are erected at one place.
6. Service Industry
In modern times service sector plays an important role in the development of the nation and
therefore it is named as service industry. The main industries, which fall under this category,
include hotel industry, tourism industry, entertainment industry, etc.
WEEK10: LOCATION OF INDUSTRY
2. Availability of Labour: Adequate supply of cheap and skilled labour is necessary for
and industry. The attraction of an industry towards labour centres depends on the ratio
of labour cost to the total cost of production which Weber calls ‘Labour cost of Index’.
The availability of skilled workers in the interior parts of Bombay region was one of the
factors responsible for the initial concentration of cotton textile industry in the region.
6. Site and Services: Existence of public utility services, cheapness of the value of the
site, amenities attached to a particular site like level of ground, the nature of vegetation
and location of allied activities influence the location of an industry to a certain extent.
The government has classified some areas as backward areas where the entrepreneurs
would be granted various incentives like subsidies, or provision of finance at
concessional rate, or supply of power a cheaper rates and provision of education and
training facilities. Some entrepreneurs induced by such incentives may come forward to
locate their units in such areas.
7. Finance: Finance is required for the setting up of an industry, for its running, and also
at the time of its expansion. The availability of capital at cheap rates of interests and in
adequate amount is a dominating factor influencing industrial location. For instance, a
review of locational history of Indian cotton textile industry indicates that concentration
of the industry in and around Bombay in the early days was mainly due to the presence
of rich and enterprising Parsi and Bhatia merchants, who supplied vast financial
resources.
11. External Economies: External economies also exert considerable influence on the
location of industries. External economies arise due to the growth of specialized
subsidiary activities when a particular industry is mainly localized at a particular centre
with port and shipping facilities. External economies could also be enjoyed when a large
number of industrial units in the same industry were located in close proximity to one
another.
LOCALISATION OF INDUSTRIES
Localisation of industries refers to the concentration of many firms of an industry in a particular
area.
Advantages
1. Reputation – The place where an industry is localised gains reputation and so do the
products produced there. As a consequent, articles bearing the name of that location
find wide markets such as Sheffield cutlery, Swiss watches Ludhiana Hosiery etc.
6. Common Problems – All concerns form an association to solve their common difficulties.
This connection secures various types of facilities from the government and the other
agencies for expanding business establish research labs, publishes technical and trade
journals and opens training centres for technical personnel. As a consequence all firms
benefits.
Disadvantages
4. Diseconomies – With the way of time, the focus of industries in a meticulous place,
economies of scale may give path to diseconomies. Transport restricted access emerge.
There are recurrent power break downs. Financial organizations are powerless to meet
the credit needs of the entire industry due to fiscal severity. As noted prior, labour asks
for higher wages and better and better living conditions. All these are inclined to raise
costs of production and reduce production.
5. Regional Imbalance – Focus of industries in one region or locality leads to the top-sided
development of the fiscal. When one industry is localised in a region it attracts more
business men who establish other industries there since the accessibility of infrastructure
facilities like power, transport, finance, labour etc. Thus such regions improve more whilst
the other areas linger backward. Employment opportunities, the level of earnings and the
standard of living amplifies at a much greater velocity in these areas relatively with other
areas of the nation.
QUESTION:
1. What are the likely reasons for government participation in the location of industries in
Nigeria?.
2. Give reasons for the siting of industries in rural areas of Nigeria.