Difference Between Micro Economics and Macro Economics
Difference Between Micro Economics and Macro Economics
On Micro & Macro Economics Subject Micro Economics Submitted to Ms. Irum Khan Submitted by Hassan Tahir Sial Roll no 109-11003 BBA (Hons) 3rd Semester
In the Name of
Most Merciful and Compassionate the Most Gracious and Beneficent whose help and guidance I always Solicit at every step, at every moment.
Economics
Definitions of Economics
According to Adam Smith, Economics is the Science/study of wealth. According to Alfred Marshall, Economics is the knowledge of material welfare concerning man. According to Robbins, Economics is a science which studies human behavior as a relation between unlimited desires and limited resources with alternative uses.
The study of economics is divided by the modern economists into two parts viz. Micro economics and Macro economics. This division is shown in the figure / chart above. Micro economics and Macro economics, both the terms were used in 1933 by Prof. Ragnar Frisch from Oslo University of Norway. The word micro has been derived from the Greek word `Mikros' i.e. small and the word macro has been derived from Greek word `Makros' i.e. large.
Micro Economics
Definitions of Microeconomics
According to Prof. K. E. Boulding, "Micro Economics is the study of particular firm, particular household, individual prices, wages, incomes, individual industries and particular commodities." According to Prof. Mac Cannel
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Microeconomics is a study of the specific economic units and a detailed consideration of the behaviour of these individual Units. According to Prof. Boulding, Microeconomics seeks to explain the working of individuals, firms, households,individual prices, wages and particular industries.
Micro Economics is concerned with the following topics :1. Commodity Pricing
Prices of individual commodities are determined by market forces of demand and supply. So micro economics makes demand analysis (individual consumer behaviour) and supply analysis (individual producer behaviour).
2. Factor Pricing
Land, labour, capital and entrepreneur, all factors contribute in production process. So they get rewards in the form of rent, wages, interest and profit respectively. Micro economics deals with determination of such rewards i.e. factor prices. So micro economics is also called as 'Price Theory' or 'Value Theory'.
3. Welfare Theory
Micro economics deals with optimum allocation of available resources and maximization of social welfare. It provides answers for 'What to produce?', 'When to produce?', 'How to produce?'
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and 'For whom it is to be produced?'. In short, Micro economics guides for utilizing scarce resources of economy to maximize public welfare.
Features of Microeconomics
Classical economists always insisted on micro economics because they believed that it is better to understand concept at individual level and then go for general (or macro) level. E.g. first understanding individual consumer behavior and then analyzing the behavior of entire market.
1. Nature of Analysis
In micro economics, the behavior of individual consumers and producers in detail is analyzed. It is study of subject matter from particular to general.
2. Method
Micro economics divides the economy into various small units and every unit is analyzed in detail. It is a slicing method.
3. Scope
Micro economic analysis involves product pricing, factor pricing and theory of welfare.
4. Application
Both theoretically and practically, micro economics is useful in formulating various policies, resource allocation, public finance, international trade, etc.
5. Nature of Assumptions
Assumption of Ceteris Paribus is always made in every micro economic theory. It means theory is applicable only when 'other things being same'.
Advantages of Microeconomics
1. Individual Behavior Analysis
Micro economics studies behavior of individual consumer or producer in a particular situation.
2. Resource Allocation
Resources are already scare i.e. less in quantity. Micro economics helps in proper allocation and utilization of resources to produce various types of goods and services.
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3. Price Mechanization
Micro economics decides prices of various goods and services on the basis of 'Demand-Supply Analysis'.
4. Economic Policy
Micro economics helps in formulating various economic policies and economic plans to promote all round economic development.
6. Public Finance
It helps the government in fixing the tax rate and the type of tax as well as the amount of tax to be charged to the buyer and the seller.
7. Foreign Trade
It helps in explaining and fixing international trade and tariff rules, causes of disequilibrium in BOP, effects of factors deciding exchange rate, etc.
8. Social Welfare
It not only analyse economic conditions but also studies the social needs under different market conditions like monopoly, oligopoly, etc.
2. Inadequate Data
Micro economics is based on the information dealing with individual behavior, individual customers. Hence, it is difficult to get correct information. So because of incorrect data Micro Economics may provide inaccurate results.
3. Ceteris Paribus
It assumes that all other things being equal (same) but actually it is not so.
Macro Economics
Definitions of Macroeconomics
According to Prof. R. G. D. Allen, The term macro economics applies to the study of relations between broad economic aggregates such as total employment, income and production." According to Prof. Edward Shapiro, "The major task of macro economics is the explanation of what determines the economy's aggregate output of goods and services. It deals with the functioning of the economy as a whole." According to Prof. K. E. Boulding, Macro economics is that part of economics which studies the overall averages and aggregates of the economic system. It does not deal with individual incomes but with the I national income, not with individual prices but with the price level, not with individual output, but with national output.
Features of Microeconomics
Macro-economics studies a aggregates of a complete economy. The inlet of macro-economics can be accepted with a assistance of a following aspects:
The turn of sum approach determines a turn of income as good as employment. Macroeconomics additionally deals with a complaint of stagnation due to miss of sum demand. Moreover, it studies a mercantile fluctuations as good as commercial operation cycles.
Advantages of Microeconomics
The importance/issues/scope, which are addressed in macro economics are in brief as under:
3. Economic growth
The macro economic models help us to formulate economic policies for achieving long run economic growth with stability. The new developed growth theories explain the causes of poverty in under developed countries and suggest remedies to overcome them.
5. International trade
Another important subject of macro economics is to analyze the various aspects of international trade in goods, services and balance of payment problems, the effect of exchange rate on balance of payment etc.
7. Unemployment
Another macro economic issue is to explain the causes of unemployment in the economy. Stagflation is another important issue of modern economics. The Keynesian and post Keynesian economists are putting lot of efforts in explaining the causes of cyclical unemployment and high unemployment coupled with inflation and suggesting remedies to counteract them.
2. Unrealistic assumptions
Macroeconomics assumes which a aggregates have been homogeneous. Such an arrogance is, however, unrealistic.
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