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What is Microeconomics?

Thursday Bram
Thursday Bram

Microeconomics is a field of economic study that focuses on how an individual's behavior and decisions affect the supply and demand for goods and services. For the purpose of microeconomics, the actions of individuals, households and businesses is crucial, unlike the study of macroeconomics, which focuses on national and international economic trends. Despite the differences between the two fields, however, micro-level trends and the study of microeconomics are considered the basis of modern macroeconomics.

Microeconomics includes a number of specialized areas of study. Key applied microeconomics fields are price theory and labor economics. While each of these subfields relies on various theories and tools, all of them fall back to the theory of supply and demand. Theoretically, all markets are perfectly competitive, with supply and demand driving prices. However, in practice, individuals and groups can directly affect the supply and demand of products and services.

The study of market failure is a key area of microeconomics.
The study of market failure is a key area of microeconomics.

Surprisingly simple questions fall into the field of microeconomics. For instance, an employee might receive a raise. Does that raise cause the employee to increase or decrease their work hours? Not all employees will make the same decision, making this question a focus for microeconomics study, which assumes all decisions must be rational.

Another key area of microeconomics is the study of market failure. Market failure is not the assumption that a market has ceased functioning; instead it is a situation in which a market is inefficient, whether in organizing production or allocating goods and services, usually to an extreme point. These market failures can occur because of monopolies, a lack of information for either buyers or sellers and other issues.

Microeconomics focuses on how an individual's behavior and decisions affect the supply and demand for goods and services.
Microeconomics focuses on how an individual's behavior and decisions affect the supply and demand for goods and services.

Opportunity cost is also a main concern in microeconomics. While difficult to measure in macroeconomics, opportunity cost can be clearly demonstrated in microeconomics: an individual can point to specific opportunities that become unavailable as they use their resources for other purposes. For instance, an employee may need to decide to take a class that improves her chances for promotion over taking a vacation.

Discussion Comments

surfNturf

@Moldova - That is a great idea. I know that my daughter studied microeconomics in her social studies class and she really enjoyed it. They did an entrepreneurial project in which they had to develop several products for a store and bring to school so that the other students in the school could buy it.

It was like a little marketplace and everyone had so much fun. I think that it is a great introduction to microeconomics when kids get to experience something like this because the lesson becomes much more memorable.

Some of the kids made laminated bookmarks, painted pet rocks, and colorful jewelry. It was really amazing. The proceeds from the sale went to charity which was also nice.

Moldova

I remember taking microeconomics in college and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I talk to my children about opportunity cost all of the time in order for them to understand money. I explain to them that if we were to spend our money on a toy then we would not be able to go to the movies because once money is spent you can’t get it back. I tell them this so that they understand the definition of microeconomics in terms that can they apply to real life.

It also reduces the chances of my children asking for a lot of things because they understand that money is not unlimited and if you spend your money on one thing then you don’t have it for something else. Learning to prioritize choices is easy when you understand opportunity costs.

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    • The study of market failure is a key area of microeconomics.
      By: Kenishirotie
      The study of market failure is a key area of microeconomics.
    • Microeconomics focuses on how an individual's behavior and decisions affect the supply and demand for goods and services.
      By: Rehan Qureshi
      Microeconomics focuses on how an individual's behavior and decisions affect the supply and demand for goods and services.