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MARGINAL-COST PRICING: A pricing scheme in which the price received by a firm is set equal to the marginal cost of production. This is not only the efficient outcome achieved by competitive markets, it is commonly used for comparison of other regulatory policies, such as average-cost pricing, that are used for public utilities (especially those that are natural monopolies). The bad thing about marginal-cost pricing for natural monopolies is that a normal profit is not guaranteed. The good thing about marginal-cost pricing is that marginal cost is equal to price, and the public utility is operating according to the price equals marginal cost (P = MC) rule of efficiency.
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                           EMPIRICAL: Based on or relating to the collection or analysis of real world data. The term empirical is commonly used as a modifier to provide contrast with theoretical. Whereas theoretical refers to abstract representations, empirical indicates actual real world observations. Empirical observation is critical to the scientific method. Once a hypothesis is implied by a theory, empirical observation is key to the verification process. Does a hypothesis stand up to the scrutiny of empirical verification? Does it explain real world phenomena?For example, Professor Grumpinkston might hypothesize that lower interest rates will entice consumers to purchase new cars and boost sales in the automobile industry. Being an experienced economist, the professor can easily come up with a very convincing story that explains why this will happen. Lower interest rates make it easier and less expensive to get loans. Most cars are paid for through loans. Consumers borrow to buy cars. Car sales rise. Makes sense, does it not? It must be true, right? This, however, is merely theoretical speculation at this point. It is only a hypothesis until evaluated against empirical data. The empirical alternative is to collect interest rate and automobile sales data for the past several decades, and then apply standard statistical analysis. If the professor does this right, he should be able to generate empirical evidence indicating whether or not a relation actually exists between interest rates and automobile sales. This is no longer theoretical speculation. It is empirical observation. He has the numbers. He can see with his own pair of nearsighted eyes that lower interest rates are accompanied by greater auto sales, or not. He can pass this information along to others who can then confirm the results with their own nearsighted eyes.
Recommended Citation:EMPIRICAL, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2020. [Accessed: August 7, 2020].
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ORANGE REBELOON
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Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time at a crowded estate auction seeking to buy either a pair of red goulashes with shiny buckles or a handcrafted bird feeder. Be on the lookout for small children selling products door-to-door.
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The first paper currency used in North America was pasteboard playing cards "temporarily" authorized as money by the colonial governor of French Canada, awaiting "real money" from France.
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"No great performance ever came from holding back. " -- Don Greene, motivational coach, former Green Beret
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SPSS
Statistical Product and Service Solutions, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (software)
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