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LEISURE: The portion of time workers and other people spend not being compensative for work performed when they actively engaged in the production of goods and services. In other words, this is the time people sent off the job. Leisure activities can include resting at home, working around the house (without compensation), engaging in leisure activities (such as weekend sports, watching movies), or even sleeping. Leisure time pursuits becomes increasingly important for economies as they become more highly developed. As technological advances reduce the amount of time people need to spend working to generate a given level of income, they have more freedom to pursue leisure activities. Not only does this promote sales of industries that provide leisure related goods (sports, entertainment, etc.) it also triggers an interesting labor-leisure tradeoff and what is termed the backward-bending labor supply curve.
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                           FIFTH RULE OF IMPERFECTION: The fifth of seven basic rules of the economy, stating that the real world is not perfect, especially in terms of achieving an efficient allocation of resources. This rule means that markets often fail to achieve due to market failures, and that governments seldom satisfactorily enact the policies needed to correct market failings. As such, the real world is often faced with the lesser of two evils--imperfect markets or imperfect government. This rule stems from the observation that the real world is populated by imperfect humans. These imperfect humans make imperfect decisions when participating in imperfect markets or when part of imperfect governments. The result is that the real world is, at best, only able to approximate the theoretical ideals of economics. The challenge is to recognize the imperfections and seek a balance that achieves the best possible outcome.Market ImperfectionsTwo notable problems in the market category of imperfection are market control and externalities.- Market control comes about when one side of the market has relatively more ability to influence the market exchange process, especially determining the price, than the other side. Such control typically results from the lack of competition. Monopoly is one noted example of market control exerted by the selling side of the market. Monopsony is a counter example of market control by the selling side.
- Externalities are a market imperfection that result because the cost or benefit of a market exchange affects people with no direct involvement. These costs or benefits are, in other words, external to the market. Pollution is a typical textbook illustration of an externality. The market for chemicals is based on decisions made by chemical users (buyers) and chemical producers (sellers). However, if waste products from the production of chemicals enter the environment, causing problems for local folks who breath the air or drink the water, then the result is a cost external to the market..
In both examples of market imperfections, the market fails to efficiently allocate resources. Government intervention is required to achieved efficiency.Government ImperfectionsUnfortunately, this fifth rule of imperfection also applies to government. While government is often looked to as the solution to market failures, it too is flawed. Four key government failings are special interest groups, apathetic voters, vote-seeking politicians, and bureaucratic inefficiency. Special interest groups, apathetic voters, and vote-seeking politicians guarantee that government leaders do not necessarily enact the best, most efficient economic policies. Then complex bureaucracies tend to prevent the chosen policies from being implemented correctly.It is a sad, imperfect world in which we live. However, the biggest failing is to naively expect perfection to emerge from this hodge-podge of imperfection.
Recommended Citation:FIFTH RULE OF IMPERFECTION, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2024. [Accessed: April 27, 2024].
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BEIGE MUNDORTLE
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Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time searching the newspaper want ads looking to buy either an extra large beach blanket or a large flower pot shaped like a Greek urn. Be on the lookout for small children selling products door-to-door.
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A thousand years before metal coins were developed, clay tablet "checks" were used as money by the Babylonians.
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"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. " -- Auguste Rodin, Sculptor
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