CETERIS PARIBUS: A Latin term meaning that all other factors are held unchanged. The ceteris paribus assumption is used to isolate the effect one economic factor has on another. Without this assumption, it would be difficult to determine cause and effect in the economy. Relaxing the ceteris paribus assumption is the primary analytical technique used in the study of economics, especially when analyzing the market. Much like a chemist adds one chemical at a time to a mixture to determine the resulting reaction, an economist relaxes one ceteris paribus assumption at a time to observe the results.

     See also | assumption | cause and effect | economic analysis | comparative statics | determinants | market adjustment |

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The technique of comparing the equilibrium resulting from a change in a determinant, or shock to a model, with the equilibrium that existed prior to the change. Comparative statics is the primary analytical technique used in the study of economics.

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