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DIAMOND-WATER PARADOX: The perplexing observation that water, which is more useful than diamonds, has a lower price. If price is related to utility, how can this occur? This paradox was first proposed by classical economists in the 19th century and was subsequently used as a stepping stone for developing the notion of marginal utility and the role it plays in the demand price of a good. The paradox is magically cleared up with an understanding of marginal utility and total utility. People are willing to pay a higher price for goods with greater marginal utility. As such, water which is plentiful has enormous total utility, but a low price because of a low marginal utility. Diamonds, however, have less total utility because they are less plentiful, but a high price because of a high marginal utility.
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SHORT-RUN PRODUCTION ALTERNATIVES A firm faces three production options in the short run based on a comparison between price, average total cost, and average variable cost. If price is greater than average total cost, a firm earns an economic profit by producing the quantity that equates marginal revenue with marginal cost. If price is less than average total cost but greater than average variable cost, a firm incurs an economic loss, but produces the quantity that equates marginal revenue with marginal cost. If price is less than average variable cost, a firm shuts down production in the short run, incurring an economic loss equal to total fixed cost.
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BROWN PRAGMATOX [What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time waiting for visits from door-to-door solicitors wanting to buy either pink cotton balls or a genuine down-filled comforter. Be on the lookout for the last item on a shelf. Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
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More money is spent on gardening than on any other hobby.
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"Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations. " -- Steve Jobs, Apple Computer founder
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ILS Indirect Least Squares, International Labor Standards
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