|
|
KALDOR-HICKS IMPROVEMENT: Based on the Kaldor-Hicks efficiency criterion, the notion that an action improves efficiency if the willingness to pay of those benefiting exceed the willingness to accept of those harmed. In other words, if those gains exceed those losses, or the benefits exceed the costs, then social welfare is improved and undertaking the action provides a net benefit to society. In other words, the winners can, in principle, compensate the losers for their loss, and still come out ahead. The actual compensation, however, is required. A contrasting condition for attaining efficiency is the Pareto improvement.
Visit the GLOSS*arama
|
|

|
|
                           ECONOMIC GOOD: A tangible item produced with society's limited resources for the purpose of satisfying wants and needs. As a general notion, the phrase economic good also commonly includes intangible services produced with society's limited resources for the purpose of satisfying wants and needs. A synonymous term for economic good is scarce good. Adding the word "economic" before the word "good" signifies that a good has limited availability relative to desired use and is thus subject to economic analysis. An economic good is typically exchanged through a market. Buyers pay a price to obtain the good and sellers give up the good in exchange for payment.ScarcityLike many economic concepts, an economic good can be traced to the fundamental problem of scarcity. Scarcity is the widespread condition of limited resources and unlimited wants and needs. An economic good is more specifically a good with limited availability relative to desired use. The two concepts are closely related. Scarcity is the general problem underlying the study of economics and an economic good is a specific good that reflects this general scarcity condition.The contrasting notion to an economic, or scarce, good is a free good. A free good is one that is plentiful enough to satisfy all desired uses, often with some left over. Market ExchangesBecause limited availability means that an economic good has more uses that it can meet, it is generally exchanged through a market. The market price serves to allocate the good to its most satisfying and valuable use. Users gaining the greatest benefit from the economic good are willing to pay the highest price and can thus out bid other potential users to gain control. Moreover, payment received by those who produce or otherwise have control of the economic good compensates for the opportunity cost of foregone alternatives.Economic ResourceThe word "economic" is also added to the word "resource" to reflect a similar concept. The difference is that an economic resource is used to produce an economic good. The resource is transformed or used for production and the good is then used to provide satisfaction. However, in both cases the item is limited relative to the desired use.More than MarketsWhile most economic goods are traded through markets, some are directly produced or provided by government. In addition to limited availability relative to desired use, the market exchange of an economic good also requires rival consumption and nonpayer excludability. Economic goods that do not have rival consumption and/or nonpayer excludability are termed public goods, near-public goods, or common-property goods. But they are economic goods nonetheless.
 Recommended Citation:ECONOMIC GOOD, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2026. [Accessed: August 7, 2026]. Check Out These Related Terms... | | | | | | Or For A Little Background... | | | | | | | And For Further Study... | | | | | | | | | | | |
Search Again?
Back to the WEB*pedia
|


|
|
GREEN LOGIGUIN [What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time at a going out of business sale trying to buy either a set of luggage without wheels or a how-to book on wine tasting. Be on the lookout for a thesaurus filled with typos. Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
|
|
|
A scripophilist is one who collects rare stock and bond certificates, usually from extinct companies.
|
|
|
"My future starts when I wake up every morning . . . Every day I find something creative to do with my life. " -- Miles Davis, musician
|
|
AIO Action Information Organization
|
|
|
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.
User Feedback
|

|