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UNEMPLOYMENT: The general condition in which resources are willing and able to produce goods and services but are not engaged in productive activities. While unemployment is most commonly thought of in terms of labor, any of the other factors of production (capital, land, and entrepreneurship) can be unemployed as well. The analysis of unemployment, especially labor unemployment, goes hand-in-hand with the study of macroeconomics that emerged from the Great Depression of the 1930s.
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                           WANTS: The psychological desires which make life just a little more enjoyable, but which are not biological necessities for life. Psychological wants are often contrasted with physiological needs that make life more enjoyable, but are not essential for existence. Satisfaction is achieved by fulfilling wants. The pursuit of satisfaction, the fulfillment of wants (as well as needs), motivates human behavior, including all types of economic behavior--buying, selling, producing, and consuming.Consider a few examples. - Duncan Thurly, a normal human being, wants a late-night snack. He sees a commercial for Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundaes on late-night television. Duncan is not particularly hungry, he does not need food to continue his mortal existence, but he wants, he desires, he absolutely craves a Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundae. Within minutes he has driven to the Hot Mamma Fudge Ice Cream Shoppe to purchase a Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundae. Duncan's psychological desire to consume a Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundae has triggered more economic activity.
- Duncan Thurly also desires a little entertainment. After consuming his tasty Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundae, Duncan decides to take in a midnight showing of the classic Marx Brothers comedy, Duck Soup. Duncan does not need to see a midnight showing of this movie, but watching it makes him happy. He buys a ticket and watches the movie. He feels better, more satisfied after the movie than before. Duncan's psychological desire for entertainment has triggered economic activity.
While wants are not considered necessary for continued existence, there is some evidence to suggest that psychological wants may be as necessary to life as physiological needs. For example, "wanting" to be with other people is often considered nice to have, but not essential to life. Studies of the neuro-physiology of the brain, however, suggest that companionship triggers the release of specific chemicals that when absent cause physiological problems. Fortunately, doctors of economics (who are not doctors of neuro-physiology) need not be overly concerned with the difference between psychological wants and physiological needs. A market does not care if wants are necessary or not. The only consideration is that people are motivated to do things (go to work, make a purchase, get an education) to satisfy them. If Duncan is willing and able to pay $3 for a Hot Mamma Fudge Bananarama Ice Cream Sundae, it matters not if he needs it or just wants it.
Recommended Citation:WANTS, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2026. [Accessed: January 13, 2026].
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BROWN PRAGMATOX
[What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time strolling around a discount warehouse buying club trying to buy either a wall poster commemorating last Friday (you know why) or a country wreathe. Be on the lookout for pencil sharpeners with an attitude.
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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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"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." -- Jimmy Dean
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Actual Value
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