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💰AP Microeconomics Unit 5 Vocabulary

47 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 5 – Factor Markets

Study Unit 5
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💰Unit 5 – Factor Markets
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💰Unit 5 – Factor Markets

5.1 Introduction to Factor Markets

TermDefinition
capitalA factor of production consisting of physical assets such as machinery, equipment, and structures used to produce goods and services.
factor marketsMarkets where factors of production (labor, capital, and land) are bought and sold, and where factor prices are determined.
factor pricesThe prices paid for factors of production (such as wages for labor, rent for land, and interest for capital) that provide incentives to firms and workers.
factors of productionThe resources used to produce goods and services, including land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship.
firmsBusiness organizations that combine factors of production to produce and sell goods or services.
interestThe price paid for the use of capital in factor markets.
laborA factor of production representing human effort and services used in the production of goods and services.
landA factor of production representing natural resources and physical space used in production.
marginal resource costThe additional cost incurred by a firm when employing one more unit of a factor of production.
marginal revenue productThe additional revenue generated by employing one more unit of a factor of production, calculated as marginal product multiplied by marginal revenue.
output priceThe market price of the goods or services that a firm produces, which affects the firm's demand for labor and other factors of production.
productivityThe output produced per unit of factor input, which influences a firm's decision to hire factors of production.
quantity of labor demandedThe amount of labor that firms are willing and able to hire at a given wage rate.
quantity of labor suppliedThe amount of labor that workers are willing and able to provide at a given wage rate.
rentThe price paid for the use of land in factor markets.
wage rateThe price of labor, typically expressed as compensation per unit of time worked.
wagesThe price paid for labor services in factor markets.

5.2 Changes in Factor Demand and Factor Supply

TermDefinition
age distributionThe composition of a population by age groups, which affects the size and characteristics of the available labor force.
factor pricesThe prices paid for factors of production (such as wages for labor, rent for land, and interest for capital) that provide incentives to firms and workers.
factors of productionThe resources used to produce goods and services, including land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship.
immigrationThe movement of workers into a country or region, which affects the supply of labor available to firms.
labor demand curveA graph showing the relationship between the wage rate and the quantity of labor that firms are willing to hire at each wage level.
labor supply curveA graph showing the relationship between the wage rate and the quantity of labor that workers are willing to supply at each wage level.
output priceThe market price of the goods or services that a firm produces, which affects the firm's demand for labor and other factors of production.
preferences for leisureWorkers' relative desire for free time compared to work, which influences the quantity of labor they are willing to supply.
productivity of the workerThe amount of output a worker can produce per unit of time, which influences how much a firm is willing to pay for labor.
working conditionsThe characteristics of a job environment (such as safety, hours, and workplace quality) that influence workers' willingness to supply labor.

5.3 Perfectly Competitive Labor Markets

TermDefinition
factor marketsMarkets where factors of production (labor, capital, and land) are bought and sold, and where factor prices are determined.
fixed inputsFactors of production whose quantity cannot be changed in the short run, such as capital or equipment.
laborA factor of production representing human effort and services used in the production of goods and services.
marginal factor costThe additional total cost incurred by a firm when hiring one more unit of a resource, including both the wage of the new worker and any wage increases given to existing workers.
marginal physical productThe additional output produced by one additional unit of a factor of production.
marginal productThe additional output produced by employing one more unit of a variable input, holding all other inputs constant.
marginal revenue productThe additional revenue generated by employing one more unit of a factor of production, calculated as marginal product multiplied by marginal revenue.
marginal revenue product of laborThe additional revenue a firm generates by hiring one more worker, calculated as the marginal physical product of labor multiplied by the marginal revenue.
perfectly competitive factor marketsMarkets for factors of production (such as labor) where many buyers and sellers exist, firms are price-takers, and factors are homogeneous.
perfectly competitive labor marketA labor market where wages are determined by market supply and demand, and individual firms are wage-takers.
perfectly competitive marketsMarkets characterized by many buyers and sellers, homogeneous products, free entry and exit, and perfect information where individual firms are price takers.
profit-maximizing behaviorThe decision-making process by which firms choose the quantity of inputs to purchase and output to produce in order to maximize economic profit.
value of the marginal product of laborThe additional revenue generated by hiring one more worker, calculated as the marginal physical product of labor multiplied by the price of output.

5.4 Monopsony Markets

TermDefinition
laborA factor of production representing human effort and services used in the production of goods and services.
marginal factor costThe additional total cost incurred by a firm when hiring one more unit of a resource, including both the wage of the new worker and any wage increases given to existing workers.
marginal revenue productThe additional revenue generated by employing one more unit of a factor of production, calculated as marginal product multiplied by marginal revenue.
monopsonistic labor marketA labor market in which a single firm or a small number of firms are the primary employers, giving them market power to influence wages.
monopsonistic marketsMarkets in which a single buyer (monopsonist) purchases a good or service from many sellers, giving the buyer significant market power to influence prices.
profit-maximizing behaviorThe decision-making process by which firms choose the quantity of inputs to purchase and output to produce in order to maximize economic profit.
supply price of laborThe wage rate at which workers are willing to supply their labor in the market.