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3 Goals of a successful economy 1. Increase productivity 2. Decrease unemployment 3. Maintain stable prices Sports, Entertainment and Recreation Marketing 3

Key Economic Measurements Labor Productivity  How much a worker gets done per hour over a given amount of time (a day, month, year, etc.)  How can a business increase their productivity?  Invest in new equipment/technology  Provide additional training for employees  Provide incentives to employees Higher productivity improves company profits 4

Specialization and Division of Labor Part of Labor Productivity  Ex: An assembly line  Part of the finished product is completed by a person who specializes in that step of the production  The theory is that workers are more productive because they are specialists in that one stage 5

Key Economic Measurements Gross Domestic Product  Measures the entire nation’s production output  It is made up of  Private investment  Government spending  Personal spending  Net exports of goods and services  Change in business inventories 6

Key Economic Measurements Gross National Product (GNP)  The total dollar value of goods and services produced by a nation  It is not where production takes place, but who is responsible for it  Was the primary measurement of productivity before GDP (1991) 7

8 THE BUSINESS CYCLE

What is it? The cycle of economic growth and decline of a given economy There are FOUR stages: Expansion Recession Depression Recovery 9

Expansion Flourishing Economy Consumers have a hopeful outlook about business and the economy Good time to start a business Period of prosperity Low unemployment Increase in output of goods and services Higher consumer spending peak Expansion continues until it reaches a peak This peak signifies the end of the expansion and the beginning of a recession 10

Recession Economic Slowdown  Lasts at least 6 months  Significant decline in economic activity  Companies reduce workforce  Consumers have less money to spend trough Recession ends once an economy reaches its trough (lowest point) and then begins to rise 11

Depression Prolonged Recession Becomes nearly impossible to find a job Many businesses are forced to shut down Consumer spending is very low Unemployment is very high Production of goods and services is down Many people cannot afford to meet their basic needs 12

Recovery Renewed Economic Growth This is where the cycle begins again Business picks up People start to find jobs Demand for goods and services increases 13

The Business Cycle 14 Expansion Recession Depression Recovery Peak Trough