Irish citizens want better healthcare, more housing, improved public transport and lower taxes from the government. The government cannot fund everything as it has a limited amount of government revenue available to spend.
Deciding to build a new children’s hospital may mean it can’t build more social housing. Deciding to increase public sector wages (pay for doctors, teachers, firefighters) may mean reducing other citizens’ take-home pay by increasing income tax.
Rational Decision Making
In economics, we assume people will make rational choices or decisions – meaning they will choose the option available that gives the greatest benefit from their limited resources.
If a business can buy the same item at €20 per unit from one supplier and €15 per unit from another, choosing the cheaper option is the rational decision. Rational decision-making helps the world to use economic resources efficiently.
EXAM CORNERINTRO ACTIVITY
2019 Q10 (i) Fill in the missing factors of production below:
1. ______________________________ Land 3. ______________________________ Capital 2. ______________________________ Labour Factors of Production 4. Enterprise
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STRAND 3 CHAPTER 27: Scarcity, choice and decision-making