Consumer Equilibrium and Demand
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility: as more units consumed, MU falls.
- →MU approach equilibrium: MU/P is equal for all goods consumed.
- →Law of Demand: price and quantity demanded are inversely related (normal goods).
- →Demand curve shifts right (increase) when: income rises (normal good), price of substitute rises, price of complement falls, tastes improve.
- →Ed > 1: elastic demand | Ed < 1: inelastic | Ed = 1: unitary elastic.
- →Perfectly inelastic (Ed = 0): salt, life-saving drugs. Perfectly elastic (Ed = ∞): perfect substitutes.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
For 3-mark questions on elasticity: always write formula first, then substitute.
Distinguish 'movement along' (own price changes) vs 'shift of' demand curve (other factors).
Giffen goods are an exception to law of demand — income effect > substitution effect.
Production and Costs
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →Law of Variable Proportions: as more variable factor added to fixed factor, MP initially rises then falls (due to diminishing marginal returns).
- →Three phases: Phase I (rising MP) → Phase II (falling but positive MP) → Phase III (negative MP — stop production).
- →AC = AFC + AVC. As output rises, AFC falls continuously. AVC is U-shaped.
- →MC intersects AC and AVC at their minimum points.
- →When MP rises, MC falls. When MP is at maximum, MC is at minimum.
- →Fixed costs (TC − TVC) remain constant regardless of output.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
Draw TP, AP, and MP curves on same diagram — AP and MP intersect where AP is maximum.
AC curve is U-shaped — minimum at the point where MC intersects it.
Exam shortcut: if MC is below AC, AC is falling. If MC is above AC, AC is rising.
Market Equilibrium
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →If market price > equilibrium price → excess supply → price falls back to equilibrium.
- →If market price < equilibrium price → excess demand → price rises to equilibrium.
- →Rightward shift in demand (↑): price rises, quantity rises.
- →Rightward shift in supply (↑): price falls, quantity rises.
- →Both demand and supply increase: quantity definitely rises, price change is ambiguous.
- →Price ceiling (below equilibrium): shortage, rationing, black markets.
- →Price floor (above equilibrium): surplus, government may need to buy excess.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
For simultaneous shifts: draw separate supply and demand diagrams.
Price ceiling example: PDS (public distribution system) for essential commodities.
Price floor example: MSP (Minimum Support Price) for agricultural produce.
National Income Accounting
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →GDP_MP = C + I + G + (X − M) [Expenditure method]
- →NDP_MP = GDP_MP − Depreciation
- →GNP_MP = GDP_MP + NFIA
- →NNP_FC = GNP_MP − Depreciation − Net Indirect Taxes (NNP_FC = National Income)
- →Final goods: for final use — included in GDP. Intermediate goods: used in production — excluded to avoid double counting.
- →Value added method: sum of value added at each stage = GDP.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
Most CBSE numericals ask for NNP_FC from GDP_MP: subtract Depreciation and NIT, add NFIA.
NFIA can be positive (if residents earn more abroad) or negative.
Always define each term before substituting in numericals.
Money, Banking and Income Determination
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →Functions of money: medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account, standard of deferred payment.
- →MPC + MPS = 1. APC + APS = 1.
- →If MPC = 0.8 → MPS = 0.2 → K = 1/0.2 = 5 → ₹1 lakh new investment → ₹5 lakh increase in income.
- →Keynesian equilibrium: AD = AS (or S = I).
- →Deflationary gap: AD < AS at full employment — government increases expenditure/reduces taxes.
- →Inflationary gap: AD > AS at full employment — government reduces expenditure/increases taxes.
- →Money multiplier = 1/LRR. If LRR = 10%, ₹1,000 deposit → total deposits = ₹10,000.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
Never confuse K = 1/MPS with K = 1/MPC — multiplier uses MPS.
Draw IS diagram for deflationary/inflationary gap — show gap clearly.
Corrective fiscal measures: for deflationary gap — expansionary policy (↑G or ↓T). For inflationary — contractionary.
Government Budget and Balance of Payments
Key Definitions
Key Points to Remember
- →Revenue receipts: tax + non-tax. Capital receipts: borrowings, disinvestment, recovery of loans.
- →Revenue expenditure: day-to-day spending (salaries, subsidies, interest). Capital expenditure: asset creation.
- →Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure − Revenue Receipts.
- →Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure − (Revenue Receipts + Capital Receipts excluding borrowings).
- →Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit − Interest Payments.
- →Balance of Payments: Current Account (trade in goods, services, transfers) + Capital Account (FDI, FII, loans).
- →Exchange rate in free market: demand for forex = demand for imports; supply = export earnings.
Formulas & Equations
Exam Tips
Learn the hierarchy: Revenue Deficit < Fiscal Deficit. Primary Deficit < Fiscal Deficit.
If Fiscal Deficit = Primary Deficit, interest payments = 0.
BoP: current account surplus = capital account deficit (and vice versa, if BoP is zero).