Why does the author consider it necessary to return. Social studies lesson on the topic “Economics: science and management

Why Abalkin believes necessary reconsider role And place V science Russian school of economic thought?

)The author considers it necessary to reconsider the role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought, in connection with globalization, which has become the leading trend in world development. The originality of this Russian scientific school is that it had approaches, moral values, and perceptions of the surrounding world and man’s place in it that were different from the West.

DOCUMENT

So I only answered three questions, the last one I don’t know.

1) Globalization removes the opposition of civilizations or formations according to the principle: higher and lower, advanced and backward. The originality and uniqueness of the civilization that has developed in our country.

2) Moral values, perception of the world around us and a person’s place in it.

3) I think it is possible moral values, perception of the surrounding world, etc. without these approaches, the country’s economy will not develop.

DOCUMENT
Reflections on the features of the Russian school of economic thought by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences L. I. Abalkin (from a report at scientific conference Institute of Economics RAS and Volny economic society Russia).
Globalization, which has become the leading trend in world development, does not eliminate, but in many ways exacerbates the problems of economic, social and political progress. It removes the opposition of civilizations or formations according to the principle: higher and lower, advanced and backward. Each of them has its own merits and advantages, its own value system and its own understanding of progress. .. In this regard, it is necessary to return once again to understanding the special role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought. .. The identity and uniqueness of the civilization that has developed in our country had a huge impact on the self-determination of the Russian school of economic thought, both in domestic and in world science. No other civilization, if we exclude the still poorly studied specifics of Asian civilization, has had approaches, moral values, and perceptions of the surrounding world and man’s place in it so different from the West. This could not but affect culture and science, especially the humanities. What is recognized in the West as an immutable truth that removes all restrictions as insignificant, is perceived quite differently and often fundamentally differently in Russian economic thought.

The economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and management methods. .. The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market, the common social good is higher than individual success.

Science was called upon to absorb this approach, and where it did this, it was successful. Where she deviated from this rule, she (and the country) were disappointed. The 20th century, including its last decade, is clear evidence of this.

QUESTIONS AND TASKS FOR THE DOCUMENT
1. Why does the author consider it necessary to reconsider the role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought? What determines the identity of this scientific school?
2. What approaches, moral values, and views on the place of man in the world that differ from Western ones characterize, in the opinion of L. I. Abalkin, Russian civilization?
3. Can we agree with the author that the use of these approaches by economic science could ensure success? economic development countries?
4. Using knowledge of modern history and the facts of the socio-economic life of Russia in the last decade, give examples that confirm the scientist’s conclusion that deviations from the approaches and values developed by Russian economists led to failures.

1) The author considers it necessary to reconsider the role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought, in connection with globalization, which has become the leading trend in world development. The originality of this Russian scientific school is that it had approaches, moral values, and perceptions of the surrounding world and man’s place in it that were different from the West.

2) According to L.I. Abalkin, Russian civilization differs from the West in that the economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and management methods. .. The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market, the common social good is higher than individual success. Science was called upon to absorb this approach, and where it did this, it was successful. Where she deviated from this rule, she (and the country) were disappointed. The 20th century, including its last decade, is clear evidence of this.

Read the text and complete the tasks.
"... The current education system is based on teaching skills that enable a comfortable existence in a relatively static world. Traditional ethical principles, proven formulas, established facts... New system Education should be built on teaching skills that enable a comfortable existence in a dynamic world. The old function of education—the transmission of traditions and established culture through generations—remains. But it is complemented by a new function - training in culture change and forecasting. .. In order to increase useful and reduce harmful consequences. .. In the content of education, time and method must come. Today, the student receives knowledge out of the context of time and without understanding how it was obtained. .. Instead of memorizing facts, the ability to work with information. Even more precisely: the ability to work with information in conditions of its lack, as well as an excess of low-quality information. The ability to see information in the system and formulate contradictions. Formation of open, creative thinking capable of development throughout life is no longer an ideal, but a necessity in the education system of a dynamic world. ..
1) What, according to the author, characterizes the current education system?
2) What goal should be realized in the new education system? What old and new functions should it perform? Underline the appropriate answer in the text.
3) Why does the author consider the method of working with information important in the new education system?
4) Give examples of the situation:
a) lack of information:
b) excess of low-quality information:

1) Progress in training
2) old function: The old function of education - transmission through generations of traditions, an established culture - remains.
new feature: The new education system should be built on teaching skills that enable a comfortable existence in a dynamic world.
3) the ability to work with information in our time - required quality for life and a comfortable future. In addition, with the emergence of the Internet, where an incalculable amount of information is located, a person needs the skill of filtering it and the ability to work with the information presented in various forms atah.
4)a) I’m in the forest, without means of communication.
b) I am at home with all the means mass media(TV, telephone, computer)

Make a plan for the text. To do this, highlight the main semantic fragments of the text and title each of them.
What do human rights represent? At what two levels of the legal system are they recorded?
Human rights are given to all people, in accordance with national and international legal norms, equal opportunities to satisfy their basic needs, ensuring the development of the individual and his full participation in the life of society. Human rights reflect a minimum set of life benefits in the civil, political and socio-economic spheres.
The most generally accepted is the list of rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the main UN human rights document. Of the civil and political rights (Articles 3–21 of the Declaration), the most relevant at present are the right to own property (Article 17), the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 18), the right to freedom of opinion and their free expression (Article 19). Among the socio-economic rights (Articles 22–27 of the Declaration), attention is most often paid to the right to social Security(Article 22), as well as the right to work and free choice of work, subject to equal pay for equal work, fair and satisfactory remuneration that ensures a decent human existence, as well as the right to create trade unions (Article 23).
Along with the most general list of such rights recorded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are other lists reflected in the constitutional documents of each state. They list the rights that, according to national legislation, citizens of a particular state have, reflect national specifics and may differ markedly from those recorded in the Declaration. For example, the American Bill of Rights includes the right to bear arms (the Second Amendment to the US Constitution), which most countries in the world do not have.
The protection of human rights faces modern world With big problems. The main problem is related to the fact that the concept of human rights was born in Western European culture and therefore finds an ambiguous response in countries of other civilizations. In modern Western European culture, society is understood as a collection of many social groups with their own special beliefs, which they can follow completely freely, as long as it does not harm others. In other cultures, the ideal is not society as a “bundle” of social groups, but society as a monolith, where everyone shares a single ideology. The basic institutions of these civilizations are not individualistic, but collectivist values. Therefore, demands to provide all citizens of these countries with the same rights as citizens of countries Western Europe and North America, are often perceived as interference in internal affairs.
!

1. Human rights.
2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the first (world) level of the legal system.
3. Human rights in the constitutional documents of each state. (second state level of the legal system)
4. The problem of protecting human rights in different countries

1. Make a text plan
2. Using the text and social science knowledge, give 2 explanations of the authors’ thoughts “who saves and invests more, produces more in the future.”
3. Give 2 explanations for the need for economic cooperation between people.
4. How do the authors explain the essence of the problem of economic choice? Why do economic actors, in principle, have to solve the problem of economic choice? What is the cost of choice?
5. Confirm with 3 examples the authors’ idea that “technological progress continues to change our lives today”
FOUR SOURCES OF GROWTH IN POPULATION INCOME:
The goods and services that create our wealth do not fall from the sky. Their production requires labor and intellectual potential, equipment and investment, organization of the labor process and cooperation of firms. There are four main sources of growth in production and income.
Education, training and experience are the main means of achieving higher qualifications. By improving their skills, people increase their main capital - their own abilities.
Workers will produce more products using better equipment. A lumberjack, for example, will cut down more trees if he uses a modern chainsaw instead of a primitive hacksaw or axe. A truck driver can transport more cargo than a cab driver. But equipment and machines are not free. The resources used to produce them could be used in other ways: in the manufacture food products, clothing, cars and other everyday items.
Economics teaches that those who save and invest more produce more in the future.
The use of human intelligence, inventing new products or more efficient production technologies, is the most important source of economic growth.
Over the past 250 years, technological developments have literally transformed our lives. First the steam engine, then the internal combustion engine, electricity and the nuclear reactor replaced human and animal muscles as the main source of energy. Automobiles, buses, trains and airplanes have replaced the horse and buggy as the main modes of transportation. Technological progress continues to change our lives today. Laser players, microcomputers, word processors, microwave ovens, video cameras, tape recorders, and car air conditioners have significantly changed the nature of our work and leisure activities over the past twenty years.
Historically, changes in legislation have always been important source economic progress. In the 18th century The patent system gave investors private ownership of ideas. Around the same time, recognition of the corporation as a legal entity facilitated the creation of the large firms required for the mass production of industrial goods. These progressive changes in the economic organization of society contributed to the growth of manufacturing in Europe and North America.
Efficient economic organization society promotes economic cooperation between people and directs resources to the production of goods they need. Its main characteristics are discussed in more detail in the next part.

Plan: 1) Goods and services that create our well-being
2)Education, training and experience
3)Production of large production workers
4) Using human intelligence to invent new products
5)Technological progress over the last 250 years
6) Historical changes in legislation
7) Effective economic organization of society
2) Thanks to savings and economics, you can develop much more than when a lot of costs go into one investment
3) 1. Economic cooperation necessary for economic progress to occur
2. Economic cooperation between people and directs resources to produce the goods they need.
or 3) By improving their skills, people increase their main capital - their own abilities.
4) The authors explain this by saying that expenses can sometimes go towards small needs; Because both products will cost a lot of money; The price of choice is economic progress
5) 1. Thanks to technological progress, we can invent many things
2. Simplify our daily life
3. Helps us in education

1. Independent activity carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods, performance of services, is called
1) economic activity 2) entrepreneurial activity
3) spiritual activity 4) cognitive activity
2. Are the following statements about profit correct?
A. Profit is a general indicator financial results economic activity, one of the main economic categories.
B. Profit is the amount of money paid or received per unit of a good or service.
1) only A is true 2) only B is true 3) both judgments are correct 4) both judgments are incorrect
3. Basic law of business
1) buy more expensive - sell cheaper 2) buy more expensive - sell more expensive
3) buy cheaper - sell cheaper 4) buy cheaper - sell more expensive
4. Legal status individual entrepreneur begins from the moment
1) coming of age 2) beginning of production
3) state registration 4) payment of the first taxes as an individual entrepreneur
5. Legal entities that are non-profit organizations may be created in the form
1) partnerships and societies 2) consumer cooperatives
3) production cooperatives 4) state and municipal unitary enterprises
6. Legal entities that are commercial organizations may be created in the form
1) consumer cooperatives 2) partnerships and societies
3) public organizations 4) charitable and other foundations
7. Commercial organizations with the authorized (share) capital divided into shares (contributions) of the founders (participants) are called
1) business partnerships and companies 2) joint-stock companies
3) small enterprises 4) production cooperatives
8. A joint stock company, the participants of which can alienate shares belonging to them without the consent of other shareholders, is recognized
9. A joint stock company, the shares of which are distributed only among its founders or other predetermined circle of persons, is recognized
1) open 2) complete 3) closed 4) faith society
10. The highest management body of a joint stock company is
1) board of directors 2) meeting of the labor collective 3) presidium 4) general meeting of shareholders
Part 2
1. Read the text below, each position of which is numbered.
(1) The birth of joint stock companies played a major role in the development of the economy. (2) It is believed that without joint stock companies it would be impossible to create many modern industries - mechanical engineering, chemical industry, air transport, etc. (3) In the UK, 89% of products are produced by joint-stock companies. (4) And the US automobile company General Motors sold goods and services worth $126 billion in 1990.
Determine which provisions of the text A) reflect facts B) express opinions
Under the position number, write down the letter indicating the nature of this position.
1
2
3
4
2. Below is a list of terms. All of them, with the exception of one, characterize the concept of “legal entity”. Partnership, individual entrepreneur, Joint-Stock Company, unitary enterprise, consumer cooperative.
Find and indicate a term that refers to another concept.
3. Insert the missing concept: “Authorized capital joint stock company is made up of the nominal value of the ______________ of the company acquired by the shareholders.”
4. Read the text below, in which a number of words are missing.
Select from the list provided the words that need to be inserted in place of the gaps.
“The regulation of entrepreneurial activity and the economic and legal relations that arise in this case is based on a number of fundamental starting points and principles. The main ones are:
- ____________(1) entrepreneurial activity;
- initiative and independent activity;
- receiving ___________(2) as the main objective entrepreneurial activity;
- ____________(3) in business activities;
- legal equality of various forms of _______(4) used in business activities;
- freedom_____________(5) and restrictions on monopolistic activities;
- state _____________(6) entrepreneurial activity.”
The words in the list are given in nominative case. Each word (phrase) can be used only once. Choose one word after another, mentally filling in each gap. Please note that there are more words in the list than you will need to fill in the blanks.
A) freedom B) profit C) tax D) regulation E) competition E) property G) legality
The table below shows the pass numbers. Under each number, write down the letter corresponding to the word you chose.
1
2
3
4
5
6

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY (entrepreneurship) - according to the civil legislation of the Russian Federation, an independent activity carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, the sale of goods, the performance of work or the provision of services by persons registered in this capacity in the manner prescribed by law. Subjects of legal acts in the Russian Federation can be citizens of the Russian Federation who are not limited in their legal capacity, foreign citizens, stateless persons, as well as Russian and foreign legal entities. In the Russian Federation, the regulation of property rights is based on the norms of civil law, in contrast to most foreign countries, where trade laws are regulated by the norms of trade (commercial, economic) law.
Large legal dictionary. - M.: Infra-M. A. Ya. Sukharev, V. E. Krutskikh, A. Ya. Sukhareva. 2003.
PRE-PARLAMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY OF CITIZENS See what “ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY” is in other dictionaries: Entrepreneurial activity is, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, an independent activity carried out at one’s own risk by citizens and their associations, aimed at systematically obtaining profits from the use of property, the sale of goods, the performance of work or the provision of services by persons ,… … Financial Dictionary Business activities - (English business activities) independent activities carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services by persons registered in ... Encyclopedia of Law Business activities - (business activities ) independent activity, carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services by persons registered in this... ... Economic and mathematical dictionary entrepreneurial activity - Independent activity, carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematic making a profit from the use of property, the sale of goods, the performance of work or the provision of services by persons registered in this capacity in... ... Technical Translator's Directory Entrepreneurial activity is an independent activity carried out at one's own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, the sale of goods, and the performance of work or the provision of services by persons registered in this capacity in ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary-Reference Book of the Head of an Enterprise Entrepreneurial Activities - See Entrepreneurship Dictionary of business terms. Academician. RU. 2001 ... Dictionary of business termsEntrepreneurial activity - Civil legislation regulates relations between persons engaged in entrepreneurial activity, or with their participation, based on the fact that entrepreneurial activity is an independent activity carried out at one’s own risk... ... Official terminology ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY is an independent activity carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services by persons registered in accordance with the law... ... Lawyer's Encyclopedia entrepreneurial activity - (entrepreneurship) under the civil legislation of the Russian Federation is an independent activity carried out at one's own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services... Large legal dictionary ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITY - (ENTREPRENEURSHIP) in accordance with the civil legislation of the Russian Federation, proactive independent activity carried out at one’s own risk, aimed at systematically obtaining profit from the use of property, sale of goods,... ...
1. 2)
2. 1) only A, since B is revenue or income, not profit
3. 4)
4. 3) see legal foundations of entrepreneurship
5. 2) because everything else is commercial (related to making a profit)
6. 2) everything else is not commercial
7. 2) from the definition of JSC
8. 1)
9. 3)
10. 4)
Part two
1.
1 - B
2 - B
3 - A
4 - A
2. A legal entity is not an individual entrepreneur
3. Shares
4. 1 - F
2 - B
3-A
4-E
5-D
6-G

King Croesus of Lydia was considered the richest man in the world. Once the Athenian sage Solon visited him. Croesus asked who he considered the most happy man in the world. What was his surprise when, instead of the expected answer, he heard: “The happiest man on this earth was the Athenian Tell. He was not too rich, but not too poor, he calmly went about his business and was not afraid of need and hunger, he had good things, reasonable children, and he died in battle defending his state." Then Solon added that this is exactly the fate every Greek dreams of. Why was Croesus disappointed by this answer? How does this characterize their needs? !

Question 3. The right to preserve individuality (is it a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 4. The right to live in a family, to know one’s parents (is this a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 5. The right to freely formulate and express one’s opinion (is this a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 6 . Right of access to necessary information(is it civil or political or economic or social or cultural law?)

Question 7. The right to freedom of thought, religion (is this a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 8. The right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly (is this a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 9. The right to protection of the state from all forms of violence (is it a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 10. The right to a standard of living necessary for full development (is it a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 11. The right to education (is it a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 12. The right to rest and leisure (is it a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Question 13. The right to protection from economic exploitation and performance of any harmful work (is this a civil or political or economic or social or cultural right?)

Thank you so much. Thank you.

§ 1. Economics: science and economy

THOUGHTS OF THE WISE
“Economics is the art of satisfying unlimited needs with limited resources.”

L. Peter (1919–1989), American writer

Is the economy capable of satisfying all people's needs? Can economic activity be measured? How does the economy develop - spontaneously or according to its own laws?
Economics is the most complex sphere of social life. Its numerous and varied manifestations make it difficult precise definition concept of "economy". Let's try to consider the most general ideas about this area public life, reflecting the views of theoreticians and practitioners.
You became familiar with the concept of “economics” in primary school. Let us remember that it is necessary to distinguish its double meaning. This word is used to characterize both economic activity and the science of the laws of such activity. Compare two different definitions used to characterize the same word "economy".
Economy is an economic system that ensures the satisfaction of the needs of people and society by creating and using the necessary goods of life.
Economics is the science of economics, methods of running and managing it, relationships between people in the process of production and exchange of goods, and the patterns of economic processes.
To better understand and grasp the meaning of each of the definitions, let's look at them in more detail, starting with the second.

WHAT DOES ECONOMICS STUDY?

People began to think about economic problems long before our era. The word "economics" is of Greek origin and was first used by the ancient Greek author Xenophon (c. 430-355 or 354 BC) as the title of his treatise. And only a little over three hundred years ago scientists appeared who began to generalize and systematize knowledge about economic reality. This was the time of the formation of a market economy.
Why did economics appear then?
This is due to the fact that for most of human history, basic economic issues (what, how and for whom to produce) were most often decided either in accordance with traditions and customs, or by order of the head of state. Therefore, people's actions were predetermined and predictable and there was no need for economic science. IN market economy decisions on basic economic issues began to be made by a free, independent producer. Scientists were interested in how this “free and self-regulating” economic system works, according to what laws economic processes take place in it. Economic science as an occupation of professional scientists arose along with the market economy.
Economists have sought to study both the general relationships of large elements of a market economy (for example, employment, foreign trade, state economic policy) and individual problems (for example, supply and demand, market competition).
What was the focus of scientists' attention? First of all, such universal problems of economics as limited resources and economic choice (with these basic concepts economic science you met in a social studies course at a basic school).
The needs of society in connection with the increase in population, the acceleration of scientific and technological progress, the deepening of cultural ties and exchanges are constantly increasing and becoming almost limitless. On the contrary, economic possibilities are those real resources that society can direct to satisfy needs, always, in every this moment are limited. Society is constantly faced with the need to resolve this contradiction and the problem of economic choice. With the available amount of resources, how can we better satisfy existing needs? Economics, the science of choice, is trying to solve this problem.
Economic science studies various areas and laws of economic development in different levels. Thus, the part of economics that studies the economy as a whole is macroeconomics. Its subjects include, for example, the problems of unemployment, poverty, economic growth, the role of the state in regulating the economy and protecting the interests of society.
Microeconomics is a part of economic science that studies economic relations between individual economic entities (consumers, workers, firms), their activities and impact on the national economy. She studies the choice problems faced by individual participants economic activity. For example, the interaction of consumers and producers in the market for goods and services, entrepreneurs and employees in the labor market, etc. At the same time, microeconomics studies the functioning of individual markets and industries. It explains how prices for individual goods are set, what funds and why are allocated for the construction of new enterprises, the development of industries, how the activities of industries and markets are influenced by state policy.
Both levels of economic analysis (macro- and microeconomics) of the use of limited resources are interconnected. For example, if the reasons for the rise in prices for the products of an oil refinery are analyzed, then this is a microeconomic problem. Analysis of the decision on the state's antimonopoly policy in relation to enterprises in the oil industry is the subject of macroeconomics. At the same time, the behavior of individual participants in economic activity (manufacturers, firms) largely depends on the state of affairs in the economy of the entire country.
The current stage of economic development is characterized by high interdependence of national economies on a global scale. Therefore, economic theory necessarily involves consideration of the problems of the relationship of national economies with the world economy. The laws of development of the world economy are studied by sa-
An independent part of economic science is world (international) economics. The subject of her research may be international trade in goods and services, capital movements, exchange in the field of science and technology, international monetary relations, etc.
Economic science also studies the functioning and interaction of such economic institutions as the state, enterprise, family and household.
The stable, significant relationships between economic phenomena, processes, and relationships identified by scientists make it possible to solve economic problems more effectively in practice.
In the subsequent paragraphs of this chapter, you will become acquainted with the main scientific ideas and works (not only the educational text will help you with this, but also reference to the documents at the end of each paragraph) of such outstanding thinkers who contributed to economic science as A. Smith, D. Ricardo, K. Marx, D. Keynes, A. Marshall, as well as modern scientists, including representatives of the Russian school of economic thought.

ECONOMY

In the broad sense of the word, economics is a set of methods for creating conditions for the survival and progress of humanity. From this we can conclude that economic activity represents all types of economic activities of people to satisfy their needs and ensure material living conditions.
Economic activity is necessary in order to transform resources into the necessary economic benefits - goods and services that satisfy one or another human need and are available to society in limited quantities. Schematically, the process of transforming natural objects into consumer goods can be represented as follows:
Production Distribution! Consumption
Between various types There is a close relationship between economic activities. Thus, production and distribution cannot be separated, because the goods produced can give a useful result in the case
when they reach the consumer. Consumption is not only the goal of production, but also a stimulus for its development. It has a serious impact on the growth of production volumes and the development of certain industries.
Another component of economic activity that links production with distribution and consumption is exchange.
Exchange is an economic transaction in which one person transfers an item or commodity to another, receiving money or another item in return.
The various relationships that develop in the process of production and distribution of material goods are included in the concept of “economic sphere of society.” (Remember what other spheres of society are distinguished and how they are related to the economy.)
Solution success main problem economics - definitions of the most effective ways use of limited resources - largely depends on the rules and principles of organizing activities. Thus, for several centuries the world of economics has been governed by one of the basic principles - the principle of rationality, which allows choosing decisions based on the desire to obtain the greatest economic results with the minimum possible expenditure of all the resources necessary for this. (Compare the forms of farming familiar to you from history: natural and commercial. Which of them more fully takes into account the principle of rationality? Which is more effective?)
The results of economic activity depend not only on general principles its organization, but also on the so-called economic mechanisms, i.e., ways and forms of people combining their efforts in solving life support problems. Such important mechanisms of the economy are, for example, division of labor and specialization, trade. (Think about how these familiar ways of people collaborating influence the content and results of economic activity.)
People satisfy their needs for goods and services either by producing them themselves or by exchanging produced products for necessary goods and services. Therefore, in order to improve the standard of living of the population, it is necessary to find ways to increase production volume. There are two such ways: to expand the volume of use of economic resources or to increase the efficiency of their use. The indicator or measure of how effectively available resources are used is productivity (not to be confused with labor productivity). When more quality goods are produced with the same resources, productivity increases.
Productivity is the volume of goods and services created per unit of input. Costs can be any resources involved in the production process - land, fuel, equipment costs, etc. Productivity is directly affected by the quality of labor resources (training, qualifications of workers), the technologies used and the effectiveness of management decisions.
To measure economic activity, various economic quantities and indicators are used that characterize the state, properties, and quality of the economy, its objects, and processes. These values make it possible to find out how the processes of production, distribution, consumption are going, and what their results are.
Economic quantities and indicators can be divided into volumetric (characterize the quantity of a product) and qualitative (characterize the ratio of two quantities). You come across, for example, data that Russia sells 130 million tons of coal on the world market - this is an example of a volumetric indicator. If economists note that this year the decline in production is 90% compared to last year (for this it is necessary to compare two values), this is an example of a qualitative indicator.
Let's get acquainted with some economic indicators used to assess the level of production and development of the country's economy.
In most countries, annual production national economy measured through the gross national product (GNP). This indicator has been used since 1988 in Russia.
GNP is defined as the sum of the market prices of all final products (goods and services) created by producers of a given country during the year, both domestically and abroad.
Why we're talking about only about final products? In order for the volume of the national product to be determined correctly, all products must be taken into account only once. Most goods and services go through many stages production process, before reaching the end consumer. For example, before a book gets into the hands of readers, it must go through several technological stages - from the development of content by the author, paper production and printing to sale.
GNP includes sales of only final products (in our case, books), excluding sales of intermediate products, i.e., those used in the manufacture of the final product (in our case, paper, printing, publishing costs). This eliminates double counting and overestimation of GNP.
GNP is considered a measure of the economy as a whole, because it actually includes the value of all goods and services produced during the year. Several other indicators are calculated based on GNP: gross domestic product, net national product, national income.
Let us dwell on an indicator similar to GNP and equally frequently used - gross domestic product (GDP). This indicator of the volume of national production is defined as the sum of market prices of all final products produced during the year in the country.
By dividing a country's GDP by the number of citizens, we get an indicator called GDP per capita. Using this indicator, one can compare the degree of economic development and living standards of different countries. It is GDP per capita that is one of the main indicators of the standard of living of a nation. When production grows faster, then there are more goods and services per person in a country, and the standard of living rises. If population grows faster than production, the average standard of living declines.
It is necessary to clarify on what basis indicators can be used to judge the growth of gross domestic product. Economists distinguish between two indicators: real GDP, when its volume is expressed in constant prices of manufactured products; nominal GDP, when its volume is measured in current prices.
When calculating the real GDP indicator, as a rule, an adjustment is made for the level of inflation (price increases), and it will depend only on changes in real output.
When the prices of goods and services rise, nominal GDP (based on current prices) may rise even if the level of output remains unchanged or falls.
Let's assume that nominal GDP increased during the year from 200 billion rubles. up to 500 billion rubles But during the same period, prices doubled and 1 ruble during this period had a purchasing power equal to half of the previous one. We can say that GDP increased only to 250 billion rubles. (RUB 500 billion: 2). For example, in Russia from 1990 to 1999, the GDP indicator increased by more than 7 thousand times. During this time, prices increased 13,750 times (that is, almost doubled). Thus, real GDP also decreased by almost 2 times.
Since data on the volume and dynamics of GDP are usually used to judge economic growth in a country, it is necessary to use the indicator of real gross domestic product.
Economic information obtained using various meters is the source material for analyzing the development of the country's economy and developing economic forecasts. Thus, the observed positive dynamics of GDP growth in Russia in last years(from 2001 to 2003 this figure increased from 5 to 7.2%) allowed the government to put forward the goal of doubling GDP in the next 10 years.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the main actors in economic activity are producers and consumers. You will learn about how their actions ensure the goals and effectiveness of economic activity in the following paragraphs.

PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS

Economic knowledge is necessary for every person as a consumer and as an employee. An economically literate person knows how to make decisions about purchasing goods and hiring, how to protect himself from the consequences of rising prices, how best to use his savings, what profession to choose so as not to end up unemployed later.
The lack of economic knowledge and skills to make rational decisions based on it results in a decrease in the level of well-being for participants in economic activity, financial losses, dissatisfaction and disappointment in professional activity, reducing opportunities to competently defend their economic rights.
The development of market relations in our country required new economic knowledge from their participants, without which successful practical activity and the ability to make the right economic choice in conditions of limited resources are impossible. Understanding the general nature of the functioning of the economy helps its participants to competently determine their economic policy and make reasonable economic decisions even in the most unfavorable periods of the enterprise’s activity.
The modern economic development of Russia depends to a large extent not only on officials or politicians, but also from active participation in governing the country of its citizens. Your choices as a voter can influence the economic policy of the country, and your choices as a worker or consumer will determine not only your well-being, but also how the people around you will live.

Document
Reflections on the features of the Russian school of economic thought by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences L. I. Abalkin (from a report at a scientific conference of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Free Economic Society of Russia)

Globalization, which has become the leading trend in world development, does not eliminate, but in many ways exacerbates the problems of economic, social and political progress. It removes the opposition of civilizations or formations according to the principle: higher and lower, advanced and backward. Each of them has its own merits and advantages, its own value system and its own understanding of progress... In this regard, we must once again return to understanding the special role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought... Huge influence on the self-determination of the Russian school of economics thoughts, both in domestic and world science, have influenced the originality and uniqueness of the civilization that has developed in our country. No other civilization, if we exclude the still poorly studied specifics of Asian civilization, has had approaches, moral values, and perceptions of the surrounding world and man’s place in it so different from the West. This could not but affect culture and science, especially the humanities. What is recognized in the West as an immutable truth that removes all restrictions as insignificant, is perceived quite differently and often fundamentally differently in Russian economic thought.
The economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and methods of management... The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market, the common social welfare stands above the individual success.
Science was called upon to absorb this approach, and where it did this, it was successful. Where she deviated from this rule, she (and the country) were disappointed. The 20th century, including its last decade, is clear evidence of this.

Questions and tasks for the document

1. Why does the author consider it necessary to reconsider the role and place in science of the Russian school of economic thought? What determines the identity of this scientific school? 2. What approaches, moral values, and views on the place of man in the world that differ from Western ones characterize, in the opinion of L. I. Abalkin, Russian civilization? 3. Can we agree with the author that the use of these approaches by economic science could ensure the success of the country’s economic development? 4. Using knowledge of modern history and the facts of the socio-economic life of Russia in the last decade, give examples that confirm the scientist’s conclusion that deviations from the approaches and values developed by Russian economists led to failures.

SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

1. What is the reason for the emergence of economic science? 2. What are the main problems of economics? Name and describe them. 3. What do macroeconomics and microeconomics study? 4. What is necessary for natural objects to be transformed into consumer goods? What is the role of economic activity in this process? 5 How can gross domestic product be measured and determined? 6. In what ways can the volume of production be increased with the limited resources available? China's GNP is higher than France's GNP. Is it possible to draw a conclusion on this basis? better position affairs in its economy? Explain your answer.
Fill the table " Sections of economic science".
Microeconomics Macroeconomics World Economy
Enter the listed problems studied by various parts of economic science in the appropriate column of the table: conditions for concluding a business transaction, turnover of the international foreign exchange market, competition among producers, slowdown in economic growth, interaction between consumers and producers in the goods market, deepening international division labor, employment, costs and profitability of the enterprise, foreign trade policies of countries, level and rate of inflation, reasons economic crisis, reasons for growth wages in the oil industry.
3 Which mechanism for regulating the economy provides the best opportunity to distribute resources across its sectors in accordance with the volume and structure of consumption: market (free) pricing or directive (centralized) price setting? Give reasons for your answer.
Choose the most accurate definition of the subject of economic science:
study of human behavior in the process of production and exchange of material goods;
the science of ways to improve the efficiency of economic systems;
a science that studies the use of limited resources of society for the production of material goods in the face of constantly growing needs of people;
the science of people's daily business activities and their means of livelihood;
study of methods and criteria for the distribution of produced economic goods

Social studies lesson on the topic “Economics: science and management”

Purpose: to consider the subjects of study of economic science, to determine the main problems of economics as an economy, to get acquainted with the main measures of economic activity.

Subject: social studies.

Date: "____" ____.20___

I.State the topic and purpose of the lesson.

II. Presentation of program material.

A story with elements of conversation

The textbook is a continuation of the social science course basic level which you studied in 10th grade. The main content of the course, as well as the documents, questions, and assignments included in the textbook will allow you to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills that meet modern requirements for the level of graduate training. Practical conclusions will guide you on how to apply the acquired knowledge in life.

Many of the issues you studied in 10th grade will be covered in this part of the course more fully and in depth. First of all, this applies to issues of economics, politics, and law. When learning new material, it is necessary to rely on the knowledge acquired in 10th grade. The connection of new knowledge with previously acquired knowledge is a condition for their correct understanding and development in a holistic system.

As you work through the course content, it is useful to refer to the social processes and phenomena that you studied in the history course. At the same time, it is important to be interested in current social events and, using the knowledge that the course provides, learn to independently understand a particular socio-political situation.

Whatever your plans after graduation, a social studies course will help you become competent people, capable of developing and defending their own civic position, competently and responsibly solving public and personal problems.

Is the economy capable of satisfying all people's needs? Can economic activity be measured? How does the economy develop - spontaneously or according to its own laws?

Economics is the most complex sphere of social life. Its numerous and varied manifestations make it difficult to accurately define the concept of “economy”. Let's try to consider the most general ideas about this area of social life, reflecting the views of theoreticians and practitioners.

You became familiar with the concept of “economics” in primary school. Let us remember that it is necessary to distinguish between double meaning. This word is used to characterize both economic activity and the science of the laws of such activity. Compare two different definitions used to characterize the same word "economy".

Economy - This is an economic system that ensures the satisfaction of the needs of people and society through the creation and use of necessary life goods.

Economy - the science of farming, methods of running and managing it, relationships between people in the process of production and exchange of goods, patterns of economic processes.

To better understand and grasp the meaning of each of the definitions, let's look at them in more detail, starting with the second.

What does economics study?

Economic science also studies the functioning and interaction of such economic institutions as the state, enterprise, family and household.

The stable, significant relationships between economic phenomena, processes, and relationships identified by scientists make it possible to solve economic problems more effectively in practice.

In the subsequent paragraphs of this chapter, you will become acquainted with the main scientific ideas and works (not only the educational text will help you with this, but also reference to the documents at the end of each paragraph) of such outstanding thinkers who contributed to economic science as A. Smith, D. Ricardo, K. Marx, D. Keynes, A. Marshall, as well as modern scientists, including representatives of the Russian school of economic thought.

Economics and economic activity

Economic activity is necessary in order to transform resources into the necessary economic benefits - goods and services that satisfy one or another human need and are available to society in limited quantities. Schematically, the process of transforming natural objects into consumer goods can be represented as follows:

Production Distribution Exchange Consumption

There is a close relationship between different types of economic activities. Thus, production and distribution cannot be separated, because the goods produced can give a useful result when they reach the consumer. Consumption is not only the goal of production, but also a stimulus for its development. It has a serious impact on the growth of production volumes and the development of certain industries.

Another component of economic activity that links production with distribution and consumption is exchange.

Exchange - an economic transaction in which one person transfers an item or product to another, receiving money or another item in return.

The various relationships that develop in the process of production and distribution of material goods are included in the concept of “economic sphere of society.” (Remember what other spheres of society are distinguished and how they are related to the economy.)

The success of solving the main problem of the economy - determining the most effective ways to use limited resources - largely depends on the rules and principles of organizing activities. Thus, for several centuries the world of economics has been governed by one of the basic principles - the principle of rationality, which allows choosing decisions based on the desire to obtain the greatest economic results with the minimum possible expenditure of all the resources necessary for this. (Compare the forms of farming familiar to you from history: natural and commercial. Which of them more fully takes into account the principle of rationality? Which is more effective?)

The results of economic activity depend not only on the general principles of its organization, but also on the so-called economic mechanisms, i.e., ways and forms of people combining their efforts in solving life support problems. Such important mechanisms of the economy are, for example, division of labor and specialization, trade. (Think about how these familiar ways of people collaborating influence the content and results of economic activity.)

People satisfy their needs for goods and services either by producing them themselves or by exchanging produced products for needed goods and services. Therefore, in order to improve the standard of living of the population, it is necessary to find ways to increase production volume. There are two such ways: expand volumes use of economic resources or increase efficiency their use. The indicator or measure of how effectively available resources are used is productivity (not to be confused with labor productivity). When more quality goods are produced with the same resources, productivity increases.

Performance – This is the volume of goods and services created per unit of expenditure. Costs can be any resources involved in the production process - land, fuel, equipment costs, labor, etc. Productivity has a direct impact quality of labor resources(professional training, qualifications of workers), technologies used and the effectiveness of management decisions.

Measurers of economic activity

To measure economic activity, various economic quantities and indicators are used that characterize the state, properties, and quality of the economy, its objects, and processes. These values make it possible to find out how the processes of production, distribution, consumption are going, and what their results are.

Economic values and indicators can be divided into absolute(characterize the amount of product) and relative(characterize the ratio of two quantities). You come across, for example, data that Russia sells 130 million tons of coal on the world market - this is an example of an absolute indicator. If economists note that this year the decline in production is 90% compared to last year (for this it is necessary to compare two values), this is an example of a relative indicator.

Let's get acquainted with some economic indicators used to assess the level of production and development of the country's economy.

In most countries, the volume of annual production of the national economy is measured through the indicator gross national product(GNP). This indicator has been used since 1988 in Russia.

GNP is defined as cost of all final products(goods and services) created by producers of a given country during a year How inside the country, so and behind abroad.

Why are we talking only about final products? In order for the volume of national production to be determined correctly, it is necessary to count all products only once. Most goods and services go through many stages of the production process before reaching the final consumer. For example, before a book gets into the hands of readers, it must go through several technological stages - from the development of content by the author, paper production and printing to sale.

GNP includes sales of only final products (in our case, books), excluding sales of intermediate products, i.e., those used in the manufacture of the final product (in our case, paper, printing, publishing costs). This eliminates double counting and overestimation of GNP.

GNP is considered a measure of the economy as a whole, because it actually includes the value of all goods and services produced during the year. Several other indicators are calculated based on GNP: gross domestic product, net national product, national income. National income – is the total income generated by all factors of production.

Let us dwell on an indicator similar to GNP and equally frequently used - gross domestic product(GDP). This indicator of the volume of national production is defined as cost of all final products(goods and services) produced throughout the year throughout the country.

Dividing a country's GDP by the number of citizens, we get an indicator called GDP per capita. Using this indicator, one can compare the degree of economic development and living standards of different countries. GDP per capita is one of the main indicators standard of living of the nation. When production grows faster, then there are more goods and services per person in a country, and the standard of living rises. If the population grows faster than production, the average standard of living decreases.

It is necessary to clarify on what basis indicators can be used to judge the growth of gross domestic product. GDP is calculated both in unchanged (constant) prices of the base year and in current (effective) prices. That is, economists distinguish between two indicators: real GDP, when its volume is expressed in constant prices of manufactured products; nominal GDP when its volume is measured in current prices.

When calculating the real GDP indicator, as a rule, an adjustment is made for inflation rate(price rise), and it will depend only on changes in real output. Meter inflationary processes in the country is the GDP deflator, which is determined by dividing nominal by real GDP.

When the prices of goods and services rise, nominal GDP (based on current prices) may rise even if the level of output remains unchanged or falls.

Let's assume that nominal GDP increased during the year from 200 billion rubles. up to 500 billion rubles But during the same period, prices doubled and 1 ruble during this period had a purchasing power equal to half of the previous one. We can say that GDP increased only to 250 billion rubles. (RUB 500 billion: 2). For example, in Russia from 1990 to 1999, the GDP indicator increased by more than 7 thousand times. During this time, prices increased 13,750 times (that is, almost doubled). Thus, real GDP also decreased by almost 2 times.

Since economic growth in a country is usually judged on the basis of data on the volume and dynamics of GDP, it is necessary to use the indicator of real gross domestic product.

Economic information obtained using various meters is the source material for analyzing the development of the country's economy and developing economic forecasts. Thus, the observed positive dynamics of GDP growth in Russia in recent years (from 2001 to 2003, this figure increased from 5 to 7.2%) allowed the government to put forward the goal of doubling GDP in the next 10 years.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the main subjects of economic activity are producers and consumers. You will learn about how their actions ensure the goals and effectiveness of economic activity in the following paragraphs.

III. Practical conclusions.

1. Economic knowledge is necessary for every person as a consumer and as an employee. An economically literate person knows how to make decisions about purchasing goods and hiring, how to protect himself from the consequences of rising prices, how best to use his savings, what profession to choose so as not to end up unemployed later.

The lack of economic knowledge and the ability to make rational decisions based on it results in a decrease in the level of well-being for participants in economic activity, financial losses, dissatisfaction and disappointment in professional activities, and a reduction in opportunities to competently defend their economic rights.

2. The development of market relations in our country required new economic knowledge from their participants, without which successful practical activity and the ability to make the right economic choice in conditions of limited resources are impossible. Understanding the general nature of the functioning of the economy helps its participants to competently determine their economic policy and make reasonable economic decisions even in the most unfavorable periods of the enterprise’s activity.

3. The modern economic development of Russia depends to a large extent not only on officials or politicians, but also on the active participation of its citizens in governing the country. Your choices as a voter can influence the economic policy of the country, and your choices as a worker or consumer will determine not only your well-being, but also how the people around you will live.

IV. Document.

Reflections on the features of the Russian school of economic thought Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences(from a report at a scientific conference of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Free Economic Society of Russia).

The economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and management methods... The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market, the common social good is higher than individual success.

Science was called upon to absorb this approach, and where it did this, it was successful. Where she deviated from this rule, she (and the country) were disappointed. The 20th century, including its last decade, is clear evidence of this.

Questions and tasks for the document

2) What approaches, moral values, and views on the place of man in the world that differ from Western ones, in your opinion, characterize Russian civilization?

4) Using knowledge of modern history and the facts of socio-economic life in Russia in the last decade of the 20th century, give examples that confirm the scientist’s conclusion that deviations from the approaches and values developed by Russian economists led to failures.

V. Questions for self-test.

1. What is the reason for the emergence of economic science?

2. What are the main problems of economics? Name and describe them.

3. What do macroeconomics and microeconomics study?

4. What is necessary for natural objects to be transformed into consumer goods? What is the role of economic activity in this process?

5. How can gross domestic product be measured and determined?

6. In what ways can the volume of production be increased with the limited resources available?

VI. Tasks.

1. China's GNP is higher than France's GNP. Is it possible to draw a conclusion on this basis about a better state of affairs in its economy? Explain your answer.

2. Fill out the table “Sections of economic science.”

Microeconomics

Macroeconomics

World economy

Enter the listed problems studied by various parts of economic science in the appropriate column of the table: conditions for concluding a business transaction, turnover of the international foreign exchange market, competition among producers, slowdown in economic growth, interaction between consumers and producers in the goods market, deepening the international division of labor, employment, costs and the profitability of the enterprise, the foreign trade policy of countries, the level and rate of inflation, the causes of the economic crisis, the reasons for the growth of wages in the oil industry.

3. Which mechanism for regulating the economy provides the best opportunity to distribute resources across its sectors in accordance with the volume and structure of consumption: market (free) pricing or directive (centralized) pricing? Give reasons for your answer.

4. Choose the most accurate definition of the subject of economic science:

− study of human behavior in the process of production and exchange of material goods;

− science about ways to improve the efficiency of economic systems;

− science that studies the use of limited resources of society for the production of material goods in the face of constantly growing needs of people;

− the science of people’s daily business activities and their means of livelihood;

− study of methods and criteria for the distribution of produced economic benefits.

VII. Thoughts of the wise.

“Economics is the art of satisfying unlimited needs with limited resources.”

L. Peter (), American writer

VIII. Final part.

1. Evaluating student answers.

Economic knowledge is necessary for every person as a consumer and as an employee. An economically literate person knows how to make decisions about purchasing goods and hiring, how to protect himself from the consequences of rising prices, how best to use his savings, what profession to choose so as not to end up unemployed later.

The development of market relations in our country required new economic knowledge from their participants, without which successful practical activity and the ability to make the right economic choice in conditions of limited resources are impossible. Understanding the general nature of the functioning of the economy helps its participants to competently determine their economic policy and make reasonable economic decisions even in the most unfavorable periods of the enterprise’s activity.
The modern economic development of Russia depends to a large extent not only on officials or politicians, but also on the active participation of its citizens in governing the country. Your choices as a voter can influence the economic policy of the country, and your choices as a worker or consumer will determine not only your well-being, but also how the people around you will live.

Document

Reflections on the features of the Russian school of economic thought by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences L. I. Abalkin (from a report at a scientific conference of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Free Economic Society of Russia).

The economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and methods of management... The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market, the common social welfare stands above the individual success.

Questions and tasks for the document

Why does the author consider it necessary to reconsider the role and place of the Russian school of economic thought in science? What determines the identity of this scientific school?
What approaches, moral values, views on the place of man in the world that are different from Western ones, in the opinion of L. I. Abalkin, characterize Russian civilization?
Can we agree with the author that the use of these approaches by economic science could ensure the success of the country's economic development?
Using knowledge of modern history and the facts of socio-economic life in Russia over the last decade, give examples that confirm the scientist’s conclusion that deviations from the approaches and values developed by Russian economists led to failures.

Self-test questions

What is the origin of economic science?
What are the main problems of economic science? Name and describe them.
What do macroeconomics and microeconomics study?
What is necessary for natural objects to be transformed into consumer goods? What is the role of economic activity in this process?
How can gross domestic product be measured and determined?
In what ways can the volume of production be increased with the limited resources available?

Tasks

Thoughts of the wise

“Economics is the art of satisfying unlimited needs with limited resources.”

L. Peter (1919-1989), American writer

Detailed solution Paragraph § 2 on social studies for 11th grade students, authors L.N. Bogolyubov, N.I. Gorodetskaya, L.F. Ivanova 2014

Question 1. Is the economy capable of satisfying all people's needs? Can economic activity be measured? How does the economy develop - spontaneously or according to its own laws? Is competition between producers beneficial to consumers?

The economy cannot satisfy all needs. Economic activity is a set of actions at different levels of management, as a result of which people satisfy their needs through the production and exchange of material goods and services. An activity becomes economic when it aims or has the effect of producing and exchanging goods or services that are recognized as either useful or rare. Economic activity has a certain sphere of application of forces: agricultural, industrial, handicraft, activities in the field of import, export, activities of liberal professions, etc.

Economic laws are stable, significant cause-and-effect, repeating relationships between economic phenomena and processes. In other words, economic laws are a manifestation of stable relationships between people that develop in the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption, which at the same time manifest themselves as interests.

Competition is the struggle between economic entities for the maximum efficient use factors of production. In economics, we talk about business competition between economic entities, each of which, by its actions, limits the ability of a competitor to unilaterally influence the conditions of circulation of goods on the market, that is, the degree to which market conditions depend on the behavior of individual market participants.

Competition benefits the consumer. The more active the competition, the cheaper and better quality the manufacturer makes his product (service) in order to sell exactly his product (service).

Questions and tasks for the document

Question 2. What approaches, moral values, and views on the place of man in the world that differ from Western ones characterize, according to L. I. Abalkin, Russian civilization?

The economic world is interpreted not as an eternal struggle of individuals optimizing their well-being, but as a complex, initially multi-colored complex of complementary and thereby mutually enriching processes, forms of organization and management methods. The state is not rejected, but is organically combined with the market; the common social good is higher than individual success.

Yes, we can agree. Science was called upon to absorb this approach, and where it did this, it was successful. Where she deviated from this rule, she (and the country) were disappointed. The 20th century, including its last decade, is clear evidence of this.

Question 4. Using knowledge of modern history and the facts of socio-economic life in Russia in the last decade of the 20th century, give examples that confirm the scientist’s conclusion that deviations from the approaches and values developed by Russian economists led to failures.

The economic crisis of 1998 in Russia was one of the most severe economic crises in Russian history.

The crisis occurred against the backdrop of a difficult economic situation in the country, aggravated by ineffective macroeconomic policies pursued by the authorities in the mid-1990s. In those years, a tight monetary policy (containing inflation by refusing emission financing of the state budget and by maintaining an overvalued ruble exchange rate) was combined with a soft budget policy (unreasonably inflated budgets adopted by the State Duma and signed by President Yeltsin). The impetus for the crisis came from two external factors: a sharp decline in world prices for goods of the fuel and energy complex (the main item of Russian export) and the crisis in South-East Asia, which broke out in mid-1997.

SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

Question 1. What is the reason for the emergence of economic science?

This is due to the fact that for most of human history, basic economic issues (what, how and for whom to produce) were most often decided either in accordance with traditions and customs, or by order of the head of state. Therefore, people's actions were predetermined and predictable and there was no need for economic science. In a market economy, decisions on basic economic issues began to be made by a free, independent producer. Scientists became interested in how this “free” and “self-regulating” economic system works.

Economists have sought to study both the general relationships of large elements of a market economy (for example, employment, foreign trade, state economic policy) and individual problems (for example, supply and demand, market competition).

Question 2. What are the main problems of economics? Name and describe them.

The subject of attention of scientists has become such universal problems as limited resources and economic choice. (Remember what you learned about these concepts from your high school social studies course.)

The needs of society in connection with the increase in population, the acceleration of scientific and technological progress, and the deepening of cultural ties are constantly increasing and becoming almost limitless. On the contrary, economic opportunities - those real resources that society can direct to satisfy needs - are always limited at any given moment. Society is constantly faced with the need to resolve this contradiction and the problem of economic choice. With the available amount of resources, how can we better satisfy existing needs? Economics is trying to solve this problem.

Economic science studies various areas and laws of economic development at different levels. Thus, the part of economic science that studies the economy as a whole is called macroeconomics. Its subjects include, for example, the problems of unemployment, poverty, economic growth, the role of the state in regulating the economy and protecting the interests of society.

Question 3. What do macroeconomics and microeconomics study?

Microeconomics is a part of economic science that studies economic relations between individual economic entities (consumers, workers, firms), their activities and impact on the national economy. It studies the choice problems faced by individual economic actors. For example, the interaction of consumers and producers in the market for goods and services, entrepreneurs and employees in the labor market, etc. At the same time, microeconomics studies the functioning of individual markets and industries. It explains how prices for individual goods are set, what funds and why are allocated for the construction of new enterprises, the development of industries, how the activities of industries and markets are influenced by state policy.

Both levels of economic analysis (macro- and microeconomics) are interconnected. For example, if the reasons for the rise in prices for the products of an oil refinery are analyzed, then this is a microeconomic problem. Analysis of the decision on the state's antimonopoly policy in relation to enterprises in the oil industry is the subject of macroeconomics. At the same time, the behavior of individual participants in economic activity (manufacturers, firms) largely depends on the state of affairs in the economy of the entire country.

The current stage of economic development is characterized by high interdependence of national economies on a global scale. Therefore, economic theory necessarily involves consideration of the problems of the relationship of national economies with the world economy. The laws of development of the world economy are studied by an independent part of economic science - world (international) economics. The subject of her research is international trade in goods and services, capital movements, exchange and trade in the results of scientific and technical activities, international currency relations, etc.

Question 4. What is necessary for natural objects to be transformed into consumer goods? What is the role of economic activity in this process?

Production – Distribution – Exchange – Consumption

To measure economic activity, various economic quantities and indicators are used that characterize the state, properties, and quality of the economy, its objects, and processes. These quantities make it possible to find out how the processes of production, distribution, exchange and consumption are going, and what their results are.

Let's get acquainted with some economic indicators used to assess the level of production and development of the country's economy.

Economic quantities are divided into two large classes - absolute and relative.

Question 5: How can gross domestic product be measured and determined?

This indicator of the volume of national production is defined as the value of all final products (goods and services) produced during the year in the country. By dividing a country's GDP by the number of citizens, we get an indicator called GDP per capita.

GDP is calculated both in constant (constant) prices of the base year and in current (effective) prices. That is, economists distinguish between two indicators: real GDP, when its volume is expressed in constant prices of manufactured products; nominal GDP, when its volume is measured in current prices.

When calculating the real GDP indicator, as a rule, an adjustment is made for the value of inflation (the rate of price growth), and it will depend only on changes in real output. When the prices of goods and services rise, nominal GDP (based on current prices) may rise even if the level of output remains unchanged or falls.

Let's assume that nominal GDP increased during the year from 200 to 500 billion rubles. But during the same period, prices doubled, and 1 ruble during this period had a purchasing power equal to half of the previous one. We can say that GDP increased only to 250 billion rubles. (RUB 500 billion: 2). For example, in Russia from 1990 to 1999, the GDP indicator increased by more than 7 thousand times. During this time, prices increased 13,750 times (that is, almost twice as much as GDP). Thus, real GDP also decreased by almost 2 times.

Since economic growth in a country is usually judged on the basis of data on the volume and dynamics of GDP, it is necessary to use the indicator of real gross domestic product.

Question 6. In what ways can you increase the volume of production with the limited resources available?

The forecasts being developed reflect the priority areas of modernization: increased investment, creation of a favorable competitive and business environment, search for new sources of economic growth, overcoming the technological gap and stimulating high-tech production, development of the innovative sector of the economy.

There are two ways to increase results: extensive and intensive. In the first case, growth occurs due to involvement in production more resources: work force, time, equipment, material resources, etc. In the second case, production growth occurs due to more efficient (rational, economical) use of available resources, or even by reducing the amount of resources. In conditions of limited resources, development, of course, should only be intensive.

TASKS

Question 1: China's GNP is higher than France's GNP. Is it possible to draw a conclusion on this basis about a better state of affairs in its economy? Explain your answer.

In most countries, the annual output of the national economy is measured through the gross national product (GNP).

GNP is defined as the value of all final products (goods and services) created by producers in a given country during the year, both domestically and abroad.

GNP is considered a measure of the economy as a whole, because it actually includes the value of all goods and services produced during the year. Based on GNP, several more indicators are calculated: gross domestic product, net national product, national income.

The size of GNP is not the main criterion in determining the success or failure of any country. The size of the population plays a big role. In China it is 1.3 billion, in France - 65.4 million. On a per capita basis, France will be in a better position, since its population is tens of times smaller. And the standard of living in France is many times higher than in China.

Question 2. Fill out the table “Sections of economic science” in your notebook.

Microeconomics: conditions for concluding a business transaction, competition between producers, interaction between consumers and producers in the goods market, costs and profitability of the enterprise.

Macroeconomics: decline in economic growth, employment, level and rate of inflation, reasons for wage growth in the oil industry.

World economy: turnover of the international currency market, deepening of the international division of labor, foreign trade policies of countries, causes of the economic crisis.

Enter the listed problems in the appropriate columns of the table: conditions for concluding a business transaction, turnover of the international foreign exchange market, competition among producers, slowdown in economic growth, interaction between consumers and producers in the goods market, deepening the international division of labor, employment, costs and profitability of the enterprise, foreign trade policy of countries , level and rate of inflation, causes of the economic crisis, reasons for wage growth in the oil industry.

Question 3. In 2004, Russia introduced compulsory insurance cars. This process had both supporters and opponents among car owners. Which position would you support? Give reasons for your answer.

Car insurance is a type of insurance protection that is designed to protect the property interests of the insured associated with the costs of restoring a vehicle after an accident, breakdown, or purchasing a new car after theft or theft, and compensation for damage caused to third parties during the operation of the car.

Many questions are raised by the interaction of insurance companies with the Russian Union of Auto Insurers, where instructions are being developed for companies on the application of specific provisions of the law. By the time the law comes into force, all the necessary papers must be ready, but how they will work is not always clear. They will be checking on Russian drivers.

The second problem is how insurers will be able to cope with traditional Russian troubles such as the rudeness of traffic cops, “set-ups” on the roads and the dubious quality of car services. Foreign colleagues will not be able to cope with this issue.