What are the five major economic goals?


Quick Answer

The five major economic goals are full employment, economic growth, efficiency, stability and equity, and they are divided into both macroeconomic and microeconomic goals. On the macroeconomics spectrum, policies are made to reach economic growth, stability and full employment. For microeconomics, decisions and policies are driven towards reaching efficiency and equity. As a whole, society's behavior aims to reach the five economic goals.

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Full Answer

At the local market and industries level, the two microeconomic goals drive business decisions and market policies. The goal of efficiency is explained by a situation where society is able to utilize available resources to achieve the maximum level of satisfaction. At maximum efficiency, no change in resource allocation would further increase societal satisfaction. Equity, on the other hand, indicates a state where wealth and income are fairly distributed. The exact definition of equity may differ somewhat depending on the political ideology of the individual.

At the macroeconomic level, the goal of full employment is achieved when available resources are used to produce services and goods. At full employment, scarcity is avoided as all production is geared towards the maximum fulfillment of needs. As an economic goal, stability is attained when there are minimal fluctuations in all market variables, such as production, prices and employment, to avoid recession or inflation. Finally, economic growth refers to an increase in the economy's ability as a whole to produce services and goods, thereby increasing satisfaction levels in society.

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