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LAW OF DIMINISHING MARGINAL RETURNS: A principle stating that as more and more of a variable input is combined with a fixed input in short-run production, the marginal product of the variable input eventually declines. This is THE economic principle underlying the analysis of short-run production for a firm. Among a host of other things, it offers an explanation for the upward-sloping market supply curve. How does the law of diminishing marginal returns help us understand supply? The law of supply and the upward-sloping supply curve indicate that a firm needs to receive higher prices to produce and sell larger quantities. Why do they need higher prices?
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                           SECOND ESTATE: Another term for the business sector. This is one of four divisions of society based on economic function. The other three are government as the first estate, consumers as the third estate, and journalists as the fourth estate. The notion of dividing society into different "estates" has roots in 18th century France, in which clergy and religious leaders were considered the first estate, royalty and aristocracy were the second estate, and peasants, serfs, and the working class were viewed as the third estate. Inventive journalists extended this classification to include themselves as the fourth estate.The modern estates retain the essence of this division with an update to the realities of the modern economy. Government leaders and politicians, rather than clergy, assume their position in the first estate. Business leaders, rather than royalty, take over rule of the second estate. Rank-and-file consumers and those in the working class make up the third estate. And journalists continue as the fourth estate. In past centuries, the second estate included kings, queens, dukes and others of the ruling elite. In modern times, this includes business leaders who have extensive ownership of and control over resources, especially capital, entrepreneurship, and land. The interests of the second estate are usually in direct conflict with the consumers and workers of the third estate. In that the second estate tends to have more economic and political clout, they also tend to get the upper hand in most conflicts. Help for consumers may come from the government leaders of the first estate or the watchdog journalists of the fourth estate. The wealth and power of the second estate invariably infiltrates the first and fourth estates, as well. Consider the case of Winston Smythe Kennsington III, the President and CEO of OmniConglomerate, Inc. Winston was born and bred by his father Winston Smythe Kennsington II to take over control of OmniConglomerate, Inc., a company that was founded by Winston Smythe Kennsington I. Winston (III) has never been involved in anything other than seeking to improve the corporate bottom line. Winston Smythe Kennsington III is a card-carrying member of the second estate.
Recommended Citation:SECOND ESTATE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2024. [Accessed: May 10, 2024].
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Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time wandering around the downtown area trying to buy either blue cotton balls or a genuine down-filled pillow. Be on the lookout for small children selling products door-to-door.
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Cyrus McCormick not only invented the reaper for harvesting grain, he also invented the installment payment for selling his reaper.
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"Everyone is bound to bear patiently the results of his own example. " -- Phaedrus, Philosopher
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SPSS
Statistical Product and Service Solutions, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (software)
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