The ratchet effect is a mechanical analogy in economics that refers to a process that moves easily in one direction but not in the other.
The ratchet effect is related to the idea of a positive feedback loop, but can also involve a process that can experience a strong backlash if the process is reversed.
The ratchet effect can be seen in many areas of the economy and markets, from political economy to consumer and labor markets.
“Best Effort” is a legal term that represents the obligation of a party to a contract to take all possible steps to fulfill the terms of the agreement.
Disequilibrium is when external forces cause an imbalance between supply and demand in the market. In response, the market enters a state in which supply and demand do not match.
Economic equilibrium is a state in which market forces are balanced, a concept borrowed from the physical sciences, where observable physical forces can balance each other.
An economist is an expert who studies the relationship between a society’s resources and its production or output, using a number of different indicators to predict future trends.
A trade-off between equity and efficiency arises when there is some conflict between maximizing net economic efficiency and achieving other social goals.