📚 Year 11 CAIE Economics Vocabulary Memorisation Guide | 11年级CAIE经济学词汇速记指南
Mastering economics begins with a solid grasp of its language. The CAIE IGCSE syllabus expects you not only to define key terms but also to apply them fluently in analysis. This guide pairs every core concept with a clear English explanation and a matching Chinese version, plus simple memory hooks — rhymes, associations, and word origins — to help you retain them effortlessly. Revise these terms actively, say them out loud, and you will turn exam stress into exam success.
掌握经济学，首先要精通它的语言。CAIE IGCSE 考试不仅要求你定义关键术语，还要求你能流利地运用它们进行分析。这份指南为每一个核心概念都配上了清晰的英文解释和对应的中文版本，再加上简单的记忆窍门——押韵、联想和词根来源——帮助你轻松记住它们。主动复习这些术语，大声读出来，你就能把考试压力变成考试成功。
1. The Basic Economic Problem | 基本经济问题
Scarcity is the condition where unlimited wants exceed limited resources. It forces every society to answer three questions: What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce? Remember the rhyme: "Wants are plenty, resources are few — scarcity is always true."
稀缺是指无限的需求超过了有限的资源。它迫使每个社会回答三个问题：生产什么？如何生产？为谁生产？记住这句口诀：“欲望多多资源少，稀缺问题永远绕。”
Choice arises because of scarcity. When resources are scarce, individuals, firms, and governments must choose how to allocate them. A helpful mnemonic is C-H-O-I-C-E: Can't Have Our Infinite Cake Every day — we must choose slices.
选择因稀缺而产生。当资源稀缺时，个人、企业和政府都必须选择如何分配资源。一个有用的记忆法是选择（CHOICE）这个词：Can't Have Our Infinite Cake Every day — 我们不能每天都拥有无限的蛋糕，必须选其中的几块。
Opportunity cost is the next best alternative forgone when a choice is made. It is the real cost of any decision. Think of the phrase "Or Cost" — when you choose one or another, the cost is what you give up.
机会成本是指做出选择时所放弃的次优选择。它是任何决策的真实成本。可以联想“或成本”——当你在一个或另一个中选择时，放掉的成本就是你放弃的东西。
2. Factors of Production | 生产要素
Resources are classified into four factors: Land (natural resources), Labour (human effort), Capital (man-made tools and machinery), and Enterprise (the risk-taker who combines the other three). Memorise using CELL: Capital, Enterprise, Land, Labour.
资源被归纳为四种生产要素：土地（自然资源）、劳动（人力付出）、资本（人造工具和机械）和企业（组合其他三者的风险承担者）。用 CELL 来记忆：Capital（资本）、Enterprise（企业）、Land（土地）、Labour（劳动）。
The mobility of factors describes how easily a resource can move between uses. Labour often has lower geographical mobility due to family ties, while capital is relatively mobile. Link "mobile" with "mobile phone" — capital can be shifted like a portable phone, but labour has strings attached.
要素流动性描述资源在不同用途之间转移的难易程度。劳动力由于家庭关系往往地理流动性较低，而资本则相对容易流动。将“mobile”与“手机”联系起来——资本可以像便携手机一样转移，但劳动力却有许多牵绊。
3. Opportunity Cost and Production Possibility Curve | 机会成本与生产可能性曲线
A Production Possibility Curve (PPC) shows the maximum combinations of two goods an economy can produce with full employment of resources. Points inside the curve represent inefficiency; points outside are unattainable. The curved shape illustrates increasing opportunity cost. Picture a bow (bo)-shaped curve — resources are not equally efficient at making everything.
生产可能性曲线（PPC）展示了一个经济体在资源充分利用时所能生产的两种商品的最大组合。曲线内的点代表无效率；曲线外的点无法达到。弯曲的形状说明了递增的机会成本。想象一条弓形（bow）曲线——资源在制造不同产品时效率并不相同。
A shift outward of the PPC indicates economic growth, caused by more resources or better technology. Remember: "Rightward shift makes the nation's pot bigger — growth is triggered."
PPC 向外移动表示经济增长，由更多资源或技术进步引起。记住：“曲线向右移，国民大锅变大——增长被激发。”
4. Demand and Supply | 需求与供给
Demand is the quantity of a good consumers are willing and able to buy at each price over a period. The law of demand states that, ceteris paribus, as price falls, quantity demanded rises. A useful phrase: "Price goes down, demand goes up — the downward slope never stops."
需求是指消费者在一段时间内，在每一个价格水平上愿意且能够购买的商品数量。需求定律指出，在其他条件不变的情况下，价格下降，需求量上升。一个有用的口诀：“价格向下，需求向上——这条下坡路永不改向。”
Supply is the quantity of a good producers are willing and able to sell at each price. The law of supply says that as price rises, quantity supplied rises. Think "S" in supply also stands for "Same direction" — price and quantity supplied move together.
供给是指生产者愿意且能够在每一个价格水平上出售的商品数量。供给定律表明，价格上升，供给量上升。注意 Supply 中的“S”也代表“Same direction（同向）”——价格和供给量同方向移动。
Equilibrium is where demand and supply intersect — there is no tendency for change. The market clears. A simple trick: "E" for Equal — demand equals supply.
均衡是需求与供给相交的地方——没有变化的趋势。市场出清。一个简单的窍门：“E”代表 Equal（相等）——需求等于供给。
5. Price Elasticity of Demand | 需求价格弹性
Price elasticity of demand (PED) measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price. It is calculated as:
PED = %Δ Quantity Demanded ÷ %Δ Price
. If PED > 1, demand is elastic; if PED < 1, inelastic. Think: "Elastic stretches a lot — consumers switch when prices hot."需求价格弹性（PED）衡量需求量对价格变化的反应程度。计算公式为：
PED = 需求量变化百分比 ÷ 价格变化百分比
。如果 PED > 1，需求富有弹性；如果 PED < 1，需求缺乏弹性。想一想：“弹性就像橡皮筋，价格一扯就变形——价格变热，消费者转舵。”Determinants of PED include the availability of substitutes, the proportion of income spent, and whether the good is a necessity or a luxury. Use the acronym S.P.L.A.T.: Substitutes, Proportion of income, Luxury or necessity, Addictive or habit-forming, Time period.
PED 的决定因素包括替代品的可得性、支出占收入的比例，以及商品是必需品还是奢侈品。使用首字母缩略词 S.P.L.A.T.：Substitutes（替代品）、Proportion of income（收入比例）、Luxury or necessity（奢侈品/必需品）、Addictive（上瘾性）、Time（时间）。
6. Price Elasticity of Supply | 供给价格弹性
Price elasticity of supply (PES) measures the responsiveness of quantity supplied to a price change. The formula mirrors PED:
PES = %Δ Quantity Supplied ÷ %Δ Price
. Key determinant is the time period — supply is more elastic in the long run. Remember: "Producers need time to Stretch their Supply — time is the PES key."供给价格弹性（PES）衡量供给量对价格变化的反应程度。公式与 PED 类似：
PES = 供给量变化百分比 ÷ 价格变化百分比
。关键决定因素是时间——长期中供给更富有弹性。记住：“生产者需要时间来拉长供给——时间是 PES 的关键。”Perfectly inelastic supply has a PES of zero (vertical line), meaning quantity supplied does not change regardless of price. A concert venue with fixed seats is a classic example. Picture a stadium: no matter how much ticket prices soar, the number of seats stays the same.
完全无弹性供给的 PES 为零（垂直线），意味着无论价格如何，供给量都不变。固定座位的音乐会场地是典型例子。想象一个体育场：无论票价如何飙升，座位数始终不变。
7. Market Failure | 市场失灵
Market failure occurs when the free market fails to allocate resources efficiently, leading to a net social welfare loss. Types include externalities, public goods, and information failure. A neat memory hook: "When the invisible hand gets it wrong, market failure comes along."
市场失灵发生在自由市场未能有效配置资源，从而导致社会净福利损失时。类型包括外部性、公共品和信息失灵。一个巧妙的记忆钩子：“当看不见的手犯错误，市场失灵就上路。”
Negative externality of a transaction, e.g., pollution from factories. Social cost exceeds private cost. Think "External = extra cost falling outside the deal."
负外部性是指施加于未参与交易的第三方的成本，例如工厂污染。社会成本大于私人成本。想想“外部性 = 额外的成本掉在了交易之外”。
Positive externality is a benefit received by a third party, such as the herd immunity from vaccinations. Social benefit exceeds private benefit. Link "Positive" with "Plus" — there is an extra plus (benefit) to society.
正外部性是第三方获得的收益，例如疫苗接种带来的群体免疫。社会收益大于私人收益。将“Positive”与“Plus（加号）”联系起来——社会得到额外的加分收益。
8. Public Goods and Merit Goods | 公共品与优值品
Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, e.g., street lighting. No one can be excluded from benefiting, and one person's use does not reduce availability for others. The free-rider problem often arises. Memorise "N.E.R." — Non-Excludable and Non-Rivalrous.
公共品具有非排他性和非竞争性，例如路灯。任何人都不能被排除在收益之外，且一个人的使用不会减少对他人的可用性。搭便车问题经常出现。记住“N.E.R.”——Non-Excludable（非排他性）和 Non-Rivalrous（非竞争性）。
Merit goods are under-consumed when left to the free market because individuals do not fully appreciate their benefits, e.g., education and healthcare. They generate positive externalities. Think "Merit deserves more" — they merit more consumption than the market provides.
优值品若由自由市场提供则会被消费不足，因为个人没有充分认识到其益处，如教育和医疗。它们产生正外部性。想到“Merit 应得更多”——它们值得比市场提供更多的消费。
9. Government Intervention | 政府干预
To correct negative externalities, governments can impose indirect taxes — a tax on expenditure, like fuel duty. This internalises the external cost. Diagrammatically, supply shifts left. A phrase: "Tax the bad, make the polluter sad."
为了纠正负外部性，政府可以征收间接税——一种对支出的税收，如燃油税。这会将外部成本内部化。在图形中，供给曲线向左移动。一句短语：“对坏东西征税，让污染者心碎。”
Subsidies are government payments to producers to lower costs and increase output of merit goods. They shift the supply curve right. Link "subsidy" to "submarine" — lowers the cost under the surface, pushing quantity up like a rising sub.
补贴是政府支付给生产者的款项，以降低成本并增加优值品的产量。它们使供给曲线向右移动。将“subsidy”与“submarine（潜艇）”联系起来——在表面之下降低成本，像上浮的潜艇一样推动产量上升。
Maximum and minimum prices (price ceilings and floors) set legal limits. A maximum price on rented housing prevents high rents but may cause shortages. A minimum wage (price floor) protects workers but may create surplus labour. Picture a room: ceiling above you blocks rent from rising too high; floor below you stops wages from falling too low.
最高价格和最低价格（价格上限和下限）设定了法定限制。租赁住房的最高价格可防止租金过高，但可能导致短缺。最低工资（价格下限）保护工人，但可能造成劳动力过剩。想象一个房间：天花板在头顶阻止租金升得太高；地板在脚下阻止工资降得太低。
10. Macroeconomic Objectives | 宏观经济目标
Governments typically aim for: economic growth (rising GDP), low and stable inflation (CPI around 2%), low unemployment, and a satisfactory balance of payments. Use the mnemonic G.I.L.B.: Growth, Inflation low, Little unemployment, Balance of payments satisfactory.
政府通常追求的目标有：经济增长（GDP 增长）、低且稳定的通胀（CPI 约 2%）、低失业率，以及令人满意的国际收支平衡。使用首字母缩略词 G.I.L.B.：Growth（增长）、Inflation low（低通胀）、Little unemployment（低失业）、Balance of payments satisfactory（国际收支令人满意）。
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) oduced within a country in a year. It is the primary measure of economic output. Remember: "GDP = Goods and services Produced Domestically."
国内生产总值（GDP）是指一个国家在一年内生产的所有最终商品和服务的总价值。它是经济产出的主要衡量指标。记住：“GDP = 国内生产的商品和服务（Goods and services Produced Domestically）。”
11. Inflation and Unemployment | 通货膨胀与失业
Inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level. It reduces the purchasing power of money. Commonly measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A simple image: inflating a balloon — prices blow up, and your money's value shrinks.
通货膨胀是指一般价格水平的持续上涨。它降低了货币的购买力。通常用消费者价格指数（CPI）来衡量。一个简单的图像：给气球充气——价格膨胀，你的货币价值就会缩小。
Unemployment refers to those actively seeking work but unable to find it. Types include cyclical (demand-deficient), structural, and frictional. The unemployment rate is
Unemployed ÷ Labour Force × 100
. Think "U" for "unused human resource".失业指那些积极寻找工作但无法找到的人。类型包括周期性失业（需求不足）、结构性失业和摩擦性失业。失业率计算公式：
失业人数 ÷ 劳动力人数 × 100
。把“U”想成“闲置的人力资源（Unused）”。12. International Trade and Exchange Rates | 国际贸易与汇率
Exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of another. A stronger currency makes imports cheaper and exports dearer. Link "Exchange" to "change" — it is the rate at which you change money.
汇率是一种货币用另一种货币表示的价格。货币走强使进口更便宜，出口更昂贵。把“Exchange”与“change”（兑换）联系起来——就是你兑换货币的比率。
Balance of payments (current account) records trade in goods, trade in services, primary income, and secondary income. A deficit means more money leaves the country than enters. Visualise a set of scales: the balance must eventually balance.
国际收支（经常账户）记录商品贸易、服务贸易、初次收入和二次收入。赤字意味着流出的资金多于流入的资金。想象一个天平：收支最终必须“平衡”。
Protectionism involves policies like tariffs, quotas, and subsidies to shield domestic industries from foreign competition. Think "Protect the home team" — a tariff is a tax on imports that gives local producers a protective wall.
保护主义包括关税、配额和补贴等政策，以保护国内产业免受外国竞争。想到“保护主队”——关税是对进口的征税，为本地生产者提供了一道保护墙。
Published by TutorHao | Economics Revision Series | aleveler.com
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