さて、あなたの口頭試験の回答はいかがでしょうか。

ここまで読んでくださる人にはいらっしゃらないと思いますが、人間というのは、努力を厭うもので、それを想像しただけで嫌だなと思うものです。しかし、ある目標があり、不安で、自信がおぼつかなく、苦しい時は、自分が正しい道程にあることを認識してください。

何かを達成しようと思えば、そういう感情はつきものですが、おかしなことは、努力を努力と思わないうちに、願ったことが叶うことが多いのです。努力を思い浮かべてしり込みするか、少し自分をけしかけて始めるかの違いだけなのです。

口頭試験問題：

私のノート：

Adam Smith, Scott, philosopher, “The Wealth of Nations” 1776 (US Independence), indiv. actor neither intends, nor knows, promoting public interest, he only intends his own gain, led by “an invisible hand” promotes an end, not worst for the society, his being after his own interest, frequently could lead to effectually greater good.

micro- and macroeconomics both implied, microeconomics – individuals, firms, households, macroeconomics – economy in aggregate, micro: how to allocate scarce resources, time, money, labor, macro; millions of actors, top-down policies, raise/lower taxes, regulate/deregulate; affect overall economy

Math – logical idea, philosophy of decision making, assumptions, simplification, math, visualization, danger, conclusion

“Take it all with a grain of salt.” macro more guilty in this sense; complexity of unpredictable interactions, assumptions, intuition,

“An economist is a man who states the obvious in terms of incomprehensible.” Knopf

“An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn’t happen today.” Laurence Peter

Both sayings imply math.

(他人のノートというのは、わかりにくいものですが、自分がわかれば良いノートです。)

Question 1:

Define “an invisible hand.”

A sample answer: It is a term that a Scottish philosopher, the first recognized economist, Adam Smith used in his book titled “The Wealth of Nations,” published in 1776, the year coincides with the US Declaration of Independence, describing that an individual actor in economy pursuing his own gain could lead to greater good in aggregate economy led by “an invisible hand.” The term is depicting economic interactions among millions of actors promoting his own interest can promote an end without intentions.

Question 2:

Explain the terms, “microeconomics” and “macroeconomics”; then compare and contrast the two concepts.

A sample answer: Microeconomics deals with individual actors in economy, such as people, firms, households, where scarce resources including money, time, labor, are allocated according to decisions made. On the other hand, macroeconomics deals with economy in aggregate, where top-down policies on taxes, regulation, for example, are implemented for overall economy. Both of which use math for quantification and visualization by simplifying reality using assumptions; therefore the impact of the conclusions employed on macroeconomics are deeper and wider than on microeconomics.

スピーキング、口頭試験の練習は、何度も言うようですが決して書いて読むの順にしてはいけません。最初はどんなに難しかろうと、頭のなかで考えて考えあぐねて文章を作り、それを口頭で言う練習を、頭のなかでしてください。自分の勉強の結果を残しておきたければ、一番いい最後のバージョンを口に出して書き留めておくことです。まず、言えることが先です。