What Makes an Economy's Capacity Grow?
Your economy's productive potential isn't set in stone - it can shift based on changes in those four factors of production. When any of these improve in quantity or quality, the entire LRAS curve shifts rightward, meaning more total output.
Land and resources might seem fixed, but discovering new oil reserves or developing previously unusable land boosts capacity. Labour improvements happen through population growth, better education, or enhanced worker mobility. Capital advances through new technology, better machinery, or increased research and development - think of how smartphones revolutionised productivity.
Enterprise grows when governments create better conditions for starting businesses or investing in innovation. Even government intervention can help by promoting competition, which forces companies to become more efficient to survive.
Real World Connection: When LRAS shifts left (decreases), it often signals economic troubles like brain drain or resource depletion. When it shifts right, you're looking at economic growth potential!
On your graphs, remember: LRAS₂ (leftward shift) means reduced capacity, while LRAS₁ (rightward shift) represents economic expansion. These shifts determine whether your country's living standards can improve over time.