Plastics processing is like playing with Play-Doh, but on a bigger scale. People make different things out of plastic, like water bottles, toys, and car parts. But making things out of plastic costs money. To make the plastic, people have to buy materials like oil or natural gas. They also need machines to shape the plastic, energy to run the machines, and people to work the machines. All of these things cost money.
Sometimes, the people making things out of plastic sell them for more money than it costs to make them. This is called making a profit. But other times, they might sell them for less than it costs to make them. This is called losing money. It's important for the people making things out of plastic to make a profit so that they can keep making things.
Economists study how the money works in plastics processing. They look at things like the cost of materials, how much energy is used, how fast the machines work, and how much people get paid. They also look at how much people are willing to pay for plastic things, like how much someone would pay for a water bottle or a toy.
By studying all these things, economists can help plastic makers figure out how to make the most money. They might suggest using different materials that are cheaper or making things faster with better machines. They might also suggest selling things at a higher price or finding new markets for plastic products. The goal is to make the most money possible while still making things that people want to buy.