2.1 Measures of Economic Performance Flashcards
Theme 2
What is economic growth?
Increase in an economy’s potential output or the real value of goods produced.
Measured by % change in real GDP.
What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
Measures the value of the real output of the economy over a period of time; a rise in GDP indicates economic growth.
What is Nominal GDP?
The monetary value of all goods produced in the economy (GDP at current prices).
What is Real GDP?
Nominal value of GDP adjusted for inflation (GDP at constant prices).
What is Real GDP per capita?
National income per person often used to measure standard of living.
What is Gross National Product (GNP)?
GDP + Net property income from abroad.
What is Gross National Income (GNI)?
GDP + Net income from abroad of compensation of employees and property income.
What is the difference between value and volume?
Value shows what goods are worth.
Volume shows the number of goods produced.
What is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)?
Used when assessing relative living standards between countries.
Calculated by comparing the price of a basket of comparable goods in different countries.
Measures the total amount of goods that a single unit of a country’s currency can buy in another country.
What are the limitations of GDP in comparing living standards?
Distribution of income
Environmental degradation
Hidden market
Negative externalities of consumption
Impact of technological improvements
What is subjective happiness?
‘Self-imported’ levels of happiness with one’s life, determined using questionnaires.
What is the Easterlin Paradox?
Life satisfaction rises with average income, but only up to a point.
Diminishing marginal gain in happiness.
What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?
Indicator of economic development and a broader measure of standard of living.
- Life expectancy at birth.
- Mean years of schooling.
- GNI per capita.
ADV - Better measure
DISADV - Does not consider all aspects.
What is inflation?
Sustained increase in the general price level.
What is deflation?
Sustained decrease in the general price level.
What is disinflation?
Reduction in the rate of inflation.
What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
Tracks change in the price of a basket of goods purchased by an average household. Expressed as an index number.
What is the equation for CPI Inflation Rate?
(Current CPI / Previous CPI) x 100
What are limitations of CPI as an inflation measure?
Only calculated for an ‘average’ family
Does not consider the quality of goods
Needs regular updating
Inaccurate international comparisons if not calculated in the same way
What is Retail Price Index (RPI)?
Includes items not in CPI such as council tax.
Often used to calculate increases in pension, welfare benefits, etc.
In a period of rising interest rates RPI > CPI.
What is Demand Pull inflation?
When demand for goods exceeds available supply. Caused by excess AD in the economy.
What is Cost-Push Inflation?
Caused by an increase in the cost of production. Can cause stagflation.
What is stagflation?
When the economy stagnates as the price level rises.
What are the causes of inflation?
Demand-pull
Cost-push
Growth of the money supply as it can increase AD or increase costs of production.
What is the claimant count?
The count totals the number of recipients of job seeker’s allowance added to those looking for work to claim universal credit.
What is the International Labour Organisation’s classification of unemployed?
- Not employed for a week.
- Available to take a job within two weeks.
- Actively seeking a job in the last 4 weeks.
What is the labour force survey?
Asks 60 - 70,000 UK households to self-classifies being employed, unemployed or economically inactive.
What is the definition of unemployed?
Someone of working age, willing and able to work and actively seeking work but cannot find a job.
What is underemployment?
When individuals are employed but their employment is insufficient in terms of hours worked, skill utilisation, or income to fully meet economic needs or potential.
What is the equation for the unemployment rate?
(No. Unemployed / total labour force) x 100
What is the equation for the employment rate?
(No. Employed / population of working age) x 100
What is the equation for the labour force participation rate?
(Labour force / total population) x 100
What is the equation for the inactivity rate?
(Inactive people of working age / working age population) x 100
What is structural unemployment?
A mismatch between jobs and skills in the economy usually due to the structure of the economy changing.
What is frictional unemployment?
When workers are in between jobs. Short-term unemployment.
What is seasonal unemployment?
Occurs as certain seasons come to an end and labour is not required until the next season.
What is real wage unemployment?
When wages are inflexible at a point higher than the free-market equilibrium wage.
Minimum wage laws increase wages, creating an excess supply of labour.
The excess supply represents real wage unemployment.
How does unemployment affect governments?
-Increased spending on benefits.
- Less tax revenue.
- Increased spending on retraining.
How does unemployment affect firms?
-Loss of sales revenue.
- Loss of output / production.
- Changes the skill level in the economy.
How does unemployment affect individuals?
-Loss of income.
- Mental health issues.
How does unemployment affect society?
-Increase in crime.
-Increased homelessness.