2.5 Flashcards
What can cause short run growth ?
- An increase in AD, any factor which increases the components of AD
- An increase in SRAS, any factor that lowers the cost of production
When can long run aggregate supply increase ?
- If there is an increase in the quality and quantity of the factors of production
How can input be increased ?
If existing inputs are used more efficiently
How can an increase in output be expressed in terms of a production function ?
Output = f(land, labour, capital, technical progress, efficiency)
What is land defined as ?
Land in economics is defined as all natural resources in the land and not just the land itself
When is economic growth likely to occur ?
If there is an increase in the quantity of workers in the economy or there is an increase in the quality of labour
What can an increase in labour force result from ?
Increases in the labour force can result from changes in the birth rate, increases in participation rates and increases in immigration.
What effect does the birth rate have on labour ?
In Europe, the birth rate has been relatively low in recent decades. This has reduced the size of the current labour force from what it would otherwise have been.
What are participation rates ?
Participation rates are the proportion of the population of a certain age who are either in work or seeking work.
What is an easy way of increasing the labour force ?
Employ migrant labour
Why may an increase in output not necessarily increase economic welfare ?
One reason is that increased income may have to be shared out amongst more people, causing little or no change in income per person.
Why are increases in human capital essential ?
- Workers need to be sufficiently educated to cope with the demands of the existing stock of capital.
- Workers need to be flexible.
- Workers need to be able to contribute to change.
Why does the stock of capital in the economy need to increase over time ?
The stock of capital needs to be increased over time if economic growth is to be sustained
How do technological processes increase economic growth ?
- It cuts the average cost of production of a product.
- It creates new products for the market. Without new products, consumers would be less likely to spend increases in their income. Without extra spending, there would be less or no economic growth.
What is economic efficiency defined as ?
Economic efficiency is defined as the way in which the factors of production are combined to produce goods and services
What will increased efficiency in resources lead to ?
It will bring about rises in output
In which type of economy is there the most efficiency ?
- Market economies as they promote competition
- Would lead to more efficient production techniques and will drive less efficient firms out of the market
What does competition lead to ?
Competition will lead to more efficiency
What can cause economic growth ?
Government policies
How can government policies increase economic growth ?
They can promote competition and protect innovation
Which policies could increase competition ?
Privatisation, deregulation and control of monopolies
How does innovation have an effect on economic growth ?
Innovation will increase efficiency
- Government policies which promote innovation can increase economic growth
What is the problem using real GDP ?
In the short term, GDP fluctuates around the long term trend growth path of output
What are the fluctuations of real GDP known as ?
These are known as the trade cycle , business cycle or economic cycle
Describe a boom/peak
- National income is high
- There is likely to be a positive output gap
- Consumption and investment will be high
- Tax revenues will be high for the government
- Wages will be rising and profits increasing
- There will also be inflationary pressures, prices in the economy will be increasing
Describe a downturn
- Output and income fall, leading to a fall in consumption and investment
- Tax revenues begin to fall and government expenditure on benefits begins to rise
- Imports decline and inflationary pressure eases
Describe a recession/depression
- At the bottom of the cycle, the economy is said to be in a recession or depression
- In the UK, the government defines recession as where real GDP falls in at least two successive quarters
- Economic activity is at a low in comparison with surrounding years.
- High unemployment exists, so consumption, investment and imports will be low.
- There will be few inflationary pressures in the economy and prices may be falling (i.e. there will be deflation).
Describe a recovery/expansion
- National income and output begin to increase
- Unemployment falls
- Consumption, investment and imports begin to rise
- Wages will rise as workers feel more confident about demanding wage increases
- Inflationary pressures begin to mount
What is a demand-side shock ?
A shock which affects aggregate demand
Give some examples of demand side shocks
- The central bank may sharply raise interest rates perhaps to combat rising inflation.
- The government may sharply raise taxes or cut government spending, perhaps to combat rising inflation or balance its budget. This leads to lower aggregate demand and a recession.
- The world economy may go into recession, hitting UK exports sharply and so sending the UK into a recession too.
- There may be a sharp rise in the value of the pound against other currencies.