AD-AS Flashcards
Why can Business Cycles be bad for an Economy?
Recessions–> Unemployment
Booms–> Inflation + Bubbles (potentially)
What is a Recession?
- Economic Contraction
- Period of Decreased Real Incomes + Increased Unemployment
2 Consecutive Quarters of Negative Real GDP Growth
What is a Depression?
Severe Recession
What are the 3 main Facts about Economic Fluctuations?
- Economic Fluctuations are Irregular + Unpredictable
- Most Macroeconomic quantities fluctuate together
- As Output falls–> Unemployment Rises
What are the 2 main building blocks of Classical Economic Theory for SR Fluctuations?
Classical Dichotomy
Monetary Neutrality
What is Classical Dichotomy?
Separating Nominal + Real Variables
What is Monetary Neutrality?
Changes in M.S affect Nominal but NOT Real variables
- Can examine determinants of Real Variables without reference to Nominal variables
According to Classical Economic Theory, what happens in SR?
Assumption of Monetary Neutrality- No longer appropriate
- Real + Nominal variables are intertwined
- Changes in M.S- can temporarily push Real GDP away from its LR trend
THEREFORE- Need a NEW SR Model
What is Controversial about Real Business Cycle Theory?
Business Cycles occur Naturally- NOT due to Sticky Prices
- Trying to remove Cycles- Distort Market Mechanism- worsen situation
What does the AD-AS model show?
Explains SR fluctuations in Economic activity around LR trend
- Focusses on relationship between Prices + Real GDP
What does AD show?
Quantity of G+S Households, Firms, Gov. + Customers Abroad want to Buy at each Price Level
What is the Price Level?
Aggregate Price Index- e.g. GDP Deflator, CPI etc.
What 3 things explain why AD is Downward Sloping?
- Wealth Effect - C
- Interest-rate Effect - I
- Exchange Rate Effect - NX
Assume G is a Fixed Policy
What is the Wealth Effect?
Decreased Price Level –> Increased Value of Money –> Consumer feels Wealthier + Increases C –> Increased AD
What is the Interest-rate Effect?
Decreased Price Level –> Need to hold less Money–> Reduced M.D –> Increases Private Savings–> Increased S of Loanable Funds–> Decreased I.R –> Increased I–> Increased AD
What is the Exchange Rate Effect?
Fall in UK Price Level –> Decreased I.R–> Increased NCO + S of £ on FX Market–> Fall in £ ER–> Increased X + Decreased M–> Increased NX–> Increased AD
If Price Levels Increase, what happens to C, I + NX?
- Consumers Poorer- Decreased C
- Increased I.R- Decreased I
- Increased £ ER- Decreased NX
Decreased Qd for G+S