Exam 3 Review Flashcards
aggregate economic activity
refers to the macroeconomic indicators such as GDP and employment
business cycle
regular fluctuations in AEA
contraction or recession
period in which AEA is falling
depression
severe recession
expansion or boom
period of time during which AEA grows
classical economists view on business cycle
natural phenomena and therefore do not see the need for policy intervention
Keynesian economists view on business cycle
recessions may last for long periods (since prices are sticky in the short run) and therefore there is a need for policy intervention
what caused economists to start questions classical views on the business cycle?
- motivated after the great depression in the 1930s
- -unemployment was 25%
- GDP has fallen by 30% in the past 5 years
- no change in factors of production
natural level of output
level of output produced when the economy operates at its maximum potential
-we want economy to operate here
in the long run, the natural level of output is equal to ……
the level of output
why are economists concerned about recessions?
- high unemployment
- low investment
- low household consumption
why are economists concerned about booms?
- leads to inflation
- resources are over-utilized, factories may operate an extra shift
- upward pressure on prices and wages: to prevent workers from quitting and moving to other employers, firms may be forced to pay higher wages
what determines whether a downturn in the economy is severe enough to be deemed a recession?
a recession is a period of at least 2 consecutive quarters (6 months) of declining REAL GDP
during recessions, both consumption and I declines (less income, business spend less). Which one generally declines more?
Investment generally declines more than C
is the unemployment rate a good indicator of a recession ending?
NO, the unemployment rate often lags changes in GDP growth
real GDP growth in the US averages about what per year?
3%
Okun’s law
the negative relationship between GDP and unemployment
unemployment rises during recessions and falls during expansions
% change in Real GDP = 3%-2% change in unemployment rate
Leading Economic Indicators
- The Conference Board meets each month and aims to forecast changes in economic activity 6-9 months into the future
- used in planning by businesses and government
components of LEI index (read 279-280)
- average work week in manufacturing
- initial weekly claims for unemployment insurance
- new orders for consumers goods and materials
- new orders, non-defense capital goods
- vendor performance
- new building permits issued
- index of stock prices
- m2
- yield spread on treasuries
- index of consumer expectations
is the LEI a good predictor tool?
turns downward a few months to a year before each recession
turns upward just prior to the end of almost every recession
fiscal policy
changes in taxes and government spending
monetary policy
changes in the money supply
expansionary fiscal policy
an increase in G or a decrease in T
contractionary fiscal policy
a decrease in G or an increase in T
expansionary monetary policy
increase in the money supply
contractionary monetary policy
a decrease in the money supply
factors that shift the AD curve
- changes in household consumption (increase in consumption shifts AD curve to the right)
- changes in the demand for investment by firms (increase in the demand for investment shifts the AD curve to the right)
- fiscal policy: an increase G or a decrease in T shifts the AD curve to the right
- monetary policy: an increase in the money supply shifts the AD curve to the right
- a positive demand shock shifts the AD curve to the right