Macro 1-4 Flashcards
What 7 things should successful economic policy result in?
(macroeconomic objective)
- Economic growth
- Stable prices
- Low unemployment
- Balanced balance of payments (imports and exports record)
- Equality in distribution of income and wealth
- Balanced budget
- Protection of the environment
Circular flow of income model
Households give labour and expenditure
Firms give wages and goods/services
Injections into the circular flow of income model
X - Exports
I - Investment
G - Government spending
Leakages from the circular flow of income model
M - Imports
S - Savings
T - Taxes
Injections definition
Money flowing into the circular flow of income
Leakages definition
Money flowing out of the circular flow of income
Aggregate demand definition
total demand of goods and services in an economy
What is aggregate demand made up of?
- Consumption (65%)
- Investment (15%)
- Government spending (G)
- Net exports (X-m)
What are 6 determinants of consumption?
- RDI
- Wealth
- Consumer confidence
- Interest rates
- Age structure
- Inflation
How does RDI Increase consumption?
Why might RDI not increase consumption?
RDI increase = Consumption increase = AG increase
- some income is saved.
- Low income people will spend more than High income people.
How does wealth affect consumption?
Why might wealth not affect consumption?
Wealth effect -> Assets price increase, people feel richer and spend more, consumption increases.
UK is nation of homeowners so wealth effect is significant.
- people might save income.
- Most people are unlikely to make spending decisions based on a one off increase in house price.
Why will consumer confidence affect consumption?
Why will confidence not affect consumption?
Confidence increases -> Consumption increases -> AD increases.
- Some people won’t feel confident.
- Fall in salary, people will be less inclined to spend.
- if interest rates go up, people may choose to save.
How will Interest Rates effect consumption?
Why will interest rates not affect consumption?
Save more -> Borrow less -> spending decrease -> Consumption decrease, AD decrease.
- Commercial banks may not pass on rate changes.
- Rich households not affected.
How does Age structure of population affect consumption?
Why might age structure not affect consumption?
Young - spend for education and luxuries.
Middle - Save for kids, spend for family and house.
Old - Likely to spend.
- Middle aged may not save for retirement.
- old people may save for children.
Why might inflation affect consumption?
Why might inflation not affect consumption?
People cut back on luxuries but spend same on needs. Consumption decreases.
- hyperinflation - people spend very quickly
Marginal propensity to Consume (MPC)
The change in consumption from a change in income
What happens when MPC increases?
An increase in consumption in response to an increase in income
MPC Formula
Change in consumption / Change in income.
why is mpc expected to be between 0 and 1?
because people will not spend all of the increased income, they will save some of it.
Marginal propensity to save (MPS)
The change in savings from a change in income
What happens when saving increases?
Consumption decreases
What 6 things determine volume of saving
- RDI
- Interest rates
- Confidence and expectations
- Government policy’s
- Age structure of population
- Access to banks
How does RDI affect volume of saving?
Higher RDI -> more saving -> Consumption decreases
Why might RDI not affect volume of saving?
-People may spend income.
-May not apply to wealthy households.
How does interest rates affect volume of saving?
Increase = save more
lower = borrow more, save less
Why won’t interest rates affect volume of savings?
Not all households affected such as the rich.
How does Confidence and expectations affect volume of savings?
Higher confidence -> less savings
Less confidence -> more saving
Why might confidence and expectations not affect volume of savings?
Rich not affected .
If interest rates increase, people might save anyway.
How does government policy’s affect volume of savings?
Government may provide incentives to save so:
-you have money when ur old or to reduce inflation.
Why might government policy’s not affect volume of savings?
Some people choose not to save, they choose leisure over savings.
How does access to banks influence volume of savings?
If people don’t have access to a bank, they are less likely to save.
Why might access to banks not affect volume of saving?
If people don’t have access to banks, they may hold cash in safes.
How does age structure influence volume of saving?
- Middle age people save the most.
- young people save less because they have less.
- old people save less.