Macroeconomics Definitions Flashcards
Macroeconomics
The branch of economics which studies the working of the economy as a whole. It involves aggregates that concern economic growth, unemployment, inflation, distribution of wealth and income and external stability.
Circular Flow of income
The flow of income between households (consumers) and firms. Expenditures on goods and services flow from households to firms, and income flows from firms to households. Leakages may flow out of the economy, but flow back in by injections.
National Income Accounting
Measuring an economy’s national income or the value of its output.
National Income Accounting: GDP
The (1) total market value of all (2) final goods and services produced in a country over a (3) given period of time, usually one year, before depreciation.
National Income Accounting: Net Domestic Product (NDP)
GDP adjusted for depreciation.
National Income Accounting: Gross National Income (GNI)
The sum total of all final goods and services produced by a country in a given period of time, usually one year, plus the value of net factor (property) income from abroad. (formerly known as Gross National Product (GNP))
National Income Accounting: Net National Income (NNI)
GNI adjusted for depreciation.
Methods of Calculating Gross Domestic Product (1): National Expenditure Approach
the total of all spending in an economy over one year by the four components of aggregate demand: C+I+G+X-M
Methods of Calculating Gross Domestic Product (2): National Output Approach
the sum total of all final goods and services added together over a time period of usually one year, calculated by summing up the value-added at each stage of production
• This avoids “double-counting intermediate goods”.
- It is important not to count intermediate goods and services, example steel that produces cars
Methods of Calculating Gross Domestic Product (3): National Income Approach:
The income accrued by a country’s residents for supplying productive resources, and is the sum of all forms of wages, rent, interest and profits over a given period of time
Depreciation (of fixed capital)
The wearing out of capital goods, also called capital consumption.
Factor Prices
the cost of all factors of production used in the production process, before the adjustment for taxes and subsidies.
GDP per capita
GDP divided by the population.
Green GDP
GDP/GNI that has been adjusted to take into account environmental destruction (loss of resources) and/or health consequences of environmental problems.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
is a theory which states that exchange rates between currencies are in equilibrium when their purchasing power is the same in each of the two countries.
• When you make two currencies equal to the value of one US dollar and compare prices and GDP.
The Business Cycle
The periodic fluctuations of national output around its long term trend. Often occurs at a generally upward growth path (productive potential).
• Economies tend to move through stages including “boom”
and “bust.
Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC)
the percentage change in consumption brought about by an increase in additional income.
Marginal Propensity to Save (MPS)
the percentage change in savings brought about by an increase in additional income.
Multiplier effect
An initial change in aggregate demand can have a much greater final impact on equilibrium national income, OR It is the number of times a rise in national income exceeds the rise in injections of demand that caused it.
Aggregate Demand
the relationship between the aggregate quantity of goods and services demanded - or Real GDP - and the price level. (C+ I+G+X-M)
Investment
the business purchase of goods and services or ADDITIONS TO CAPITAL STOCK (new buildings, new plant, new vehicles, new machinery), and additions to inventory.
Price Level
the average of all prices, measured using an index. We use price levels to give us the ‘real’ total output or expenditure.
Aggregate Supply
The total supply of goods and services produced within an economy at a given overall price level in a given time period.
• describes the relationship between price levels and the quantity of output that firms are willing to provide.
Short-run
when prices of final goods and services change ( ∆ average price level), but factor prices do not – there is a time lag.
Long-run
when factor prices do adjust to final price changes ( ∆ average price level).
Business cycle
the fluctuations in economic activity over time. There are four stages of the business cycle: (1) recession, when economic activity slows down; (2) trough, when the recession is at its deepest; (3) recovery, when the economy begins to grow; and (4) peak/boom, when economic activity is high.
Natural rate of employment
Unemployment resulting from a situation where there is no cyclical unemployment, only structural, frictional and seasonal. It is seen as the rate of full employment where demand for labor equals the supply of labor.
• Full employment and the natural rate of unemployment are really the same thing.
• Increase in demand at this level will cause inflation.
Full Employment (Level of National Income)
This is the level at National Income at which everyone who wants to work is able to. It is the level of employment rates where there is no cyclical or deficient-demand unemployment.
• This is NOT 0% unemployment as there will exist frictional and some structural unemployment.
Long–Run Aggregate Supply
is the relationship between real output and the price level at full employment. It is defined as that period in time when all markets are in equilibrium, including the labor market. (The natural rate of unemployment).
Macroeconomic Equilibrium
Occurs at the price level where aggregate demand equals aggregate supply.
Keynesian Model (John Maynard Keynes)
Economic viewpoint: Economy is INHERENTLY UNSTABLE and can remain in a recessionary or inflationary period INDEFINITELY. The government NEEDS TO INTERVENE to correct this imbalance. How:
• During a recession/deflationary period the government needs to induce spending or “prime the pump” (aggregate demand). During an inflationary period the government needs to use measures to decrease spending (aggregate demand).
• Note: The aggregate supply curve goes from horizontal to vertical!!!!
Neo-Classical Model (New Classical Model)
Economic Viewpoint: The economy is inherently stable, and although there may be periods where the economy slows down, it will self-correct. The government should intervene as little as possible.
• Markets operate more efficiently when the government stays out of the economy.
• Note: According to this model the SRAS curve is upsloping!!
• Flexible prices, wages, and interest rates
Recessionary Gap (or Deflationary Gap)
Where an economy is operating below its full employment equilibrium. There are unemployed resources!
• Under this condition, the level of real GDP is currently lower than its full employment, which puts downward pressure on prices in the long-run.
Recession
a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity; by definition, two or more quarters of negative growth in Gross Domestic Product.
Growth Recession
slow growth, lower than the long-term average growth trend and not enough to accommodate full-employment.