Test 2 Flashcards
What are the 3 factors that determine Real GDP?
- Quantity of Labour (L)
- Quantity of Capital (K)
- The state of technology (A)
Hence, Y = F(A, L, K)
How can Y be increased?
If A, L or K increases.
What are the 3 facts about economic fluctuations?
- Are irregular and unpredictable
- Most macroeconomic variables fluctuate together
- As output falls, unemployment rises
Explain in more depth the economic fact of “Fluctuations are irregular and unpredictable”
- Often called the “Business cycle”
- Doesn’t follow a regular and predictable pattern
What macroeconomic variable is one of the most volatile?
Investment spending
Explain why, as output falls, unemployment rises
In a recession, unemployment rises a lot.
When a recession ends, and real GDP begins to grow again = the unemployment declines.
However, the unemployment rate never falls to 0; it fluctuates instead around its natural rate.
What is the natural rate of unemployment?
5-6%
Define the term AS
Aggregate supply. Its the quantity of goods/services (or, quantity of real GDP0 that firms choose to produce at each price level.
Define the term AS curve
Shows the relationship between quantity of Real GDP supplied and the price level
Define the term “Short run”
Period during which real GDP has fallen below or risen above potential GDP. At any given time, capital and the state of technology are fixed, but quantity of labour is VARIABLE
Define the term “Long run”
Period that is sufficiently long so that these forces can adjust. Hence, real GDP therefore equals Potential GDP. = FULL EMPLOYMENT
2 types of time frames for AS?
- SAS = Short run AS
- LAS = Long-run AS
Explain the SAS
- Relationship between the quantity of real GDP supplied and the price level when prices and productivity of factor inputs (i.e. wage rates and state of technology) are held constant.
- The short-run aggregate supply curve is upward sloping.
- When price level rises but money wage rate and prices of all other factors of production remains same = quantity of real GDP supplied increases and there is a movement along the SAS curve.
What are the 4 major theories of why the SAS is upward sloping?
- Sticky wage theory
- Sticky price theory
- Misperceptions Theory (Workers)
- Misperceptions Theory (Firms)
Explain the Sticky Wage Theory
- Theory states that:
“Wages are slow to adjust to changing economic conditions, either because workers and firms sign long term contracts or because trade unions and/or laws and regulations set by the government make it difficult for firms to rapidly adjust the wages they pay.”
In the long run = firm will have to pay its workers higher wages to match for inflation and cost of living, but in short run = wages it pays are too low in real terms. - Since the firm could hire workers at relatively low wages – it hires more and produces more output. The unexpectedly high price level leads to an increase in output, and vice versa in the case of the price level being unexpectedly low.
Explain the Sticky Price Theory
- Emphasises that prices of certain goods/services are slow to adjust to changing economic conditions.
- Hence = the unexpectedly high price level leads to an increase in output above its natural rate, and vice vera.
- In long run, prices will adjust, and output will return to its natural rate.
Explain the Misperceptions Theory for Workers
- Assumption of workers having imperfect info regarding price level compared to the firms.
- When P goes up = firms offer an increase in nominal wage. When nominal wage increases, workers, due to misperceptions, believe that real wages also increase = hence, they provide more labour in return, thus increasing output for firm.
Explain the Misperceptions Theory for Firms
- In short run, individual firms may mistakenly believe that it’s really just the price of their particular good that is rising, NOT the average of prices of all goods and services rising. Hence, they hire more workers, thinking that it’s the best good time to produce = hence, increase in output. Vice versa.
What causes a movement along the SAS curve?
Price level change
What causes a shift of the SAS curve?
When other factors aside from the price level changes.
What are the 6 reasons for a shift in the SAS?
- Employment costs (wages etc)
- Prices of inputs or intermediate goods
- Government taxes, business regs
- A change in the full-employment quantity of labour
- A change in quantity of capital
- Technological advancement
The higher the money wage rate, what happens? Explain
Higher the firm’s cost = smaller the quantity supplied at each price level = hence, an increase in the money wage rate decreases short-run AS
What 2 reasons make the wage rate change?
- Departures from full employment:-
- If unemployment > natural rate = downward pressure on wages
- If unemployment < natural rate = upward pressure on wages - Expectations about inflation
- An expected increase in inflation rates = money wage rate rises faster, and vice versa.
Explain the LAS
- LAS = relationship between the quantity of real GDP supplied and the price level when the economy is at full employment.
- The quantity of real GDP supplied at full employment is EQUAL TO Potential GDP. This quantity is independent of the price level, so the LRAS is VERTICAL at potential GDP.
- In layman’s terms = in long run, what a country produces/can produce does not depend on the price level.
- LAS = relationship between the quantity of real GDP supplied and the price level when the economy is at full employment.
- The quantity of real GDP supplied at full employment is EQUAL TO Potential GDP. This quantity is independent of the price level, so the LRAS is VERTICAL at potential GDP.
- In layman’s terms = in long run, what a country produces/can produce does not depend on the price level.
Explain the 3 factors that cause a shift of the LAS
- A change in the full-employment quantity of labour
- i.e. changes in L or natural rate of unemployment. i.e. Baby-boomers retire etc. - A change in quantity of capital (K or H)
- i.e. Investment in factories and capital goods or increased university uptake - A technological advancement
- i.e. productivity improvements from innovation
The LAS will only shift if potential GDP increases.
What are the differences between short and long run AS?
- Short run AS = shows total output when prices can change, but the prices and productivity of factor inputs (i.e. wage rates) and the state of technology are held CONSTANT
- Long run AS = total planned output when both prices and average wage rates can change.
- SAS = affected by costs of production and quantity of factors of production and technology.
- LAS = affected by quantity of factors of production and technology.
Explain an increase in Price Level for the AS
- In short run, the quantity of real GDP supplied increases if the price level increases.
- A rise in the price level with no change in the money wage rate induces firms to increase production.
Explain a change in money wage rate for the AS
- A rise in the money wage rate: decreases short-run AS and shifts the SAS curve leftward. Has no effect on LRAS.
Explain a change in potential GDP for the AS
- An increase in Potential GDP shifts the LAS curve rightwards and the SAS curve shifts with the LAS curve.
Explain what is meant by AD
- The quantity of real GDP demanded, Y, is the total amount of final goods/services produced in the UK that people, businesses, governments, and foreigners plan to buy.
- The quantity of real GDP demanded is:
Y = C + I + G + X – M - AD = relationship between the quantity of real GDP demanded and the price level.
- AD plots the quantity of real GDP demanded against the price level.
What are the 2 reasons for downward slope of AD curve?
- Wealth effect
- Substitution effects
Explain the Wealth effect for AD
→ A rise in the price level, other things remaining the same, decreases the quantity of real wealth (money, stocks etc.)
→ To restore their real wealth = increase savings and decrease spending, so that the quantity of real GDP demanded decreases.
→ A fall in price level, other things remaining same, increases real wealth.
→ With more real wealth, people decrease saving and increase spending, so that the quantity of real GDP demanded increases.
Name the 2 Substitution effects for the AD
- Intertemporal (Inner country)
- International
Explain the Intertemporal Substitution Effect
= a rise in price level decreases the real value of money and raises the interest rate.
Faced with a higher interest rate = people try to borrow and spend less = quantity of real GDP demanded decreases.
= a fall in price level increases the real value of money and lowers the interest rate.
Faced with a lower interest rate, people borrow and spend more = quantity of real GDP demanded increases.
- Decrease in real value of money = decrease in real money supply
Explain the International Substitution Effect
= a fall in price level, ceteris parabus = decreases the price of domestic goods relative to foreign goods = imports decrease and exports increase = increase in quantity of real GDP demanded.
* i.e. Suppose consumers in UK and USA buy both British and American goods. UK’s price level falls = UK goods are cheaper compared to American goods = Demand for UK goods > demand for American goods = UK exports to USA increase and imports from USA fall.
* Similarly = rise in the price level increases the price of domestic goods (UK) relative to foreign goods (USE) = imports increase and exports increase = decrease quantity of real GDP demanded. Then = UK goods are more expensive than American goods => UK exports fall, UK imports rise.
What are the determinants of AD?
- The price level
- Expectations
- Fiscal policy and Monetary policy
- The world economy
What happens to a price level change for AD?
Movement along curve
What happens when “Other factors” change for AD?
A shift of the curve