Theme 2 (Macro) Flashcards
What is Gross Domestic Product?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year.
How is GDP Calculated ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
3 ways of calculating:
1 - The total value of goods and services (‘output’) produced;
2 - Everyone’s income
3 - Or what everyone in the country has spent (C+I+G+(X-M))
What is the difference between real and nominal GDP ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Nominal - current monetary values
Real - are adjusted for inflation and show prices/wages at constant prices
What is gross national product and gross national income ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
GNP - Total value of goods produced and services provided in 1 year
GNI - Total value of all goods and services including international revenue in 1 year
Whats the difference between value and volume ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Volume - quantity of output - uses constant prices
Value - accumulated price of output - uses current prices
What are the advantages of using GDP to compare countries ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Global recognised measurment
Ease of making comparisons
Average income has strong links to standard of living
What is the purchasing power parity ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Uses a basket of G/S to compare prices and therefore purchasing power
What are the drawbacks of the purchasing power parity ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Must consider a wide range of goods and services across a country, which is not easy because of the amount of data that needs collecting
Between survey dates, purchasing power parity has to be estimated which could cause innacuracy
Does not cover all countries
Whats the relationship between averge income and subjective happiness ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
Research shows that generally as income increases so does happiness
Explain what is meant by the Easterlin paradox ?
(2.1.1)
Economic Growth
1) Within a society, rich people tend to be much happier than poor people.
2) But, rich societies tend not to be happier than poor societies (or not by much).
3) As countries get richer, they do not get happier.
Easterlin argued that life satisfaction does rise with average incomes but only up to a point. Beyond that the marginal gain in happiness declines.
What is inflation, deflation and disinflation?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Inflation - An increase in the general price level
Deflation - A decrease in the price level
Disinflation - Increase in the price level but at a slow rate
How do you calculate the consumer price index ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Choose a base year
Use a shopping basket of 700 G/S which change on a yearly basis
The prices of most of the items is collected from around 150 locations each month
The indices are waited to reflect the importance of the G/S
What are the limitations of uing the consmer price index to measure inflation ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
The CPI is not fully representative = Spending patterns are different = meaning CPI change may be under or over represent of your basket
chaging quality of G/S = Inflation may be overestimated if a high price reflects a better good / CPI is slow to respond to new products
Doesnt factor in substitution = People will buy cheaper substitute products = the CPI wont factor this in and assume D for product is falling
What is the retails price index ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
it monitors the monthly change in prices of goods and services used by most households
The RPI inclues mortgage interest repayments. Therefore changes in interest affect the RPI
RPI also includes council tax and some other housing costs
What is cost push inflation and what causes it ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Cost-push inflation happens when there is a decline in the supply of goods and services and demand remains unchanged or even grows
Causes :
- Higher wages = higher avg cost to produce = firms pass on cost to consumers
- Higher price of commodities (increased price of oil = increased price of petrol)
- Profit-push inflation = if firms gain enough monopoly power they can push prices up
What is demand pull inflation and what causes it ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
When supply cannot meet growing demand, prices for goods and services are pulled higher.
Causes :
A cut in interest rates = higher consumer spending =increased demand
Devaluation in the exchange rate (WPIDEC) = increased demand for cheap exports
How can an increase in the money supply cause inflation ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Increase in money supply = consumers spend more on G/S = shift AD outward
Firms increase output in S/R
Firms need more workers = wages rise = increase cost = increase prices
Economy returns to equilibrium at higher price
What are the effects of inflation on consumers ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Inflation > increase in wages = reduction in real income = reduce standard of living
Real value of savings reduced = significant effects on those relying on income (Retired) / those saving for a house
Their may be time lag for those on fixed incomes (Benefits) and restrictions on the amount of increase
What are the effects of inflation on workers ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
High inflation will raise the cost of living = if wages cannot increase at the same amount as inflation = reduction in real wages
Cost-push inflation whereby GDP is negative = Increase unemployment = firms seek to reduce costs and require less FOP = workers lose jobs or suffer from underemployment
What are the effects of inflation on firms ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Reduced IPC
Wage pressure if workers see fall in real income
Inflationary pressure causes uncertainty
Higher inflation, face menu costs (the cost of changing prices)
How does inflation effect the government ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
Increases taxes = support tax revenue
What are the 2 types of deflation ?
(2.1.2)
Inflation
- fall in AD
- Lower costs of production
What is meant by unemployment ?
(2.1.3)
Employment and Unemployment
someone of working age does not have a job but is actively willing and seeking employment
What is the claimant count ?
(2.1.3)
Employment and Unemployment
the actual number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance
What is the international labor organisation’s 2 measures to determine if you are unemployed?
(2.1.3)
Employme=nt & Unemployment
You are unemployed if :
You have been without a job, have been actively seeking work in the past four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks
out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks
Give a reason why ILO using Labour Force Survey (LFS) might not be accurate
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
The LFS is a random household survey of approximately 50,000 households in the UK
Which of the two measures (Claimant Count / ILO) is typically higher and why
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
ILO tends to be higher :
Claimants may feel a social stigma attached to claiming and therefore choose not to.
What is meant by ‘underemployment’
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
the ONS defines an under-employed worker as someone who is currently in employment, but wants to work more hours.
What is meant by ‘employment’?
(2.1.3)
Employment & unemployment
Number of people who are in work
What is meant by ‘economically inactive’?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
a person is neither working or actively seeking employment. Economic inactivity includes students, early retirees and the long-term sick.
What is the difference between the population of a country and its labour force?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
The working-age population consists of all the people in a country who are old enough to be part of the workforce. Therefore excluding students etc.
Why do we find that Employment and Unemployment sometimes rise at the same time?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Due to the economically active population has grown faster than employment has.
What are the three types of unemplyment
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Seasonal unemployment - occurs when people are unemployed at particular times of the year when demand for labour is lower than usual
Structural unemployment - caused by a mismatch of skills between the unemployed and available jobs.
Frictional Unemployment - unemployment that occurs from the inevitable time delays in finding new employment in a free market.
Solutions for the types of unemployment
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Frictional Unemployment - Reduce unemployment benefits.
Structural unemployment - Education/training
Seasonal Unemployment - transition from working in tertiary sector rather than primary sector
What is cyclical unemployment and demad deficiency
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Demand deficient unemployment- occurs when there is insufficient demand in the economy to maintain full employment
Therefore :
Cyclical Unemployment - When companies got no bread so they cant pay workers
What is ‘real wage inflexibility’?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Real wage inflexibility occurs when wages are set above the equilibrium level causing the supply of labour to be greater than demand.
How would a lack of skills in an economy effect the unemployment rate?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
A lack of skills reduces the labour flexibility, This is known as occupational immobility.
Given markets are dynamic. There is a risk that a labour lacks the necessary skills and becomes U overtime due to free rider problem attached to training staff.
Result is structural U.
What is meant by ‘net inward migration’?
(2.1.3)
Employment & Unemployment
Total amount of people moving into a country in order to find work
What is the Balance of Payments?
(2.1.4)
BOP
The Balance of Payments is a record of a country’s transactions with the rest of the world, usually to do with trade.
What are the four components of the balance of payments?
(2.1.4 )
BOP
Export revenue – Import expenditure (X-M)
1 - Trade in goods
2 - Trade in services e.g. tourism, insurance
3 - Investment income e.g dividends from shares, profits MNC’s
4 - International transfers e.g Govt transfers to the UN, Aid
What is meant by a current account surplus and deficit?
(2.1.4)
BOP
Trade Surplus - import expenditure is smaller than export revenue
Trade Deficit - = import expenditure is greater than export revenue
When might a current account deficit be considered a problem?
(2.1.4)
BOP
Demand Pull Inflation
How might a current account deficit affect unemployment?
(2.1.4)
BOP
Growth = increase average Y = (M have +ve YED) = M>X
Exchange rate (SPICED) = appreciation currency = reduction IPC = M>X
IPC (relative wages, productivity, K/tech, relative inflation rate)
Lack of competiveness quality (R&D, K/tech, skilled L)
It will increase Cyclical U as there is a reduction in IPC,
How might a current account deficit affect inflation?
(2.1.4)
BOP
A reduction in AD = lower demand pull inflation
How might growth affect the current account balance?
(2.1.4)
BOP
A higher rate of economic growth will cause higher levels of consumer spending. Therefore, there will be a rise in import spending – which will tend to cause a deterioration in the current account. In this case, economic growth is causing inflationary pressures as the economy gets close to full capacity.
What is Aggregate Demand?
(2.2.1)
AD
Total amount of expenditure by all economic agents within the economy over a given period of time.
What are 4 components of AD?
(2.2.1)
AD
C = consumption (households expenditure on G/S)
+
I = investment (firms expenditure on capital [K])
+
G = government (public G/S, but it does not include transfer payments like benefits)
+
(X-M) = exports – imports
What % of AD is comprised of each component?
(2.2.1)
AD
Household consumption (C) makesup approximately 65% of AD
Government spending (G) accounts forapproximately 25% of AD
Investment (I) is around 15% of AD
Net exports(X-M) around -5% of AD
Explain why a 1% increase in consumption would have a bigger impact on the economy than a 1% increase in investment
(2.2.1)
AD
This is because ‘C’ takes up a high percentage (65%) of AD while ‘I’ takes up a lower percentage (15%) therefore a 1% increase in ‘C’ would be much greater
Explain 2 reasons why the AD curve is downward sloping
(2.2.1)
AD
Increase in the average price level reducesthepurchasing power / real income of economic agents. Therefore you’d expect them to spend less i.e. fall in consumption.
At higher averageprices means reduced international price competiveness of UK G/S and exports. Therefore an economy is less likely to export, more likely to import.
Illustrate a contraction & expansion of AD
(2.2.1)
AD
Define consumption ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
use of goods and services by a household
What is disposable income ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
Income after tax
What is the relationship between disposbale income and consumption ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
Positive relationship - the more we receiv in disposable income the more we consume
What is the relationship between savings and consumption ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
As consumers save more they spend less = decrease in consumption
What is the household savings ratio and how is it calculated ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
Gives an idea of average extent of saving for all ouseholds in the UK
Calculated as percentage of disposable income that is saved
How do interest rates influence consumption ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
IR - the reward for saving and cost of borrowing
High interest rate = increase reward saving = increase savings ratio = reduction C
High interest rate = increase cost of borrowing = reduce demand big ticket consumer durables
How does consumer confidence effect consumption ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
Consumer confidence - effected by anything you feel may influence your future earnings or employment status
Increasing consumer confidence increases consumer spending - and vice versa
What is wealth ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
Total amount of anything with value
What is the wealth effect ?
(2.2.2)
Consumption
What is investment ?
(2.2.3)
Investment
Expenditure of firms into FOP
What is the difference between net and gross investment ?
(2.2.3)
Investment
Gross investment is total level ofexpenditureby firms on capital equipment before depreciation is taken into account
Net investment accounts for the depreciationof capital too