Suppose that the are two goods in the economy, Xylophones (X) and Yams (Y). In year t, consumers in the economy purchase 20 Xylophones at a price of $20 each and 100 Yams at a price of $2 each. In year t + 1, consumers in the economy purchase 18 Xylophones at a price of $30 each and 150 Yams at a price of $2.50 each.
1. Calculate the GDP deflator in years t and t + 1 with base year t. What is inflation according to this deflator? Show each step. (Hint: it will be helpful for you to first calculate nominal and real GDP in years t and t + 1. When you calculate real GDP, make sure that you use the appropriate base year).
2. Calculate the GDP deflator in years t and t + 1 with base year t + 1. What is inflation according to this deflator? Show each step. (Hint: you will need to calculate real GDP in years t and t + 1 using a different base year than you used in part 1. Once you calculate real GDP with the appropriate base year, you will follow the same steps that you did in part 1.)
3. Compare your answers to a and b above. Are they the same? If not, why not? How does chain-weighting address any potential difference?
4. Calculate the CPI in years t and t + 1, using year t as the base year.
5. Describe two ways in which the CPI differs from the GDP deflator.
6. There are several problems with using the CPI to calculate real GDP and measure growth. One of these problems is that the CPI does not account for changes in the quality of goods sold over time. A computer today is significantly more efficient than it was even just ten years ago, so even if the price of computers rise with inflation, you are getting significantly more computing power per dollar. How would this bias estimates of GDP growth and inflation?
Suppose that the are two goods in the economy, Xylophones (X) and Yams (Y). In year t, consumers in the economy purchase 20 Xylophones at a price of $20 each and 100 Yams at a price of $2 each. In year t + 1, consumers in the economy purchase 18 Xylophones at a price of $30 each and 150 Yams at a price of $2.50 each.
1. Calculate the GDP deflator in years t and t + 1 with base year t. What is inflation according to this deflator? Show each step. (Hint: it will be helpful for you to first calculate nominal and real GDP in years t and t + 1. When you calculate real GDP, make sure that you use the appropriate base year).
2. Calculate the GDP deflator in years t and t + 1 with base year t + 1. What is inflation according to this deflator? Show each step. (Hint: you will need to calculate real GDP in years t and t + 1 using a different base year than you used in part 1. Once you calculate real GDP with the appropriate base year, you will follow the same steps that you did in part 1.)
3. Compare your answers to a and b above. Are they the same? If not, why not? How does chain-weighting address any potential difference?
4. Calculate the CPI in years t and t + 1, using year t as the base year.
5. Describe two ways in which the CPI differs from the GDP deflator.
6. There are several problems with using the CPI to calculate real GDP and measure growth. One of these problems is that the CPI does not account for changes in the quality of goods sold over time. A computer today is significantly more efficient than it was even just ten years ago, so even if the price of computers rise with inflation, you are getting significantly more computing power per dollar. How would this bias estimates of GDP growth and inflation?
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Related questions
Consider an economy that produces only chocolate bars. In year 1, the quantity produced is 3 bars and the price is $4. In year 2, the quantity produced is 4 bars and the price is $5. In year 3, the quantity produced is 5 bars and the price is $6.
Using year 1 as the base year, compute nominal GDP, real GDP, and the GDP deflator for each year.
| Year | Nominal GDP | Real GDP | GDP Deflator |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars) | (Dollars) | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| Year 3 |
The percentage growth rate of real GDP from year 2 to year 3 is. ______%
The inflation rate as measured by the GDP deflator from year 2 to year 3 is. ______%
