CAS EC 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10-12: Business Cycle, Longrun, Human Capital

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CAS EC 102 Full Course Notes

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Labor productivity: the quantity of goods and services that can be produced by one worker or one hour of work. Capital: manufactured goods that are used to produce other goods and services, human capital- accumulated knowledge and skills workers acquire from education, training, or other life experiences. Best measure of a country"s standard of living is its level of real gdp per capita. Economic growth occurs when real gdp per capita increase, thereby increasing the country"s standard of living. 3 main sources: better machinery and equipment, better means of organizing and managing production increases in human capital. Aggregate expenditure (ae: the total amount of spending in the economy. Macroeconomic equilibrium: occurs when total spending=total production, [aggregate expenditure=gdp, assuming the economy is not growing, therefore equilibrium. Gdp will not change unless ae changes inventories are unchanged and there is macroeconomic equilibrium. The consumption function decline a little: relationship between consumption spending and disposable income, consumption is a function of disposable income.

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TRUE or FALSE?

1. Real GDP can never be greater than potential GDP.

2. When foreign countries experience an increase in income, this is likely to increase our GDP.

3. The United States economy spends about as many months in recession as it spends in expansion.

4. If individuals decrease their consumption spending then this is likely to reduce the growth rate of GDP, all else the same.

5. Movements of real GDP around potential GDP are called the business cycle.

6. If total government spending in a given year was $3.7 trillion, then all of this spending counted directly in GDP as part of the government spending (G) category.

7. The last recession in the United States began in December of 2007.

8. During a recession, the inflation rate tends to decline.

9. Changes in spending that cause firms to change their level of production of goods/services are called supply shocks.

10. All else the same, an increase in income in the United States leads to a decrease in our net exports.

11. Since 1929 there have been 14 declared recessions in the United States.

12. Total spending in the economy is equal to consumption + investment + government spending - net exports.

13. During each recession, potential GDP falls.

14. Percentage wise, the government collects more tax from individuals than it does from firms.

15. During a recession, the Federal Reserve pursues contractionary monetary policy.

16. During a recession, the Federal Reserve is most likely to sell government bonds to the public.

17. Investment spending increases during periods of recession.

18. Congress meets about every 6 - 8 weeks to discuss the performance of the economy and potential changes to fiscal policy.

19. If there is more competition among firms, then the inflation rate will tend to increase.

20.The demand for labor increases when the economy is in an expansionary phase.

21. Total spending by the government is about 20% of GDP in the US economy.

22. The unemployment rate decreases during periods of expansion.

23. If oil prices increase by 20% then this is an example of a supply shock.

24. When the Federal Reserve buys government bonds, interest rates are likely to fall.

25. If Congress wanted to help the economy out of a recession, they would be most likely to reduce government spending and/or increase taxes.

Falsenot in accordance with the fact or reality or actualityMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)

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Ques. 1 Read the following comprehension and answer the given questions . (2 x 2= 4 marks)

People often ask economists for predictions about the future of the macroeconomy. Forecasts about the economyâs future, even from experts, are not unlike a baseball writerâs prediction of who will play in the next World Series. The prediction can seem well-reasoned and logical, but it is hardly foolproof. Certain statistical series tend to move in similar ways through all business cycles. Knowledge of these series and their tendencies can provide some insight into future business cycle movements. The Conference Board, a not-for-profit organization, publishes monthly updates of what is called the âindex of leading economic indicators.â The index is a weighted average of 10 statistical series that usually lead, or begin turning upward and downward, before the overall economy does. Because not all the components of the index turn before the business cycle hits a peak or a trough, movements in the index are more reliable than the movement in any one of its components. Among the most reliable of the leading indicators is an index of prices for 500 common stocks. Investors want to buy stock shares when their prices are relatively low and sell shares when prices are relatively high. During a recession, stock prices fall due to sluggish sales and profits. Interest rates are relatively low during the last months of recessions because of reduced demand for investment. In choosing between buying bonds and stocks, investors will favor stocks when: (a) stock prices have fallen to a point where there is a strong possibility of future capital gains, and (b) the opportunity cost of buying stocksâthe interest rate on bondsâis low. Therefore, prices of common stocks will usually begin to rise during the late stages of a business cycle, before a business expansion begins. As the economy moves near full employment during an expansion, the situation is reversed. Strong demand for consumer goods and investment will drive prices and interest rates upward. At some point, investors sell stocks to realize capital gains and buy bonds, rather than stocks, to take advantage of high interest rates. The downward movement in stock prices will usually begin before a recession begins.

a. Scientists make accurate predictions of the movement of asteroids and comets. Why canât economists make accurate predictions of business cycle movements?

b. Assume that the U.S. economy is in a recession. Mild weather results in lower demand for energy and a reduction in the price of oil. Investors interpret this as positive news for firms because their costs of production will be lowered. An increase in stock prices results. Will an economic expansion follow?

erinherring531

1. Fiscal policy attempts to affect the level of overall spendingin the economy by changes in:
A) the interest rate.
B) the money supply.
C) banking regulations.
D) taxes and spending.

2. Economists have identified several consecutive months of fallingemployment and forecasts for the next few months are for more ofthe same. At what point in the business cycle is the economyapparently located?
A) recession
B) expansion
C) business cycle peak
D) business cycle trough

3. The onset of the Great Depression:
A) was not a shock to anyone since most economists predicted theâroaring 20sâ were bound to end in disaster.
B) created a disagreement between the Hoover administration andconventional economists because Hoover wanted the government tointervene much more quickly than most others.
C) came as a considerable shock to the conventional wisdom ofeconomics at that time and opened the door for critiques ofmainstream thought by economists like JM Keynes.
D) was in 1918 at the end of World War I.

4. When economists measure economic growth, they often use:
A) the inflation rate.
B) the unemployment rate.
C) nominal GDP.
D) real GDP.

5. In a typical business cycle, the business cycle peak isimmediately followed by the:
A) recession.
B) business cycle trough.
C) expansion.
D) depression.

6. Suppose an economy experiences rising total output accompaniedby increasing employment, this is generally known as:
A) stagflation.
B) recession.
C) inflation.
D) expansion.

7. Controlling interest rates is an example of:
A) fiscal policy.
B) tax policy.
C) monetary policy.
D) exchange rate policy.

8. The alternation between recessions and expansions is known asthe:
A) unemployment rate.
B) long-run economic growth.
C) business cycle.
D) macroeconomy.

9. A recession in America is typically associated with:
A) a falling unemployment rate.
B) a decrease in the number of people living in poverty.
C) a decrease in the percentage of Americans with healthinsurance.
D) an increase in corporate profits.

10. The purpose of macroeconomic policy is to:
A) bring unemployment closer to the natural rate.
B) reduce the severity of recessions.
C) rein in excessively strong expansions.
D) bring unemployment closer to the natural rate and to reduce theseverity of recessions.

11. The trade balance is the difference between the value ofthe:
A) trade deficit and the budget deficit.
B) goods and services that one country sells to other countries andthe value of the goods and services it buys in return.
C) exchange rates of two countries that are engaged ininternational trade.
D) national debt and the foreign debt.

12. Increasing the total amount of available productive resourcesis the focus of __________.
A) macroeconomics
B) fiscal policy
C) monetary policy
D) microeconomics

13. The point on a business cycle when real GDP stops rising andbegins falling is a(n):
A) peak.
B) trough.
C) expansion.
D) recession.

14. During a recession, one will often observe:
A) aggregate output rising.
B) unemployment rates will be increasing while aggregate output isfalling.
C) employment rates will be rising.
D) zero unemployment rates.

15. Monetary policy involves:
A) changes in government spending.
B) changes in government tax receipts.
C) changes in the quantity of money.
D) changes in tax rates.

16. The trough of the business cycle:
A) comes right after the expansion phase.
B) comes before the recession phase.
C) is a temporary maximum level of real GDP.
D) is a temporary minimum level of real GDP.

17. Which one of the following statements about the U.S. economy isnot accurate?
A) Since the Second World War, aggregate output grew at a ratelower than the average annual growth rate of population.
B) Since the Second World War, aggregate output grew at a ratehigher than the average annual growth rate of population.
C) Since the Second World War, macroeconomic policy has helped makethe economy more stable.
D) Long-run growth per capita is the key to higher wages and arising standard of living.

18. An economic recovery is all of the following except:
A) economic growth of a sustained nature.
B) a short-run increase in aggregate production in aneconomy.
C) a time of increasing employment.
D) the end of the business cycle.

19. Which of the following would NOT be classified as amacroeconomic question?
A) How many people are employed in the economy as a whole?
B) What determines the overall level of prices in the economy as awhole?
C) What determines the overall trade in goods, services, andfinancial assets between the United States and the rest of theworld?
D) What determines the cost to a university or college of offeringa new course?

20. Which of the following statements regarding price level orinflation is correct?
A) Supply and demand can not explain why a particular good orservice becomes more expensive relative to other goods andservices.
B) Inflation affects only the more advanced countries whereas lessadvanced countries face deflation.
C) Prices of most goods and services remained stable during thegreat depression.
D) In general, when the economy is in recession and jobs are hardto find, inflation tends to fall.

21. If wages grew at a 5% rate last year and average prices grew ata 3% rate, then the average worker is:
A) better off.
B) worse off.
C) no better or worse off.
D) unaffected.

22. In an open economy:
A) the exchange rate is determined by the government.
B) specialization in activities with a comparative advantage is notpossible.
C) trade is only beneficial to the relatively larger economy.
D) there is trade in goods, services, or assets with othercountries.

23. Changes in government spending and taxes in an effort to changeoverall spending in an economy is:
A) fiscal policy.
B) monetary policy.
C) investment.
D) the stock market.

24. If an economy is open, this means that:
A) anyone can immigrate to the country.
B) trading with other countries makes up a portion of itseconomy.
C) it does not trade with other countries.
D) it will experience a drop in its real GDP.

25. Inflation is a situation where:
A) the average price level falls.
B) the average price level increases.
C) the average price level becomes negative.
D) the real price level falls.

26. The topics studied in macroeconomics include:
A) the price of a motorcycle.
B) the wages of engineers.
C) the average price level in the economy.
D) how much ice cream consumers buy.

27. A period of rising real GDP is a(n):
A) peak.
B) trough.
C) expansion.
D) recession.

28. The modern tools of macroeconomic policy are:
A) tax policy and antitrust policy.
B) fiscal policy and monetary policy.
C) monetary policy and exchange rate policy.
D) capital policy and labor policy.

29. A ârubber neckingâ traffic jam is an example of:
A) microeconomics in action.
B) individual behavior that has a large aggregate impact.
C) the paradox of thrift.
D) an outcome smaller than the sum of its parts.

30. The most painful consequence of a recession is:
A) rising unemployment.
B) increasing inflation.
C) increasing aggregate output.
D) higher interest rates.

31. Per capita economic growth is:
A) economic growth per unit of capital.
B) economic growth per person.
C) economic expansion over the business cycle.
D) sustained increase in aggregate output.

32. Keynesian economics stressed:
A) total spending.
B) the self-regulating power of free markets.
C) the long run.
D) that the Depression should run its course to bring down the highcost of living.

33. When an economy's overall production grows faster than itspopulation, this is referred to as:
A) long-run growth per capita.
B) an increase in nominal GDP.
C) deflation.
D) the paradox of thrift.

34. Fiscal policy attempts to affect the overall level of spendingin the economy through:
A) changes in the inflation rate.
B) changes in the quantity of money or the interest rate.
C) changes in tax policy or government spending.
D) discretionary regulation of profits and wages.

35. With regard to the aggregate price level, economists generallybelieve:
A) price stability is a desirable goal.
B) inflation is worse than deflation.
C) deflation is worse than inflation.
D) inflation actually benefits most retired people.

36. Recessions are periods when:
A) output rises.
B) the aggregate price level rises.
C) the unemployment rate is falling.
D) output and employment are falling.

37. Monetary policy attempts to affect the overall level ofspending in the economy by changes in:
A) taxes.
B) taxes and spending.
C) taxes and interest rates.
D) interest rates and the quantity of money.

38. The basic difference between an economic recession and economicdepression is that:
A) the latter is a shorter economic downturn than the former.
B) during recessions output falls faster than duringdepressions.
C) during depressions employment falls faster than duringrecessions.
D) the former is a longer economic downturn than the latter.

39. The central mission of modern macroeconomics is to prevent_____ from happening again.
A) recessions
B) inflation
C) deflation
D) anything like the Great Depression

40. Fiscal policy refers to:
A) the control of interest rates.
B) the control of government spending and taxations.
C) the control of the quantity of money.
D) the control of interest rates and of government spending.

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CAS EC 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10-12: Business Cycle, Longrun, Human Capital

CAS EC 102 Full Course Notes

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