Macroeconomics Final – Flashcards with Answers
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Law of Demand
answer
Holding all else equal, when the price of a good rises, consumers decreases their quantity demanded for that good. Inverse/negative relationship between the price and quantity demanded of a good.
question
Ceteris paribus
answer
All else equal. Important because you know the variable that's causing the change in supply or demand.
question
Substitution effect
answer
The change in quantity demanded resulting from a change in the price of one good relative to the price of other goods. Explains the demand curve, but not AD curve.
question
Complementary goods
answer
Goods used and demanded together. Good #1 Price up, Good #2 Demand down
question
Substitution goods
answer
One that can be used in place of another good. Good #1 Price up, Good #2 Demand up.
question
Unrelated goods
answer
Products have no correlation; majority of products are unrelated goods. Ex: Bananas and watches
question
Economizing problem
answer
Society's economic wants are insatiable, but economic resources are limited. Objective of economic activity is to fulfill WANTS
question
Economic resources
answer
All natural, human, and manufactured resources that go into the production of a good
question
Full employment
answer
Use of all available resources (both workers and capital equipment). Point on the PPC.
question
Full production
answer
All employed resources must be used so that they provide the maximum possible satisfaction of our economic wants. Best point on the PPC.
question
Productive efficiency
answer
The production of any particular mix of goods and services in the least costly way. Any point on the curve.
question
Allocative efficiency
answer
Least-cost production of that particular mix of goods and services most wanted by society. The BEST point on the curve.
question
Economic growth
answer
The ability to produce a larger amount 1. Increase in supplies or resources. 2. Improvements in resource quality 3. Technological advancements
question
Resource market
answer
the place where resources or the services of resource supplies. Households own economic resources and sell to businesses, who buy them because are necessary for producing goods and services.
question
Product market
answer
The place where goods and services produced by businesses are bought and sold. Businesses combine the resources obtained to produce and sell goods and services. Households use the income they have received from the sale of resources to buy goods and services.
question
Circular Flow of model
answer
Complex, interrelated web of decision -- making and economic activity involving businesses and households. Households buy products and sell resources.
question
Diminishing marginal utility
answer
Buyer will get less satisfaction from each successive unit purchased. Explains the downsloping demand curve.
question
Income effect
answer
A lower price increases the purchasing power of a buyer's money income, which allows the buyer to purchase more of the product than he/she could buy before. Explains the demand curve, but not the AD curve.
question
Determinants of Demand
answer
1. Consumers' preferences 2. Number of buyers. 3. Consumers' incomes. 4. Prices of related goods. 5. Consumer expectations about future prices and incomes.
question
Normal goods
answer
Products whose demand varies directly with money income (steaks, furniture, and electronic equipment).
question
Inerior goods
answer
Goods whose demand varies inversely with money income.
question
Change in demand/supply
answer
Shift of demand curve
question
Change in quantity demanded/supplied
answer
Movement from one point to another
question
Law of Supply
answer
As price rises, the quantity supplied rises. As price falls, the quantity supplied falls. Price represents revenue, which is incentive to produce and sell the product. The higher the price, the greater the incentive and quantity supplied.
question
Determinants of Supply
answer
1. Resource prices 2. Technology 3. Taxes and Subsidies 4. Price of other goods 5. Price expectations 6. Number of sellers/suppliers
question
Surplus
answer
More supply than demand
question
Shortage
answer
More demand than supply
question
Open economy vs. closed economy
answer
Open economy: includes international trade, labor and resources go to exports and not imports, specialization and international trade increase the produce. Closed economy: no international trade.
question
Why is specialization and trade good for a nation's economy?
answer
• Increases productivity of resources • Greater total output = economic growth • More efficient production • Mutually beneficial • Improves global resource allocation • More goods available to each country
question
Terms of trade
answer
Has to be mutually beneficial to each country.
question
Exchange rates
answer
The rate at which the currency of one nation can be exchanged for the currency of another nation 1. Competitive market 2. Linkages to all domestic and foreign prices
question
Depreciation
answer
When the value of a currency decreases relative to another currency.
question
Appreciation
answer
Value of a currency increases relative to another currency.
question
GDP
answer
Total market value of all final goods and services produced in a given year. Must be: • Employed within the country (can be companies from foreign countries, but must be produced in US) • Only final goods, not intermediate goods GDP = C+I+G+Nx
question
What does GDP not include?
answer
public transfer payments, private transfer payments, stock market transactions, secondhand sales.
question
In GDP, what does Consumption include?
answer
Durable consumer goods Nondurable consumer goods Consumer expenditures for services
question
In GDP, what does Investment include?
answer
All final purchases of machinery, equipment, and tools by business enterprises, all constructions (includes residential because can be rented), and changes in inventories. Investment in replacement capital and in added capital.
question
Net private domestic investment
answer
Only investment in the form of added capital. Net investment = gross investment - depreciation.
question
Depreciation
answer
Amount of capital used up over the course of a year/ amount of capital replaced.
question
When gross investment > depreciation
answer
Net investment is positive Nation's stock of capital increases PPC shifts out
question
When gross investment = depreciation
answer
Net investment is 0 No change in stock of capital PPC stays same
question
When gross investment < depreciation
answer
Net investment is negative (disinvesting) PPC shifts in
question
Disinvesting
answer
When the economy uses more capital than it's producing
question
In GDP, what is included in government purchases?
answer
1. Expenditures for goods and services needed for public services. 2. Expenditures for social capital (schools, highways). DOES NOT INCLUDE GOVERNMENT TRANSFER PAYMENTS (like Social Security, unemployment welfare, etc.)
question
In GDP, what is included in net exports?
answer
Exports minus imports.
question
price index
answer
measure of the price of a specific collection of goods and services, called a "market basket," in a given year as compared to the price of an identical (of highly similar) PI = [(this year's price)/(base year's price)] x 100
question
Real GDP
answer
deflated or inflated GDP Quantity of goods produced Real GDP = Nom GDP/Price index (In hundredths)
question
Why is GDP not an accurate measure of our nation's well-being?
answer
Doesn't account for: 1. Nonmarket activities 2. Leisure 3. Improved product quality 4. Underground economy 5. Environment 6. Composition and distribution of output (GDP per capita) 7. Noneconomic sources of well-being
question
Economic growth
answer
increase in real GDP or GDP per capita over some time period
question
Rule of 70
answer
Approve # of years to double = 70 ÷ Annual percentage rate of growth Ex: 70/3 = approx 23 Applicable to lots of things (price level, savings account, GDP)
question
Main sources of economic growth
answer
Increase inputs of resources Increase productivity of inputs (organization, education, motivation, efficient allocation, etc.)
question
What are causes of the business cycle?
answer
Momentous innovations (irregular) Major changes in productivity Monetary phenomenon *Changes in level of total spending --> Most accepted theory
question
What goods does the business cycle impact the most?
answer
Capital goods and consumer durables: - purchase can be delayed if they don't need it Service industries and nondurables less affected because are always in constant demand
question
3 "groups" of people in an economic perspective regarding employment
answer
1. Less than 16/institutionalized (not potential members of labor force) 2. Not in labor force (potential workers, but not employed and NOT seeking work) 3. Labor force (able and willing to work) Includes: employed and unemployed
question
Unemployment rate
answer
Unemployment rate = (Unemployment ÷ labor force) x 100
question
Types of unemployment
answer
Frictional unemployment Structural unemployment Cyclical unemployment
question
Frictional unemployment
answer
Between jobs There will always be this type of unemployment. This type of unemployment is desirable because people switch from low-paying/productivity jobs to better high ones = greater income for workers, better allocation of resources, larger RGDP
question
Structural unemployment
answer
NO demand for a certain skill Occupationally and geographically Hard to get new jobs without retraining, more education, or relocating
question
Cyclical unemployment
answer
Caused by a decline in total spending (during a recession) Deficient-demand unemployment BAD--you don't want this type of unemployment
question
Full employment
answer
when there is ONLY frictional and structural unemployment
question
Natural rate of unemployment (NRU)
answer
Economy is at potential output Economy can operate above NRU (recession) or below NRU (working overtime).
question
GDP gap
answer
The difference between actual and potential GDP GDP gap = actual GDP - potential GDP Negative GDP gap means that unemployment is above the natural rate (recession) Positive GDP gap means inflationary pressures, cannot b e sustained
question
Okun's Law
answer
For every 1 percentage point by which the actual unemployment rate exceeds the natural rate, a negative GDP gap of about 2 percent occurs.
question
Inflation
answer
A rise in the general level of prices. Reduces purchasing power. Doesn't mean ALL prices are rising because prices rise unevenly
question
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
answer
Compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Government uses index to report inflation rates Reports prices of a "market basket" of some 300 consumer goods and services th at are presumably purchased by a typical urban consumer
question
Demand-pull inflation
answer
Caused by spending more than the economy can produce Excess demand bids up prices of limited output Demand pulls price level up
question
Cost-push inflation
answer
When output and employment are both declining, while general price level rising. Caused by increases in prices in major resources like oil, which increases per-unit production costs, and decreases profits, which lowers incentive to supply more, thus pushing supply to the left. Causes a recession/stagflation.
question
Per-unit production costs
answer
Average cost of a particular level of output PUPC = Total input costs ÷ Units of output
question
Supply shocks
answer
Abrupt increases in costs of raw materials or energy inputs. Drives up per-unit production costs and product prices.
question
Real income
answer
The purchasing power of nominal income Real income = Nominal income ÷ price index (in hundredths) Remains constant when nominal income and price index increase at the same rate.
question
Difference between CPI and GDP deflator
answer
GDP deflator -- all items in domestic production, includes more than just consumer goods, BROADER MEASURE OF INFLATION CPI -- based on market basket of goods that are bought consumers, some goods produced abroad, MEASURE OF INFLATION OF ONLY CONSUMER GOODS
question
Anticipated inflation
answer
Income receiver may be able to avoid or lessen the adverse effects of inflation on real income. Redistribution effects are less severe or are eliminated if people can adjust nominal incomes to reflect the expected price level rises.
question
Unanticipated inflation
answer
Inflation whose full extent was not expected Redistributes real income away from some and towards others (uneven).
question
Who is hurt by unanticipated inflation?
answer
1. Fixed-income receivers 2. Savers 3. Lenders
question
Who is unaffected or helped by inflation?
answer
1. Flexible-income receivers (ex: Social security payments indexed to CPI) 2. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) 3. Debtors/borrowers
question
Inflation premium
answer
Raising interest rate by the amount of the anticipated inflation. Lender can avoid being hurt by unanticipated inflation. High NIRs are consequences of inflation, not causes
question
Real interest rate (RIR)
answer
Percentage increase in purchasing power (value) that the borrower pays pays the lender. RIR = NIR - inflation
question
Nominal interest rate (NIR)
answer
percentage increase in money that the borrower pays the lender NIR = RIR + inflation
question
Deflation vs. disinflation
answer
Deflation -- declines in price level Disinflation -- slowing in the rate of increase in price level
question
Shortcomings of CPI
answer
1. Consumers substitute 2. Goods evolve 3. Quality differences
question
Why is the unemployment rate sometimes inaccurate?
answer
1. Discouraged workers are not part of unemployed. 2. Part time workers are considered to be employed.
question
hyperinflation
answer
Extremely rapid inflation that has devastating impacts on real output and employment
question
Relationship between consumption and disposable income
answer
Households spend a larger proportion of their DI when they are poor, while richer people spend a smaller proportion of their DI.
question
Relationship between consumption and disposable income.
answer
DI increases, people save a larger proportion of their DI
question
Dissaving
answer
Consuming in excess of after tax-income. Occurs at relatively low DIs Households can consume more than their incomes by liquidating (selling for cash) or by borrowing.
question
Break-even income
answer
Income level at which households plan to consumer their entire income When C cuts 45 degree line. When savings schedule cuts x-axis
question
Marginal propensity to consume (MPC)
answer
Change in consumption caused by a change in the DI MPC = change in C ÷ change in DI Slope of the consumption function MPC + MPS = 1
question
Marginal propensity to consumer (MPS)
answer
Change in saving caused by a change in disposable incomce MPS = change in S ÷ change in DI MPC + MPS = 1
question
Determinants of Consumption and Saving
answer
1. Wealth 2. Expectations 3. Household Debt 4. Taxes and transfers 5. Real interest rates (deals with borrowing *C and S usually move in the opposite direction EXCEPT FOR TAXES AND TRANSFERS
question
Average propensity to consume (APC)
answer
APC = C ÷ DI A point on the C function
question
Average propensity to save (APS)
answer
APS = S ÷ DI A point on the S function
question
Change in the amount consumed
answer
Movement from one point to another on a consumption schedule Caused by a change in disposable income
question
What is investment?
answer
Expenditures on new plants, capital equipment, inventories, etc.
question
Expected rate of return
answer
r = Profit ÷ cost of investment Businesses only buy capital goods when they think such purchases will be profitable. Expected not guaranteed. Investment may or not may off as anticipated.
question
Real interest rate
answer
The cost of borrowing money to purchase capital.
question
Interest cost of investment
answer
Interest cost of investment = interest rate • money borrowed
question
When will capital be bought/investment be undertaken?
answer
When the expected rate of return exceed the interest rate.
question
What interest rate is used in making investment decisions?
answer
Real interest rate because you want to compare real profit with real costs (in case of inflation)
question
What is important to know about the investment demand curve?
answer
Investment is cumulative. Ex: $10 billion of investment includes $5 billion of investment at 14% r and $5 billion of investment between 12 and 14% r.
question
To what point should investment projects be undertaken up?
answer
When r = i
question
Investment demand curve
answer
Shows rates of return and quantity of investment demanded at each "price" (interest rate) of investment
question
Shifts of the investment demand curve
answer
*In general, any factor that leads businesses to collectively expect greater rates of return on their investment increases investment demand (shift right) and vice versa. 1. Acquisition, maintenance, and operating costs 2. Business taxes 3. Technological change (technological progress lowers production cost or improves product quality, increases expected rate of return) 4. Stock of capital goods on hand (when economy is overstocked with production facilities and when firms have excessive inventories of finished goods, expected rates of return decrease) 5. Expectations (depends on forecasts of future sales, future operating costs, and future profitability of the product)
question
Why is investment so instable?
answer
Investment is the most volatile component of GDP. 1. Durability (purchases of investment can be postponed) 2. Irregularity of innovation 3. Variability of profits
question
Multiplier effect
answer
A change in a component of spending that leads to a larger change in GDP.
question
Spending multiplier
answer
Determines the change in GDP due to a change in a component of spending in GDP Multiplier = change in RGDP ÷ initial change in spending Multiplier = 1 ÷ MPS Initial change in spending can be in C, I, G, or Nx (but usually I) Multiplier works in both increases and decreases in intiial spending
question
What is the rationale behind the multiplier effect?.
answer
1. Economy has a repetitive, continuous flow of expenditures and income. 2. Any change in income causes consumption and saving to change in the same direction and fraction of the change in income. Initial change in spending will set of spending chain throughout the economy that accumulates. Because spending and re-spending effects will diminish with each successive round of spending, the cumulative increase in output and income eventually ends.
question
Relationship between MPC/MPS and the multiplier
answer
The larger the MPC, the larger the multiplier The larger the MPS, the smaller the multiplier.
question
Why does the multiplier overstate the actual outcome?
answer
Households use income to buy imports and pay taxes, which reduces the multiplier effect.
question
AD AS model
answer
Enables economists to analyze changes in RGDP and the price level simultaneously. Provides keen insights on inflation, recession, unemployment, and economic growth.
question
Aggregate demand
answer
Schedule or curve that shows the amount of real output that buyers collectively desire to purchase at each possible prive level.
question
Why is does the AD curve have a downward slope?
answer
NOT the same explanation for a single product (that people buy more as the price of a production decreases) 1. Real balances effect/wealth effect 2. Interest rate effect 3. Foreign purchases effect
question
Loanable funds market
answer
The market for dollars that are available to be borrowed for investment projects. Supply = savers Demand = investors/borrowers *Uses RIR
question
Private savings
answer
Saving conducted by households and equal to the difference between disposable income and consumption
question
Public savings
answer
saving conducted by government and equal to the difference between tax revenue collected and spending on goods and services
question
Tax multiplier
answer
The magnitude of the effect that a change in taxes has on RGDP. Tm = change in GDP ÷ change in taxes = MPC • Multiplier = MPC ÷ MPS
question
Balanced-budget multiplier
answer
When a change in government spending is offset by a change in lump sum taxes. Balanced-budget multiplier = 1
question
Real balances effect/wealth effect
answer
Higher PL = less consumption spending The higher price level reduces purchasing power of public's accumulated savings Public is poorer in real terms.
question
Interest rate effect
answer
When PL increases, consumers need money for purchases and businesses need more money for payrolls and resources, so demand for money increases. If MD increases, NIR will increase. Higher NIR = less investment spending and interest-sensitive consumption spending *By increasing the demand for money and increasing the interest rate, a higher price level reduces the amount of real output demanded.
question
Foreign purchases effect
answer
When US price level rises relative to foreign price levels, foreigners buy fewer US goods and Americans buy more foreign goods so Nx decreases.
question
Shifters of AD
answer
NOT PRICE LEVEL = NOT wealth effect, interest rate effect, or foreign purchases effect. Usually a change in spending --> multiplier effect. 1. Consumer spending (consumer wealth, consumer expectations, household indebtness, taxes) 2. Investment spending (RIR, r) 3. Government spending 4. Net export spending (national income abroad, exchange rates)
question
Long run aggregate supply
answer
When changes in wages respond completely to change int he price level, those price-level changes to do not alter the amount of RGDP produced and offered for sale. At full-employment.
question
Short run aggregate supply
answer
Based on per-unit production cost of any specific level of output. Price level must cover all the costs of production.
question
Why is the SRAS curved?
answer
When economy expands in the short run, PUPC generally rise because of reduced efficiency and rising input prices. Below capacity/full-employment output: Large amounts of unused machinery, equipment, and unemployed workers. Can put these resources back to work with little upward pressure on PUPC. *Large increases in real output without putting pressure on the price level Operating beyond full-employment output: Majority of resources are employed. Adding more workers to almost full employment = congestion in the workplace and reduces efficiency of workers. Adding more land resources when capital/labor resources are highly strained reduces the efficiency of land resources. Total output rises less than total input cost, PUPC increases a lot *Limited increase in real output as PL rises a lot
question
Shifters of SRAS
answer
Anytime when PUPC change 1. Domestic resource prices (wages, land, capital) 2. Price of imported goods (resources imported from abroad add to AS, added supply = reduced PUPC) 3. Input Prices (market power, ex: OPEC) 4. Changes in productivity 5. Legal institutional environment (business taxes and subsidies, government regulation)
question
Demand-pull inflation
answer
Cause: Increase in spending (AD shifts right) Effect: Pulls PL up
question
Shifters of LRAS
answer
Anything that affects the potential output or full employment 1. Availability of resources (more resources = more potential output) 2. Technology and productivity 3. Policy incentive (ex: tax incentives to invest in capital)
question
Recessionary and inflation gap
answer
When the economy is in equilibrium but not at the level of GDP that corresponds to full employment. The difference between GDPfull and GDPcurrent is the gap (or the amount in which GDP must rise/fall to GDPfull)
question
Recessionary gap
answer
When the economy is operating below full employment and likely experiencing a high unemployment rate. If prices are sticky, only real output decreases. Cyclical unemployment
question
Inflationary gap
answer
When the economy is operating about full employment. Because production is higher the GDP, a rising price level is the greatest danger to the economy.
question
Why are prices inflexible downward?
answer
1. Wage contracts (inflexible downward) 2. Morale, effort, and productivity (need efficiency wage for max productivity, lower wages impair morale and work effort = reduce productivity) 3. Minimum wage 4. Menu costs 5. Fear of price wars
question
Menu costs
answer
Firms that think a recession will be relatively short-lived and may be reluctant to cut their prices. Don't want to reprice items in inventory, print and mail new catalogs, communicate new prices to customers (all costly stuff)
question
Cost-push inflation
answer
When costs increase, AS curve moves left, pushes the PL up. THE WORST KIND OF INFLATION
question
Fiscal policy
answer
Deliberate changes in government spending and tax collections designed to achieve full employment, control inflation, and encourage economic growth. Can help "push" the economy in a particular direction, but can't "fine-tune" it to a precise macroeconomic outcome (that's for monetary policy)
question
Discretionary/active fiscal policy
answer
Changes in government spending and the rate of taxes are at the option of the federal government.
question
Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)
answer
Established to assist and advise the president on economic matters and the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) at Congress
question
Employment Act of 1946
answer
Federal government has to use monetary and fiscal policy to maintain economic stability.
question
Expansionary fiscal policy
answer
1. Increase government spending 2. Reduce taxes 3. Combination of the two
question
Budget deficit
answer
Government spending in excess of tax revenues. Created by expansionary fiscal policy
question
Why are taxes less effective than government spending?
answer
Taxes increase DI, but people could save part of their disposable income.
question
Contractionary fiscal policy
answer
1. Decrease government spending 2. Increased taxes 3. Combination of the two
question
Budget surplus
answer
Tax revenues in excess of government spending.
question
Financing of deficits
answer
1. Borrowing -- increases demand for money, drives up interest rate, decreases private investment spending (weakens expansionary effect) 2. Money creation -- expansionary but potentially more inflationary
question
Disposing of surpluses
answer
1. Debt reduction -- gov pays back bonds, transfers surplus tax revenues back into the money market, SM increase, interest rates fall, increase private borrowing and spending (weakens anti-inflationary effect) 2. Impounding (letting budget surplus stand idle) -- govt withholds purchasing power from the economy, more anti-inflationary than paying off debt
question
Built-in/automatic stabilizers
answer
Anything that... 1. Increases the government's budget deficit or reduces its budget surplus during a recession 2. Increase budget surplus or reduces its budget deficit during inflation without requiring explicit action by policy makers. EXACTLY WHAT THE TAX SYSTEM DOES! *REDUCES, but doesn't eliminate the effects of the swings in GDP
question
Net tax revenues
answer
Net tax revenues = tax revenues - transfers and subsidies Varies directly with GDP -- GDP increase, tax rev increase, and vice versa
question
Progressive tax system
answer
Average tax rate rises with GDP Steepest Stabilizes the economy the most
question
Proportional tax system
answer
Average tax rate remains constant as GDP rises
question
Regressive tax system
answer
Average tax rate falls as GDP rises (Flat tax, sales tax) Doesn't really help stabilize the economy as much..
question
Evaluating fiscal policy
answer
Cannot look at changes in surplus or the deficit because they reflect automatic changes in tax revenues. 1. Adjust deficits and surpluses to eliminate automatic changes in tax revenues 2. Compare the sizes of the adjusted budget deficits to the levels of potential GDP
question
Full-employment budget
answer
"Standarized budget" • Eliminates the automatic changes from taxes • Measures what the budget deficit/surplus would be with existing tax rates and government spending levels if the economy was at full-employment • Compare the actual government expenditures with the tax revenues that would have occurred in that year at full-employment • If the full-employment budget deficits are zero in both years, there was no change in discretionary fiscal policy • If increases = expansionary, decreases = contractonary
question
Cyclical deficit
answer
a by-product of the economy's slide into recession Not a result of discretionary fiscal action's by the government
question
Loanable funds theory of interest
answer
Explains interest rate in terms of supply and demand for funds available for lending Assumes households/consumers are supplies of loanable funds and business are the sole demanders Assumes lending occurs directly between household and businesses.
question
Supply of loanable funds
answer
Upsloping -- households will supply a larger quantity of funds at high interest rates. ^ Savings viewed as relatively insensitive to changes in interest rates because people save for other reasons besides interest.
question
Demand for loanable funds
answer
Downsloping -- a higher interest rate = smaller expected rate of return = less investments profitable = smaller quantity of loanable funds will be demanded
question
Shifters of the supply of loanable funds
answer
Anything that causes households to save more or less
question
Shifters of the demand of loanable funds
answer
Anything that increases the rate of return on potential investments. Ex: increased productivity, increase in consumer demand, increase in price of product.
question
Problems, criticisms, and complications of fiscal policy
answer
1. Recognition lag 2. Administrative lag 3. Operational lag 4. Political business cycles 5. Future policy reversals (if households expect future policy reversals, fiscal policy will fail) 6. Offsetting state and local finance 7. Crowding out effect
question
Crowding-out effect
answer
Reduces effectiveness of expansionary fiscal policy -- Increase government spending, increases the interest, reduces investment and consumption spending -- weakens or cancels the stimulus of the expansionary policy
question
Criticisms of the crowding-out effect
answer
1. Little crowding out will occur when fiscal policy is used during a significant recession 2. Policymakers can counteract the crowding-out effect by increasing the supply of money to offset the increased demand for money.
question
Net exports effect
answer
Reduces the effectiveness of fiscal policy (both expansionary and contractionary) Ex: Expansionary policy -- price level increases, US goods relatively more expensive, imports increase, exports decrease, net exports decrease Contractionary policy -- price level "decreases", US goods relatively cheaper, exports increase, imports decrease, net exports increases
question
Functions of money
answer
1. Medium of exchange - for buying and selling goods and services 2. Unit of account -- helps compare value of goods 3. Stores of values -- transfer purchasing power from present to future (relatively risk-free when inflation is nonexistent/mild)
question
M1
answer
1. Currency (coin and paper money) in the hands of the public 2. Checkable deposits
question
Token money
answer
Metal value is less than the face value of the coin. (USD)
question
What do you do to not double count in the total money supply?
answer
Exclude currency in banks
question
What is excluded from M1?
answer
Currency and checkable deposits owned by the US Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks, commercial banks, or other financial institutions.
question
Near-monies
answer
Highly liquid financial assets that do not function directly or fully as a medium of exchange but can be readily converted into currency deposits. Included in M2.
question
M2
answer
M1 + 1. Savings deposits, including money market deposit accounts. 2. Small (less than $100,000) time deposits. 3. Money market mutual funds.
question
Savings account
answer
Where a depositor can easily withdraw funds from at a bank or thrift or simply request that the funds be transferred from a savings account to a checkable account.
question
Money market deposit account (MMDA)
answer
An interest-bearing account through which banks and thrifts pool individual deposits to buy a variety of interest-bearing short-term securities. Have a minimum balance requirement and a limit on how often a person can withdraw funds.
question
Time deposits
answer
Funds in time deposits become available at their maturity. Higher interest rate. If cash in early, must pay severe penalty. (ex: After 6 months, person can convert time deposit to currency without penalty).
question
Money market mutual fund (MMMF)
answer
Redeem shares in a MMMF offered by a mutual fund company. Companies use combined funds to buy credit instruments like certificates of deposit and US govt securities. Offer interest on the money market account of their mutual fund depositors.
question
M3
answer
M1 + M2 + large ($100,000 or more) time deposits.
question
What is usually cited for money supply?
answer
M1 -- Because it is simple and includes only items directly and immediately usable as a medium of exchange.
question
What "backs" the money supply?
answer
1. Money as debt (paper money - FR, checkable deposits - commercial banks and thrift institutions) 2. Value of money (acceptability, legal tender, relative scarcity) 3. Money and prices (purchasing power, inflation/acceptability) 4. Stabilization of money's value (fiscal, monetary policy)
question
Total money demand (Dm)
answer
The total amount of money the public wants to hold at each possible interest rate. 1. Transactions Demand -- medium of exchange, Dt = nominal GDP, assume vertical (independent of interest rate) 2. Asset Demand -- store of value, depends on interest rate (when ir is low, more assets; when ir is high, less assets)
question
Advantages of holding money
answer
1. Liquidity -- most usable in making purchases 2. Lack of risk (ex: when price of bond falls, bondholder who sells the bond will suffer a loss, but money doesn't have that) *Money is attractive when prices of goods, services, and other financial assets are expected to decline
question
Disadvantage of holding money
answer
1. Does not earn interest
question
Supply of money
answer
Vertical because govt provided economy with a particular stock of money.
question
Functions of the Federal Reserve Bank
answer
1. Issuing currency 2. Setting serve requirements and holding reserves 3. Lending money to banks and thrifts. 4. Providing for check collection (adjusts the reserves of the two banks) 5. Acting as a fiscal agent for the government 6. Supervising banks 7. controlling the money supply
question
Balance sheet
answer
Statement of assets and claims on assets that summarizes the financial position of the bank at a certain time. Assets = liabilities + net worth
question
Fractional reserve banking system
answer
Only a fraction of the total money supply is held in reserve as currency. (What the US has) Characteristics: 1. Money creation through lending, which is limited by reserves that the banks have to keep 2. Vulnerable to panics or runs
question
Vault cash
answer
Cash held by a bank; till money. Part of the reserves.
question
Change in the composition of the money supply
answer
When a checkable deposit is deposited into a bank.
question
Required reserves
answer
Amount of funds equal to a specified percentage of the bank's own deposit liabilities. Must keep these reserves on deposit. Includes vault cash. *Used to control the lending ability of commercial banks
question
Reserve ratio
answer
Required reserves ÷ checkable deposits
question
Excess reserves
answer
Actual reserves - required reserves
question
Change in the total supply of money
answer
When a bank lends it creates money. When a loan is paid off, money is destroyed. When the bank buys bonds, money is created. When the bank sells bonds, money is destroyed.
question
What is the maximum a bank can lend?
answer
Only an amount equal to its initial preloan excess reserves.
question
Federal funds rate
answer
The interest rate paid on overnight loans from bank to bank. (To keep the required reserves)
question
Bank's two conflicting goals
answer
Profit (wants to loan) vs. Liquidity/safety (need cash/reserves)
question
Monetary multiplier
answer
Exists because the reserves and deposits lost by one bank become reserves of another bank. magnifies excess reserves into a larger creation of checkable-deposit money. m = 1 ÷ reserve ratio
question
Maximum amount of NEW money created
answer
Excess reserves • money multiplier
question
Total money supply (equation)
answer
Excess reserves • money multiplier + initial deposit
question
Leakages of the money multiplier
answer
1.) Currency drains -- borrower might request that part of his or her loan be paid in currency, or might ask bank to redeem check in currency --> decreases excess reserves 2.) Excess reserves -- bank might put more in reserves
question
Open-market operations
answer
Buying of selling bonds to banks/public *Most important instrument for influencing the money supply
question
When happens when the Fed buys bonds from commercial banks?
answer
1. Commercial bank gives up securities to Fed. 2. Fed "pays" for the securities by increasing the reserves of the commercial banks. *Increases reserves, increases lending ability
question
When happens when the Fed buys bonds from the public?
answer
1. Person gives up securities to Fed, gets a check drawn by the Fed. 2. Person deposits check in a commercial bank. 3. Commercial bank sends this check to the Fed, commercial bank reserves increase *Increases reserves, increases lending ability
question
Difference between Fed buying bonds from banks and from public
answer
1. Bank -- increase the actual reserves and excess reserves of commercial banks by the ENTIRE amount of the bond purchases 2. Public -- increase checkable deposits, but then the reserve requirement makes the excess reserves less *Buying bonds from banks = more lending ability
question
What happens when the Fed sells bonds to commercial banks?
answer
1. Fed gives up securities to the comm banks. 2. Comm bank pays by having the Fed decrease the comm bank's reserves.
question
What happens when the Fed sells bonds to the public?
answer
1. Fed gives securities to person, person pays with a check drawn on a comm bank. 2. Fed clears this check by reducing comm bank's reserves. 3. Comm bank reduces person's checkable deposits.
question
Difference between Fed selling bonds from banks and from public.
answer
1. Bank -- reduces the system's actual and excess reserves by the entire amount 2. Public -- decreases excess reserves less than ^ because of the reserve requirement
question
How does changing the reserve ratio affect the money-creating ability of the banking system?
answer
1. Changes the amount of excess reserves 2. Changes the monetary multiplier.
question
Discount rate
answer
Interest rate charged on loans from the Fed to comm banks.
question
Easy money policy
answer
Buy securities, lower the reserve ratio, lower the discount rate
question
Tight money policy
answer
Sell securities, increase the reserve ratio, raise the discount rate
question
Easy money policy cause-effect chain
answer
Problem: unemployment and recession Fed buys bonds, ER increase, MS increase, NIR decrease, INV increase, AD increase, RGDP increase
question
Tight money policy cause-effect chain
answer
Problem: inflation Fed sells bonds, ER decrease, MS decrease, IR increase, INV decrease, AD decrease, Inflation declines
question
Problems and complications of monetary policy
answer
1. Lags (recognition and operational) 2. Changes in velocity of money 3. Cyclical asymmetry
question
Velocity of money
answer
the number of times per year the average dollar is spend on goods and services MV = PQ
question
Net exports effect (monetary policy)
answer
Easy money: lower interest rate, decreased foreign demand for dollars, dollar appreciates, net exports increase Tight money: higher interest rate, increased foreign demand for dollars, dollars depreciates, net exports decrease
question
Monetary policy and trade balance
answer
Corrects a balance-of-trade deficit/surplus Easy money: recession = deficit, net exports effect = more exports, no more deficit Tight money: inflation = surplus, net exports effect = less exports, no more surplus
question
Demand-pull inflation (extended version)
answer
AD increase, PL increase, (in the long run...) nominal wages increase, PUPC increase, SRAS decrease -- straight up inflation
question
Cost-push inflation (extended version)
answer
AS decrease, AD increase (fiscal policy) -- straight up inflation AS decrease, AD stays (govt does nothing), nominal wages fall PUPC decrease, SRAS increase
question
Recession (extended versoin)
answer
AD decrease, PL falls, nom wages decrease, PUPC decrease, SRAS increase
question
Aggregate supply shock on the Philips curve
answer
Shift outward to the right
question
Why is there no long-run trade off between inflation and unemployment?
answer
If AD is beyond full-employment, then profits, output, and employment may temporarily increase. AD pulls up PL. In long run, nominal wages increase, profits fall, SRAS decreases.
question
Long-run Philips curve
answer
Vertical because no trade off between unemployment and inflation. Any rate of inflation is consistent with the 5 percent natural rate of unemployment.
question
Disinflation
answer
Reductions in the inflation rate.
question
What happens when the actual rate of inflation is lower than the expected rate?
answer
Profits temporarily fall, unemployment rate temporarily rises.
question
Supply-side economics
answer
AS is the active force in determining the levels of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Focus on marginal tax rates (recommend lower tax rates).
question
Taxes and incentives to work
answer
Lower taxes, encourage saving and investing, more technology, labor productivity rises, LRAS expands, keeps unemployment and inflation low
question
Laffer curve
answer
Depicts the relationship between tax rates and tax revenues. Higher tax rates don't always equal more revenue.