[FULL ACCESS] Economic Principles and Applications

This assignment covers various economic topics, including GDP, national savings, investment, and unemployment. It provides a comprehensive understanding of economic principles, their applications, and real-world implications. The assignment includes questions on budget deficits, interest rates, investments, and economic growth, as well as explanations of frictional unemployment and structural unemployment among teenagers and college graduates.

Business Economics (BEO6600)
STRUCTURED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT SET (4)
CHAPTER 33 AD-AS, QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 3, 5 & 6
QUESTION 3
List and explain the three reasons the aggregate demand curve slopes downward.
The aggregate demand curve slopes downward for three reasons:
1. The inflation rate and consumption: the wealth effect
2. The inflation rate and investment: the interest-rate effect
3. The inflation rate and net exports: the exchange-rate effect.
1. The inflation rate and consumption: the wealth effect
When the price level increases, the real value of money reduces and makes consumer
poorer. It also reduces the quantity of goods and services demanded as the consumer
spending decreases because of the rise in the price level. Likewise, when the price
level decreases, the real value money increase and makes consumers better off. As a
result they spend more on goods and services which means goods and services
demanded rises.
2. The inflation rate and investment: the interest-rate effect
When the price level increases, more money is needed to make purchases and pay for
inputs. The increased demand for it will drive up its price, the rate of interest. These
higher rates will decrease the buying of goods with borrowed money, thus decreasing
the amount of real output demanded. A lower price level reduces the interest rate,
encourages greater spending on investment goods, and thereby increases the quantity
of goods and services demanded.
3. The inflation rate and net exports: the exchange-rate effect
As the United States’ price level rises relative to other countries, Americans will buy
more abroad in preference to their own output. At the same time foreigners, finding
American goods and services relatively more expensive, will decrease their buying of
American exports. Thus, with increased imports and decreased exports, American net
exports decrease and so, therefore, does the quantity demanded of American real
output. When a fall in the United States’ price level causes U.S. interest rates to fall,
the real value of the dollar declines in foreign exchange markets. With this
depreciation, U.S. net exports rises and thereby increases the quantity of goods and
services demanded.
QUESTIONS 5
List and explain the three theories for why the short run aggregate supply curve slopes
upward.
The aggregate-supply curve shows the quantity of goods and services that firms choose to
produce and sell at each inflation rate. Following theories explain why the short run
aggregate supply curve slopes upward.
1. The new classical misperceptions theory
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Misperceptions about relative prices caused due to a lower price level. It results in
suppliers to decrease the quantity of goods and services supplied in order to respond
the lower price level.
2. The Keynesian sticky-wage theory
A lower price level makes employment and production less profitable because wages
do not adjust immediately to the price level, so firms reduce the quantity of goods and
services supplied;
3. The new Keynesian sticky-price theory
Firms with higher-than-desired prices effect due to an unexpected fall in the price
because not all prices adjust immediately to changing conditions. This will results in
reduce sales and induces firms to reduce the quantity of goods and services they
produce.
QUESTIONS 6
What might shift the aggregate-demand curve to the left? Use the model of aggregate
demand and aggregate supply to trace through the short-run and long-run effects of
such a shift on output and the price level.
Situations when aggregate Demand Curve shifts to the left:
1. Changes in Consumption: Aggregate Demand curve shifts to the left when an event
that causes consumers to spend less at a given price level such as people desire to
increase saving.
2. Changes in Investment: Aggregate Demand curve shifts left when an event causes
firms to invest less at a given price. This might be increase in interest rate due to
decreasing money Supply. For example: increased taxes on the returns to investment.
3. Changes in government purchases: when decrease in government purchases on goods
and services shift aggregate demand curve to the left like a cutback in defence
spending.
4. Changes in net export: aggregate demand curve shifts left when an event that reduces
spending on government net exports at a given price level. This could be due to a
recession in overseas and speculation that causes an exchange rate.
The diagram below shows the trace through the short run and long run effects of such a shift
on aggregate demand. The economy starts at equilibrium at point E1, intersecting short run
AS1 and AD1. When the Aggregate demand curve shifts to the left to AD2, the economy
moves from E1 to E2 with reducing price level and quantity of output. During this period
people try to adjust their perceptions, wages, and prices, shifting the short-run aggregate
supply curve down to AS2 and moving the economy from point E2 to point E3, which is
again back on the long-run aggregate supply curve and has a lower price level.
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CHAPTER 33PROBLEMS AND APPLICATION: 1, 2 & 8
QUESTION 1
Suppose the economy is in a long-run equilibrium.
a. Draw a diagram to illustrate the state of the economy. Be sure to show aggregate
demand, short-run aggregate supply, and long-run aggregate supply.
b. Now suppose that a stock market crash causes ag- aggregate demand to fall. Use
your diagram to show what happens to output and the price level in the short
run. What happens to the unemployment rate?
c. Use the sticky-wage theory of aggregate supply to explain what will happen to
output and the price level in the long run (assuming there is no change in policy).
What role does the expected price level play in this adjustment? Be sure to
illustrate your analysis in a graph.
a) Figure below illustrates the state of the economy. The aggregate demand, short-run
aggregate supply and the long-run aggregate supply curve is clearly marked on the
graph. The aggregate demand and short-run aggregate supply curve intersect at the
same point on the long-run aggregate supply curve.
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b) A stock market crash causes aggregate demand to shift left from AD1 to AD2 in the
short run. The equilibrium level of output and price level will fall from point A to B to
in the short run as shown in the diagram. When output is less than the natural rate of
employment, the unemployment rises.
c) In the long run, if the cost of labour remains unchanged with the fall in the price level,
production will be less profitable and firms hires fewer workers and reduces the
quantity of output supplied. Overtime, the short-run aggregate supply curve shift to
the right, moving the economy back to the natural rate of output as shown in the
diagram.
QUESTION 2
Explain whether each of the following events will increase, decrease, or have no effect
on long-run aggregate supply.
a. The United States experiences a wave of immigration.
b. Congress raises the minimum wage to $10 per hour.
c. Intel invents a new and more powerful computer chip.
d. A severe hurricane damages factories along the East Coast.
a. Long-run aggregate supply increases as the labor force increases.
b. Long-run aggregate supply decreases as the rate of unemployment rises.
c. Long-run aggregate supply increases as more output can be produced with the same
inputs.
d. Long-run aggregate supply decreases as the capital stock is smaller.
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QUESTION 8
Explain whether each of the following events shifts the short-run aggregate-supply
curve, the aggregate- demand curve, both, or neither. For each event that does shift a
curve, draw a diagram to illustrate the effect on the economy.
a. Households decide to save a larger share of their income.
When households decide to save a larger share of their income, they have to control
and reduce their spending on Consumer goods. So the aggregate demand curve shifts
to the left from AD1 to AD2 and both price and quantity decreased. Therefore the
equilibrium price change from E1 to E2. This is shown in the diagram below.
b. Florida orange groves suffer a prolonged period of below-freezing temperatures.
When Florida orange groves suffer a prolonged period of below freezing temperature,
the orange harvest will decreased. Therefore supply of orange decreased and supply
curve shifts to the left from AS1 to AS2 in the short run. The price increased and
quantity decreased. So the equilibrium price change from E1 to E2. This can be seen
in the following diagram.
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c. Increased job opportunities overseas cause many people to leave the country.
When job opportunities increased in overseas causes many people to leave country, so
aggregate demand decrease due to less number of consumers in market. In the short
run, aggregate Supply will also decrease due to the less number of producers in the
market. Therefore the aggregate demand Curve shifts to the left from AD1 to AD2
and Aggregate Supply curve also shifts to the left from AS1 to AS2. As a result the
output level decline in the market. The price levels changes depends on the changes of
aggregate demand and Short run aggregate supply curve. This can be seen in the
diagram below.
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CHAPTER 34 MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICY, QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 2,
4 & 5
QUESTION 2
Use the theory of liquidity preference to explain how a decrease in the money supply
affects the aggregate demand curve.
As shown in Panel (a), a decrease in the money supply shifts the money-supply curve to the
left from MS1 to MS2, rises the equilibrium interest rates from r1to r2.Because interest rate is
the cost of borrowing, increase in the interest rates falls the quantity of goods and services
demanded at a given price level frim Y1 to Y2. Thus, in panel (b), the aggregate-demand
curve shifts to the left from AD1 to AD2.
Panel (a)
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Panel (b)
QUESTION 4
Suppose that survey measures of consumer confidence indicate a wave of pessimism is
sweeping the country. If policymakers do nothing, what will happen to aggregate
demand? What should the Fed do if it wants to stabilize aggregate demand? If the Fed
does nothing, what might Congress do to stabilize aggregate demand?
Aggregate demand will fall as households’ consumption spending reduced and firms’
investments reduced. To induce households to save less and spend more, Fed must increase
the money supply and reduce the interest rate. When households’ spending increase, it will
encourage firms to invest more, both of which will increase aggregate demand and stabilize
it. To increase aggregate demand Congress could increase government purchases or reduce
taxes if the Fed does not increase the money supply.
QUESTION 5
Give an example of a government policy that acts as an automatic stabilizer. Explain
why the policy has this effect.
One of the example of a government policy that acts as an automatic Stabilizer is the
Unemployment benefits system. This policy has the effects, because the government spends
through unemployment system when the economy goes into the recession. Government
transfers money to the unemployed peoples. This increases in government spending
stimulates aggregate demand at exactly the time when aggregate demand is insufficient to
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maintain full employment. As a result, their (unemployed) income and spending do not fall
much during this period.
CHAPTER 34 PROBLEMS AND APPLICATION: 1, 2 & 8
QUESTION 1
Explain how each of the following developments would affect the supply of money, the
demand for money, and the interest rate. Illustrate your answers with diagrams.
a. The Fed’s bond traders buy bonds in open-market operations.
b. An increase in credit-card availability reduces the cash people hold.
c. The Federal Reserve reduces banks’ reserve requirements.
d. Households decide to hold more money to use for holiday shopping.
e. A wave of optimism boosts business investment and expands aggregate demand.
a) As show in figure 1, the money-supply curve shifts to the right from MS1 to MS2 when
Fed’s bond traders buy bonds in open-market operations. As a result the interest rate
declines from r1 to r2.
Figure 1
b) The money-demand curve shifts to the left from MD1 to MD2 when an increase in credit-
card availability reduces the cash people hold. This results in the decrease in the interest
rate from r1to r2. These effects are shown in the below figure 2.
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Figure 2
c) The money-supply curve shifts to the right from MS1 to MS2 when the Federal Reserve
reduces the bank’s reserve requirements because the money supply increases with this. As
a result, the interest rate declines from r1 to r2. These effects are shown in the figure 3.
Figure 3
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d) As shown in figure 4, the money-demand curve shifts to the right from MD1 to MD2
when households decide to hold more money to use for holiday shopping. The result is a
rise in the interest rate from r1 to r2.
Figure 4
e) A wave of optimism boosts business investment and expands aggregate demand causes an
increase in money demand from MD1 to MD2 as shown in figure 5. The increase in
money demand results in the increase in interest rate from r1to r2.
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Figure 5
QUESTION 2
The Federal Reserve expands the money supply by 5 percent.
a. Use the theory of liquidity preference to illustrate in a graph the impact of this
policy on the interest rate.
The following Figure 6 shows that the increase in the money supply will cause the
equilibrium interest rate to decline. The following Figure 7 shows that the aggregate demand
curve shifts to the right as households will increase spending and will invest in more new
housing. Firms also will increase investment spending.
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Figure 7Figure 6

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b. Use the model of aggregate demand and aggregate supply to illustrate the impact of
this change in the interest rate on output and the price level in the short run.
The above Figure 7 shows that the increase in aggregate demand results in an increase in both
output and the price level in the short run.
c. When the economy makes the transition from its short-run equilibrium to its long-
run equilibrium, what will happen to the price level?
When the economy makes the transition from its short-run equilibrium to its long-run
equilibrium, short-run aggregate supply will fall and results in the price level to increase
more.
d. How will this change in the price level affect the demand for money and the
equilibrium interest rate?
The demand for money will increase and raise the equilibrium interest rate due to increase in
the price level.
e. Is this analysis consistent with the proposition that money has real effects in the
short-run but is neutral in the long-run?
Money has real effects in the short-run but is neutral in the long-run. When increase in
aggregate demand the output will initially raise and it will fall once short-run aggregate
supply declines. Therefore, real output has no effect in the long-run by increase in the money
supply.
QUESTION 8
Suppose the government reduces taxes by $20 billion, that there is no crowding out, and
that the marginal propensity to consume is ¾.
a. What is the initial effect of the tax reduction on aggregate demand?
The initial effect of the tax reduction on AD is increasing AD by $15 billion
($20 x 3
4 =$ 15 ¿ .
b. What additional effects follow this initial effect? What is the total effect of the
tax cut on aggregate demand?
The additional effects follows this initial effects as the added income are spent. So it
increases the consumption spending of $11.25 billion ($15 x 3
4 =$ 11.25 ¿ . In the next
time, AD also increases consumption by $8.44 billion ($11.25 x 3
4 =$ 8.44 ¿.
Therefore this result will have continues effect. By adding up all the tax gives a total
effect. But this depends on the multiplier effect. At this unit of marginal propensity to
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consume ( 3
4 ), the multiplier effect would be 4 {1 / (1- 3
4 ¿}. So the total effect would
be $60 billion ($15 x 4 = $60).
c. How does the total effect of this $20 billion tax cut compare to the total effect of a
$20 billion increase in government purchases? Why?
Government spending creates a bigger effect on the output than a tax cut. This
different arises because government spending effects Aggregate demand by full
amount of total effect on the government purchase of $80 billion ($20 x 4), but this
tax cut is saved by the consumers. In conclusion, government purchases have bigger
effect on output than a tax cut.
d. Based on your answer to part (c), can you think of a way in which the
government can increase aggregate demand without changing the government’s
budget deficit?
Increasing Government spending will increases aggregate demand effect. But the
government could increase taxes as the same amount it increases purchase. In this
way, government can increase aggregate demand without changing the government’s
budget deficit.
CHAPTER 26 THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 3, 4 & 6
QUESTION 3
What is national saving? What is private saving? What is public saving? How are these
three variables related?
National saving refers to the total income in the economy that remains after paying for
consumption and government purchases. Private saving is the income that households have
left after paying for taxes and consumption. The tax revenue that the government has left
after paying for its spending is called public saving. National saving is the sum of private
saving and public saving. This is how these variables are related to each other.
National Saving can be written in either ways;
S= Y – C – G or S= (Y –T – C) + (T – G).
The second equation separates national saving in to two pieces:
Private saving (Y – T – C) and public saving (T – G).
The above equations explains the relationship between national saving, public saving and
private saving.
QUESTION 4
What is investment? How is it related to national saving in a closed economy?
In economics investment means the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are
used in the future to create wealth. A closed economy is when a country has everything that
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consumer needed within the country or self-sufficient and does not engage in international
trading.
Because a closed economy does not engage in international trade, imports and exports are
exactly zero. Therefore, net exports (NX) are also zero. In this case, we can write
Y =C + I + G
This equation states that GDP is the sum of consumption, investment, and government
purchases. Each unit of output sold in a closed economy is consumed, invested, or bought by
the government. To see what this identity can tell us about financial markets, subtract C and
G from both sides of this equation. We obtain
Y -C –G= I
The left side of this equation (Y-C-G) is the total income in the economy that remains after
paying for consumption and government purchases: This amount is called national saving, or
just saving, and is denoted by S. Substituting S for Y - C - G, we can write the last equation
as
S = I
This equation states that saving equals investment. Saving-investment identity states that
saving is always equal to investment whether the economy is a closed.
QUESTION 6
What is a government budget deficit? How does it affect interest rates, investment, and
economic growth?
Budget deficit refers to a shortfall of tax revenue from government spending. In other words,
government expenditure is higher than government revenue.
Budget deficit effects to the Interest rate. When a country faces budget deficit leads to
increase the demand for loanable funds to recover the deficit. So increase in loanable funds
increases the interest rate as well.
Budget deficit effects to the Investment: Investment would be expensive when a country
faces budget deficit and this reduces the total investment of the country.
Budget deficit effects to the economic growth of the country. When a country faces budget
deficit, the total investment decrease and Government has to borrow funds from other
financial institutions. Therefore decreases in investments and government revenue leads to
decrease of an economic growth.
CHAPTER 28 UNEMPLOYMENT QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 1, 3 & 4
QUESTION 1
What are the three categories into which the Bureau of Labor Statistics divides
everyone? How does the BLS compute the labor force, the unemployment rate, and the
labor-force participation rate?
Bureau of Statistics divides everyone that is each adult of 16 years of age and above under
three categories. They are;
1. Employed
2. Unemployed and
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3. Not in the labour force
They compute labour force by the sum of the employed and the unemployed.
Labor force = Number of employed+ Number of unemployed.
The unemployment rate is the percentage is the percentage of the labour force that is
unemployed.
Unemployment rate = Number of unemployed/Labor force × 100
The labor-force participation rate is the percentage of the total adult population that is in the
labor force.
Labor-force participation rate = Labor Force/Adult population × 100
QUESTION 3
Why is frictional unemployment inevitable? How might the government reduce the
amount of frictional unemployment?
Frictional unemployment is the unemployment which always present in the economy,
resulting due to people being in the process of moving from one job to another. It is
inevitable because the economy is always changing. Some firms are growing while others are
dwindling. Some regions are growing faster than the other regions. Temporary
unemployment goes with the switches of employees between firms and regions.
Frictional unemployment can be reduced by the government through public policies
that provide information about job vacancies and public training programs. Public policies
could help to match workers and jobs more quickly and training programs could help ease the
transition of workers from declining to expanding industries.
QUESTION 4
Are minimum-wage laws a better explanation for structural unemployment among
teenagers or among college graduates? Why?
Minimum-wage laws are a better explanation for structural unemployment among teenagers.
Because teenagers have fewer job-related knowledge and skills when they left the college or
school and they are totally fresh in work experience in the early days of their carrier. So their
wages are low enough to be affected by the minimum wage. By looking at the College
graduates', their wages generally exceed the minimum wage. Because their knowledge, skills
and experience are much higher than teenagers.
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