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Notes for Midterm II

CH. 13: Aggregate Demand, Aggregate Supply and
                Inflation

aggregate demand & aggregate supply
 

AGGREGATE: a mass of distinct things gathered into a total or whole.
 

THEREFORE, Aggregate Demand (AD) is the sum of all consumers’ demand in all markets & Aggregate Supply (AS) is the sum of all producers’ supply in all markets.

The notion of AD & AS is within a macro context, but, they are based on the laws of demand & supply within a micro context.

The Law of Demand: P up, Qd down -- ceteris paribus.
                                    1. Society’s income
                                    2. Ps of other goods
                                    3. Tastes & preferences
                                    4. Expectations

 The Law of Supply: P up, Qs up -- ceteris paribus.
                                    1. changes in the price of inputs
                                    2. changes in technology
                                    3. changes in suppliers’ expectations
                                    4. changes in taxes & subsidies

AD: relation between aggregate Qd & the economy’s price level -- ceteris paribus.

HELD CONSTANT 1. Real interest rates
                                   2. Quantity of money
                                   3. Changes in the international value of the $
                                   4. Wealth
                                   5. Gov. Spending & taxes
                                   6. Expectations about the future
                                   7. Y & conditions affecting demand in foreign mkts

 

AS: relation between aggregate Qs & the price level -- ceteris paribus.

HELD CONSTANT 1. Availability & quality of inputs
                                   2. Institutional environment
                                   3.Technology
                                   4. Expectations
                                   5. Wage/price ratio

 


CH. 14: The Labor Market, Unemployment, and Inflation

            Long Run Classical AS curve

 

Keynesian Short Run AS cure

 

        The Integration of the Long & Short Run AS Curves

 
 

Price-flexibility curve

classical (laissez-fair, no government intervention) => neo => new
                            labor theory of value
keynesian (government ok in times of economic stress) => neo => new
 

DEBATE grew out of the Great Depression (GD) the classicals didn’t really have an answer for how we got there or how to get out

Classicals => Adam Smith--laissez-faire
                      self-adjusting long-run equilibrium

FIRST TENET OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL: if wages & prices are flexible then relative prices would adjust and excess inventories (unsold goods, a glut) would be cleared.  This self adjusting process would return the economy to its long-run equilibrium.

Then the level of supply must be at the full-employment, assuming...
                    1. Firms are price takers
                    2. Firms always produced at maximum output

The classicals explained U by saying rigidities held the wage  rate above E

Reason for Unemployment: wages are too high & they must fall


 

Classical Solution for the Depression: eliminate unions and government
                                                                 policy that keep wages high

the classicals argued against government intervention into the economy

the popular explanation of the people said,
            the government should hire the unemployed

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              Back in Time.........

J. B. Say (19th century) / made famous by Ricardo & Reagan

                        "Supply creates its own demand."
 

SECOND TENET OF THE CLASSICAL PARADIGM: AD = AS always
                    never a glut, according to Say's Law which is part of the
                    process of self-adjusting long-run equilibrium

Malthus disagreed ~ when people saved out of income this would create a leakage -- over supply / under consumption

Ricardo ~ S would be lent to others & used as investment
             i would fluctuate so S = I
therefore AD always = AS => cyclical U impossible
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THIRD TENET OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL:

QUANTITY THEORY OF MONEY    (mid 19th century)
The price level (gp) varies in response to the quantity of money

         MV = PQ
where,
             M = the money supply
             V = velocity
             P = the price level
             Q = quantity of real output

ASSUMPTIONS:
    1. V is constant
    2. Q autonomous (independent of the money supply)
    3. Direction of causation, Money Supply => Price Level

therefore, the price level would change in response to the Ms
                        M & P change proportionally

If M = $100 & V = 20 then

                            M x V = P x Q = 100 x 20 = $2000

*you could predict nominal GDP ( P x Q)

                            true by definition (tautology)

Reality 1990, V = 6.67 P x Q / M = 5.5 t / 825 b (ms) = 6.67

                    If the Ms grows by 10%, so will nominal GDP

classicals assumed real output was autonomous ~ determined by forces outside the quantity theory: productivity & labor force population

CONCLUSION: The Classical Aggregate Supply Curve

Veil of Money Assumption: Real Output (Q)  is independent of the money
                                               supply (M)

Therefore, there is a dichotomy between the real & monetary sectors

Based on intuitive logic, e.g., if your income doubled with all prices
                then nothing changed in terms of units purchased

                    direction of causation  M=>P
 

Classical prescription for the Depression,

            have faith & in the Long Run the economy will adjust

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CH. 8: Aggregate Expenditure & Equilibrium

                      Output


Keynes, "In the LR we’re all dead!"

Keynes agreed that flexible prices could achieve E at full employment, but, only in the long run. Yet, the real reasons for and how to get out of the GD were in the short run.

He asked, what if we were in disequilibrium?

if the veil of money assumption is true the Demand Curve is vertical too, because a change in the price level has no affect on the real economy
 

The Classical Response: Veil of Money assumption only in the LR
                                            changes in the price level affected AD in SR

 people with a fixed amount of money would buy more if prices fell
the wealthy & foreigners ( X up, M down)

In the SR AD curve sloped down & to the right / AS curve still vertical -- unaffected by the price level (suppliers are price takers & produce @ full employment, even w/ excess supply

Keynes shifted the debate to the short run...
                    he sought to investigate the short-run adjustment mechanism
                    as we move toward long-run equilibrium

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Keynes said Say’s Law was wrong -- Demand creates its own Supply! MALTHUS was right -- gluts could exist.
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the financial sector didn’t work fast enough translating Savings into Investment => S> I, then C is down & AD/AE (excess supply)

firms layoff, Y falls, C & S fall further => Y falls until finally S=I. Now E @ a lower level of Y below full employment.

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Keynes argued that in the GD the economy was in a glut & there was no way out unless the Gov. stepped in & provided the missing AD
_______________________________________________________________
 

John Maynard Keynes, "The General Theory Of Employment, Interest & Money," 1936

Keynes: price-level adjustment mechanism in the LR, only of academic interest
    PROBLEMS:
                            1. Works too slowly
                            2. Restrictive Institutional Structure
                                    a. Minimum Wage
                                    b. Fair Trade Laws

Look for SR problems

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Keynes looked at how PRODUCTION & EXPENDITURE decisions are made
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@ EQUILIBRIUM=> Planned Spending=Planned Output

                                                              (PS) = (PO)

what if they are not equal=> DISEQUILIBRIUM

        TWO CASES:
                                1. PS > PO
                                                            Inventories fall
                                upward     Firms hire
                                   spiral     Income rises

                                                       =>The economy expands

                                2. PS < PO
                                                            Inventories rise
                           downward     Firm’s layoff
                                   spiral     Income falls

                                                        =>The economy contracts

*in both cases we would settle @ a new E

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AGGREGATE PRODUCTION CURVE
                        AP = Y (real) along the 45 degree line

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THE CONSUMPTION FUNCTION

C = consumption => 2/3 of AD

                            therefore C is central to the Keynesian Model

C & S (savings) are components of disposable income (Yd)

                            Yd = C + S

when Yd goes up C goes up, but not by as much as the change in Yd => because some of the increase in Yd goes to S
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The Consumption Function:    Relationship between C & Yd

algebraically: C = C0 + b(Y-T) = C0 + bYd
    Where,
                b = mpc
                C = consumption expenditures
                Yd = Y(personal income) - T(taxes)
                C0 = autonomous consumption

    AUTONOMOUS CONSUMPTION:
                                                    independent of Yd=> exogenous
                                                    consumption if Yd = 0 (borrow or dissave)
 

b = mpc = DC / DYd

mps = DS / DYd

mpc + mps = 1

                     bYd = induced consumption or endogenous consumption
                    Ds in C from Ds in Yd

PLUG IN NUMBERS:
C = 1k  + .8Yd

                            Yd    =     C      +      S

                                 0    =       1k    +  (-1k)
                     1k   =       1.8k +  (-800)

                                2k   =       2.6k +  (-600)
                     3k   =       3.4k +  (-400)
                     4k   =       4.2k +  (-200)
                     5k   =       5k    +     (0)
                     6k   =  
        ?      +      ?
                     7k   =       ?      +      ?
                     8k   =       ?      +      ?
                     9k   =       ?      +      ?
                   10k   =       ?      +      ?

Confirm the slope:  b = mpc = DC / DYd

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THE AGGREGATE CONSUMPTION FUNCTION
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            GDP = AD = AE = Y = C + I + G + ( X - M )

the simple Keynesian Model, or AE Curve, or AE Model
                                    sometimes called the Keynesian Cross

 

ASSUMPTIONS:
                                1. Taxes = 0
                                2. Wages & Prices are fixed (problems in the 70s)

 Autonomous Expenditures =>

C0 + I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 )< = AE0
                    or
DC0 + DI0 + DG0 + ( DX0 - DM0 ) = DAE0
(this shifts the AE Curve)
one or all of the components could change this would DAE0


 

DISEQUILIBRIUM, when AE>AP

 

DISEQUILIBRIUM, when AP>AE

 
 
 

 Graphical Equilibrium

We can see equilibrium, visually, on a graph and verify it algebrically
                         by plugging in 20K for Y

AE=4K+.8(20K)
     = 20K
                but without the graph this process would not be as smooth
 

"OR" Algebraically using the Keynesian Equation
 

Y = C + I + G + ( X - M )
                                        Where, by substitution
                                                        C = C0 + bY
                                                         I = I0
                                                        G = G0
                                            ( X - M ) = ( X0 + M0 )

Y = C0 + bY + I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 )<     solve for Y

Y-bY =  C0 +  I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 )

Y(1-b) =  C0 +  I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 ) multiply both sides by (1/1-b),  then...

Y = ( 1 / 1-b ) [ C0 + I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 )]
        multiplier                        autonomous expenditure

SET     1/1-b = α   as above   C0 + I0 + G0 + ( X0 - M0 )< = AE0

The Keynesian Equation becomes:    Y = α AE0
     since the Keynesian Equation finds equilibrium, it may written as...
                                                                                             AE = α AE0
  given any two of the above variables lets you solve for the unknown
            Let's say you just want to find the DAE0, or, the DY...then
                                                              DY = α DAE0
                                                                       or
                                                              DAE = α DAE0
        α magnifies a DY resulting from a DAE0, because Y is respent

              if the change is positive the AE Curve shifts up
               if the change is negative the AE Curve shifts down

What causes shifts in the AE Curve?

C            1. Natural Disasters
               2. Expectations

I              1. Changes in i ( liquidity preference )
               2. Expectations
               3. Technology

G            1. Changes in Government Spending

( X - M )    1. Currency Values
               2. Productivity
               3. Income
 

Downturn => when Yd goes down C goes down, but not by as much as the change in Y.
 

Paradox of Thrift: S up, Y down => S down
 

shift in AS curve is movement along AP curve & when AS shifts it causes AD to shift

The shifts get progressively smaller until there is a new Equilibrium
 

Effective Demand

Interpretative vs. Mechanistic Keynesian Model
 

CH. 9, The Government &Fiscal Policy
 

 Initially Keyesian Economics suggested

             1. Government Spending (deficits)

                       LATER...

              2. Tax Policy
 

              3. Monetary Policy
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FISCAL POLICY (this chapter)
        1. Discretionary government spending policy
        2. Discretionary tax policy

*we’ll talk about discretionary monetary policy later

Keynes noticed that I dried up during the GD, leaving the economy @ an E @ less than potential output

        1. Recessionary Gap

graphically}

        2. Inflationary Gap
 

Keynes thought the government could step in & create a
COUNTERSHOCK

to close these gaps, this would affect autonomous expenditures,
shifting AE

         IN TERMS OF FISCAL POLICY:

Recessionary Gap=> expansionary fiscal policy

                                G up and/or T down
 

Inflationary Gap=> contractionary fiscal policy

                                G down and/or T up

*sometimes called Aggregate Demand Policy, *show t-58
 

According to the Keynesian equation--a small change would be amplified by the multiplier

        D Y=(1/1-b)[D Co+D Io+D Go+D (Xo-Mo)]

*y changed by a multiple of a change in autonomous expenditure

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In the previous chapter we assumed taxes were zero
            in this chapter we drop that assumption

         Taxes affect consumption by changes in Yd

                         C = Co + bYd = Co + b(Y-T)

                                         Taxes shift the AE curve up & down
 

Transfer payments:payments to individuals that are not a payment for goods or services

Transfer payments can also shift the AE curve up & down
 

With taxes the Keynesian equation becomes:

DY = (1/1-b) [D Co + D Io + D Go - bD To + D (Xo - Mo)]

            BUT, a change in G is different than a change in T
                        by -bD T *T is reduced by the fraction b, G is not

THEREFORE: to have an equivalent change in Y you must change T more than G

                  D Y = (1/1-b) D G

             D Y = (1/1-b) -bD T = -mpc/1-mpc D T

EXAMPLE: inflationary gap of a $1000 & the mpc = .8

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THE MULTIPLIER & REALITY = 2 or 2.5

        leakages=> savings, taxes & imports

1 / [ 1 - ( b + bt + mpm )] = 1 / mpe
 

where=> mpm = marginal propensity to import

Mpe = marginal propensity to expend
 

PROBLEMS WITH COUNTER CYCLICAL POLICY

or is it possible to fine tune the economy=> ?
            1. Lags in data collection
            2. Lags in implementation

ALTERNATIVES TO FISCAL POLICY
            1. rosy scenario
            2. Government guarantees
            3. Interest rates
            4. Trade Policy
                    a. Export-led growth
                    b. Exchange rates
            5. Autonomous Consumption Policy
                    a. Availability of credit

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 In reality T is dependent on Y

                    T = To + tY
this influences fiscal policy results
 

CROWDING OUT

        AUTOMATIC STABILIZERS
                                    1. Welfare payments
                                    2. U insurance
                                    3. Progressive income tax
*show t-62

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