Deck 16: A: Long-Run Macroeconomic Adjustments

Question 1

What is the Phillips Curve? What concept does it illustrate?

Answer 1

The Phillips Curve shows the relationship between the unemployment rate and the rate of inflation.The relationship is an inverse one, so there is a short-run tradeoff between the unemployment rate and the rate of inflation.For example, if the unemployment rate increases by 1% then the inflation rate might decline by.5%.The concept was developed by A.W.Phillips in Great Britain based on empirical observation of the relationship between unemployment and inflation in that nation.Modern economists reject the idea of a stable, predictable Phillips Curve, although many economists do agree that there is a short-run tradeoff between unemployment and inflation.

Question 2

Describe the characteristics of the long-run aggregate supply curve.Explain how changes in the price level affect the short-run aggregate supply curve and the long-run aggregate supply curve.

Answer 2

The long-run aggregate supply curve will be vertical at the full-employment level of output.Changes in the price level will not affect the full-employment level of output in the long-run.Changes in the short-run aggregate supply curve will define the long-run aggregate supply curve at the full-employment level of output.
With the short-run aggregate supply curve, as the price level increases from the full-employment level of output along the curve, revenues to the firm increase because nominal wages are fixed, and the profits for firms will rise.Firms will have an incentive to increase output and employment (hiring temporary or part-time workers or paying for overtime), so real GDP will increase and unemployment will fall below its natural rate.This situation is a short-run one because nominal wages (and other input prices) will eventually increase and shift the short-run aggregate supply curve to the left.The new equilibrium will return to the full-employment level of output, but at a higher price level.
Conversely, as the price level decreases from the full-employment level of output, revenues to the firm decrease and because nominal wages are fixed, the profits for firms will decrease.Firms will have an incentive to decrease output and employment, so real GDP will decrease and employment will fall below its natural rate.This situation is a short-run one because nominal wages (and other input prices) will eventually decrease and shift the short-run aggregate supply curve to the right.The new equilibrium will return to the full-employment level of output, but at a lower price level.

Question 3

If the Phillips Curve exists in reality, what dilemma does this create for fiscal and monetary policies? Explain.

Answer 3

The dilemma is that an expansionary fiscal and monetary policy aimed at reducing unemployment may cause inflation, and vice versa for policies aimed at reducing inflation.If there truly is a trade-off, then successful elimination of unemployment cannot be accomplished without the creation of inflation; likewise, stable prices occur only in the presence of some unemployment.

Question 4

Explain what happens in the long-run aggregate demand-aggregate supply model when there is a recession.Assume that the economy is initially at the full-employment level of real GDP.

Question 5

What is the basic difference between the short run and long run as these terms relate to macroeconomics? Why does this difference occur?

Question 6

What contributed to stagflation's demise between 1982 and 1989? How did these events affect aggregate supply and the Phillips Curve?

Question 7

(a) Using a graph showing aggregate demand, short-run aggregate supply, and long-run aggregate supply, illustrate an economy that faces an inflationary gap. (b) Explain how the inflationary gap can be eliminated and evaluate the possibilities.

Question 8

What is the long-run equilibrium in the aggregate demand-aggregate supply model?

Question 9

Describe the process that occurs with demand-pull inflation in the long-run aggregate demand-aggregate supply model.Assume that the economy is initially at the full-employment level of real GDP.

Question 10

Describe the characteristics of the short-run aggregate supply curve.Explain what happens to: (1) nominal wages; (2) real wages profits as the price level increases from the full-employment level of output.Then explain what happens to these variables as the price level decreases from the full-employment-level of output.

Question 11

Explain the Phillips Curve concept and construct an example of the curve on the below graph.

Question 12

Differentiate between "demand-pull" and "cost-push" inflation using the aggregate demand-aggregate supply model.

Question 13

What is stagflation and what was one of its causes in the 1970s and early 1980s?

Question 14

Describe cost-push inflation in the long-run aggregate demand-aggregate supply model.Explain the policy dilemma for government policy if no action is taken and if monetary and fiscal policies are used to counter the cost-push inflation.Assume that the economy is initially at the full-employment level of real GDP.

Question 15

Suppose the potential level of real GDP for a hypothetical economy is $160 and the price level (P) initially is 200.Use the following short-run aggregate supply schedules to answer the questions. (a) What will be the short-run level of real GDP if the price level rises unexpectedly from 200 to 210 because of an increase in aggregate demand? Falls unexpectedly from 200 to 190 because of a decrease in aggregate demand? Explain each situation.(b) What will be the long-run level of real GDP when the price level rises from 200 to 210? Falls from 200 to 190? Explain each situation.

Question 16

Suppose the potential level of real GDP for a hypothetical economy is $250 and the price level (P) initially is 100.Use the following short-run aggregate supply schedules below to answer the questions. (a) What will be the short-run level of real GDP if the price level rises unexpectedly from 100 to 110 because of an increase in aggregate demand? Falls unexpectedly from 100 to 90 because of a decrease in aggregate demand? Explain each situation.(b) What will be the long-run level of real GDP when the price level rises from 100 to 110? Falls from 100 to 90? Explain each situation.

Question 17

If the long-run supply curve is fixed in place, can there be persistent inflation?

Question 18

What are three significant generalizations regarding the inflation-unemployment relationship that are supported by results from the long-run AD-AS model?

Question 19

In general, the Canadian economy has experienced ongoing inflation.Explain how this is possible.

Question 20

(a) Using a graph showing aggregate demand, short-run aggregate supply, and long-run aggregate supply, illustrate an economy that faces a recessionary gap. (b) Explain how the recessionary gap can be eliminated and evaluate the possibilities.

Question 21

Why is the difference between the actual and expected rates of inflation important for explaining falling inflation?

Question 22

What is the Laffer Curve? Explain the relationship that is shown in the curve.

Question 23

What are three severe criticisms of the Laffer Curve?

Question 24

Compare and contrast the short-run Phillips Curve and the long-run Phillips Curve.

Question 25

Explain the basic arguments for supply-side economics.

Question 26

Why is the difference between the actual and expected rates of inflation important for explaining rising inflation?

Question 27

Using the Sherwood Forest example from the text, explain the Laffer curve.

Question 28

Answer the questions based on the following diagram. (a) Assume the economy is initially at point B1 and there is an increase in aggregate demand, which results in a 4% increase in prices.Describe the short-run and long-run outcomes that would result in this economy.(b) Assume the economy is initially at point B2, and there is an increase in aggregate demand.What will happen in the economy? Explain, using the graph.(c) Based on this diagram, what would the prediction be for the natural (full-employment) rate of unemployment?