After reading this chapter, you should be able to: Interpret how macroeconomics studies both long-run economic growth and short-run fluctuations in output and unemployment; explain why economists focus on GDP, inflation, and unemployment when assessing the health of an entire economy; discuss why sustained increases in living standards are a historically recent phenomenon; identify why saving and investment are key factors in promoting rising living standards. | An Introduction to Macroeconomics . McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2012 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Performance and Policy Real GDP Corrects for price changes Nominal GDP Uses current prices Unemployment Inflation Increase in overall level of prices LO1 6- Performance and Policy Can governments: Promote economic growth? Reduce severity of recession? Is monetary or fiscal policy more effective at mitigating recession? Is there a tradeoff between inflation and unemployment? Is anticipated or unanticipated government policy more effective? LO2 Performance and Policy Output growth per year 1995-2007 Unemployment rate in 2007 Inflation rate in 2007 LO2 Modern Economic Growth Standard of living measured by output per person No growth in living standards prior to Industrial Revolution Modern economic growth Output per person rises Not experienced by all countries LO3 Global Perspective LO3 Savings and Investment Saving Trade-off current for future consumption Investment Financial investment Economic investment Banks and financial institutions LO4 Uncertainty, Expectations, and Shocks The future is uncertain Expectations affect investment Shocks What happens is not what you expected Demand shocks Supply shocks LO5 Uncertainty, Expectations, and Shocks Demand shocks and flexible prices Price falls if demand is low Sales unchanged Demand shocks and sticky prices Maintain inventory Sales change Business cycles LO5 Demand Shocks Cars Per Week Price DM DL DH 900 $40,000 $37,000 $35,000 Flexible Prices LO5 Demand Shocks Cars Per Week DM DL DH 700 900 1150 $37,000 Fixed Prices Price LO5 Sticky Prices Many prices are sticky in the short run Consumers prefer stable prices Firms want to avoid price wars All prices are flexible in the long run Firms adjust to unexpected, but permanent changes in demand LO5 | An Introduction to Macroeconomics . McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2012 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Performance and Policy Real GDP Corrects for price changes Nominal GDP Uses current prices Unemployment Inflation Increase in overall level of prices LO1 6- Performance and Policy Can governments: Promote economic growth? Reduce severity of recession? Is monetary or fiscal policy more effective at mitigating recession? Is there a tradeoff between inflation and unemployment? Is anticipated or unanticipated government policy more effective? LO2 Performance and Policy Output growth per year 1995-2007 Unemployment rate in 2007 Inflation rate in 2007 LO2 Modern Economic Growth Standard of living measured by output per person No growth in living standards prior to Industrial Revolution Modern economic growth Output per person rises Not experienced by all countries LO3 Global Perspective LO3 Savings and Investment Saving Trade-off current for .
