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AP Macroeconomics Flashcards

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623632417Circular flowA model that shows how households and firms circulate resources, good, and incomes through the economy. This basic model is expanded to include the government and the foreign sector.
623632418Closed economyA model that assumes there is no foreign sector (imports and exports)
623632419AggregationThe process of summing the microeconomic activity of households and firms into a more macroeconomic measure of economic activity
623632420GDPThe market value of the final goods and services produced within a nation in a given period of time.
623632421Final goodsGoods that are ready for their final use by consumers and firms, e.g., a Ferrari
623632422Intermediate GoodsGoods that require further modification before they are ready for final use, e.g., steel used to make the Ferrari
623632423Double countingThe mistake of including the value of intermediate stages of production in GDP on top of the value of the final good
623632424Second-hand salesFinal goods and services that are resold; final goods can only be counted once so second-hand sales are not counted as part of GDP
623632425Nonmarket transactionsHousehold work or do-it-yourself jobs are missed by GDP accounting
623632426Aggregate Spending (GDP)The sum of all spending from four sectors of the economy; GDP = C + I + G + (X-M)
623632427Nominal GDPThe value of current production at the current prices. Valuing 2003 production with 2003 prices creates nominal GDP for 2003
623632428Aggregate Income (AI)The sum of all income earned by suppliers of resources in the economy. With some accounting adjustments, aggregate spending equals aggregate income
623632429Real GDPThe vale of current production, but using prices from a fixed point in time. Valuing 2003 production at 2002 prices creates real GDP in 2003 and allows us to compare it back to 2002
623632430Base yearThe year that serves as a reference point for constructing a price index and comparing real values over time
623632431Price IndexA measure of the average level of prices in a market basket for a given year when compared to the prices in a reference year. You can interpret the price index as the current price level as a percentage of the level in the base year.
623632432Market BasketA collection of goods and services used to represent what is consumed in the economy
623632433GDP Price DeflatorThe price index that measures the average price level of the goods and services that make up GDP
623632434Real rate of interestThe percentage increase in purchasing power that a borrower pays a lender
623632435Expected InflationThe inflation expected in a future time period. This expected inflation is added to the real interest rate to compensate for lost purchasing power
623632436Nominal rate of interestThe percentage increase in money that the borrower pays the lender and is equal to the real rate plus the expected inflation
623632437Consumer Price Index (CPI)The price index that measures the average price level of items in the base year market basket. This is the main measure of consumer inflation.
623632438InflationThe percentage change in the CPI from one period to the next
623632439Nominal IncomeToday's income measured in today's dollars. These are dollars unadjusted by inflation
623632440Real incomeToday's income measured in base year dollars. These inflation-adjusted dollars can be compared from year to year to determine whether purchasing power has increased or decreased.
623632441EmployedA person is employed if she has worked for pay at least one hour per week
623632442Frictional UnemploymentA type of unemployment that occurs when someone new enters the labor market or switches jobs. This is a relatively harmless form of unemployment and is not expected to last long.
623632443Seasonal UnemploymentUnemployment caused by seasonal changes in the demand for certain kinds of labor
623632444Structural UnemploymentUnemployment of workers whose skills are not demanded by employers, who lack sufficient skill to obtain employment, or who cannot easily move to locations where jobs are available
623632445Cyclical UnemploymentUnemployment caused by a contraction in aggregate demand or total spending in the economy. It rises and falls with the business cycle
623632446Disposable Income (DI)The income a consumer has left over or save once they have paid their taxes. DI = Y - T
623632447Consumption FunctionThe relationship between consumption spending and disposable income.
623632448Autonomous ConsumptionThe part of consumption that is independent of the level of disposable income; changes in autonomous consumption shift the consumption function up/down. It is the y intercept of the consumption graph
623632449Saving functionA linear relationship showing how increases in disposable income cause increases in saving
623632450DissavingSaving < 0, occurring at low levels of DI
623632451Autonomous SavingThe amount of saving that occurs no matter the level of DI
623632452Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC)The change in consumption caused by a change in DI, or the slope of the consumption function. MPC = dC / dDI
623632453Marginal Propensity to Save (MPS)The change in saving caused by a change in DI, or the slope of the consumption function. MPS = dS / dDI
623632454Determinants of Consumption and SavingFactors that shift the consumption and saving functions in the opposite direction are wealth, expectations, and household debt. The factors that change them in the same direction are taxes and transfers
623632455Expected real rate of return (r)The rate of real profit the firm anticipates receiving on investment expenditures. This is the marginal benefit of an investment project.
623632456Real rate of interest (i)The cost of borrowing to fund an investment. This is the marginal cost of an investment project.
623632457Decision to investA firm invests in projects so long as r ≥ i
623632458Investment demandThe inverse relationship between the real interest rate and the cumulative dollars invested. Like any demand curve, this is drawn with a negative slope.
623632459Autonomous investmentThe level of investment determined by investment demand, and is constant for all GDP
623632460Market for loanable fundsThe market for dollars that are available to be borrowed for investment projects. Equilibrium in this market is determined at the real interest rate where the dollars saved (supply) is equal to the dollars borrowed (demand)
623632461Demand for loanable fundsThe negative relationship between the real interest rate and the dollars invested by firms
623632462Private savingSaving conducted by households and the difference between disposable income and consumption
623632463Public savingSaving conducted by government and equal to the difference between tax revenue collected and spending on goods and services
623632464Supply of loanable fundsThe positive relationship between the dollars saved and the real interest rate
623632465Multiplier effectDescribes how a change in any component of aggregate expenditures creates a larger change in GDP
623632466Spending multiplierThe magnitude of the spending multiplier effect is calculated as (dGDP / dSpending) = 1/MPS = 1/(1-MPC)
623632467Tax multiplierThe magnitude of the effect that a change in taxes has on real GDP. Tm = (dGDP / dTaxes) = MPC*Multiplier = MPC/MPS
623632468Balanced-budget multiplierWhen a change in government spending is offset by a change in lump sum taxes, real GDP changes by the amount of the change in G; the balanced-budget multiplier is equal to one
623632469Aggregate Demand (AD)The inverse relationship between all spending on domestic output and the average price level of that output. AD measures the sum of consumption spending by households, investment spending by firms, government purchases of goods and services, and the net exports bought by foreign consumers
623632470Foreign sector substitution effectWhen the average price of U.S. output increases, consumers naturally begin to look for similar items produced elsewhere
623632471Interest rate effectIf the average price level rises, consumers and firms might need to borrow more money for spending and capital investment, which increases the interest rate and delays current consumption. This postponement reduces current consumption of domestic production as the price level rises.
623632472Wealth effectAs the average price level rises, the purchasing power of wealth and savings begins to fall. Higher prices therefore tend to reduce the quantity of domestic output purchased
623632473Determinants of ADAD is a function of the four components of domestic spending (C, I, G, (X-M)). If any of these components increases/decreases, holding the others constant, AD increases/decreases, or shifts to the right/left.
623632474Aggregate Supply (AS)The positive relationship between the level of domestic output produced and the average price level of that output
623632475Macroeconomic Short RunA period of time during which the prices of goods and services are changing in their respective markets, but the input prices have not yet adjusted to those changes in the product markets. During the short run, the AS curve has three stages - horizontal, upward sloping, and vertical.
623632476Macroeconomic long runA period of time long enough for input prices to have fully adjusted to market forces. In this period, all product and input markets are in a state of equilibrium and the economy is operating at full employment. Once all markets in the economy have adjusted and there exists this long-run equilibrium, the AS curve is vertical at GDPf.
623632477Determinants of ASAS is a function of many factors that impact the production capacity of the nation. If these factors make it easier, or less costly, for a nation to produce, AS shifts to the right, and vice versa.
623632478Macroeconomic EquilibriumOccurs when the real output demanded is equal to the quantity of real output supplied. Graphically this is at the intersection of AD and AS. Equilibrium can exist at, above, or below full employment.
623632479Recessionary GapThe amount by which full-employment GDP exceeds equilibrium GDP
623632480Inflationary GapThe amount by which equilibrium GDP exceeds full-employment GDP.
623632481Demand-Pull inflationThis inflation is the result of stronger consumption from all sectors of AD as it continues to increase in the upward sloping range of AS. The price level begins to rise and inflation is felt in the economy
623632482DeflationA sustained falling price level, usually due to weakened aggregate demand and a constant AS
623632483RecessionIn the AD and AS model, a recession is described as falling AD with a constant AS curve. Real GDP falls far below full employment levels and unemployment rate rises
623632484Supply-side boomWhen the AS curve shifts outward and the AD curve stays constant, the price level falls, real GDP increases, and the unemployment rate falls
623632485StagflationA situation in the macroeconomy when inflation and the unemployment rate are both increasing. This is most likely the cause of falling AS while AD stays constant
623632486Supply shocksA supply shock is an economy-wide phenomenon that affects the costs of firms, and the position of the AS curve, either positively or negatively
623632487Phillips CurveA curve showing the short-run relationship between the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. In the long run it is vertical at the natural rate of employment
623632488Fiscal PolicyDeliberate changes in government spending and net tax collection to affect economic output, unemployment, and the price level. Fiscal policy is typically designed to manipulate AD to "fix" the economy
623632489Expansionary Fiscal PolicyIncreases in government spending or lower net taxes meant to shift the aggregate expenditure function upward
623632490Contractionary Fiscal PolicyA decrease in government purchases, increase in net taxes, or some combination of the two aimed at reducing aggregate demand enough to return the economy to potential output without worsening inflation; fiscal policy used to close an expansionary gap
623632491Sticky PricesPrices that do not always adjust rapidly to maintain equality between quantity supplied and quantity demanded, especially with downward changes in AD
623632492Budget DeficitExists when government spending > tax revenue
623632493Budget SurplusExists when tax revenue > government spending
623632494Automatic StabilizersMechanisms built into the tax system that automatically regulate, or stabilize, the macroeconomy as it moves through the business cycle by changing net taxes collected by the government. These stabilizers increase a deficit during a recessionary period and increase a budget surplus during an inflationary period, without any discretionary change on the part of the government
623632495Crowding out effectWhen the government borrows funds to cover a deficit, the interest rate increases and households and firms are "crowded out" of the market for loanable funds. The resulting decrease in C and I dampens the effect of expansionary fiscal policy
623632496Net export effectA rising interest rate increases foreign demand for U.S. dollars. The dollar then appreciates in value, causing net exports from the United States to fall. Falling net exports decreases AD, which lessens the impact of the expansionary fiscal policy. This is a variation of crowding out.
623632497ProductivityThe quantity of output that can be produced per worker in a given amount of time
623632498Human capitalThe amount of knowledge and skills that labor can apply to the work that they do and the general level of health that the labor force enjoys
623632499Non-renewable resourcesNatural resources that cannot replenish themselves. Coal is a good example
623632500Renewable resourcesNatural resources that can replenish themselves if they are not over-harvested
623632501TechnologyA nation's knowledge of how to produce goods in the best possible way
623632502Investment tax creditA reduction in taxes for firms that invest in new capital like a factory or piece of equipment
623632503Supply-side fiscal policyFiscal policy centered on tax reductions targeted to AS so that real GDP increases with very little inflation. The main justification is that lower taxes on individuals and firms increase incentives to work, save, invest, and take risks
623632504StockA certificate that represents a claim to, or share of, the ownership of a firm
623632505Equity financingThe firm's method of raising funds for investment by issuing shares of stock to the public
623632506BondA certificate of indebtedness from the issuer to the bond holder
623632507Debt financingA firm's way of raising investment funds by issuing bonds to the public
623632508Fiat moneyPaper and coin money used to make transactions because the government declares it to be legal tender. Because it has no intrinsic value, it is backed by the public's trust that the government maintains its value
623632509Functions of moneyMoney serves three functions: a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value
623632510Money supplyThe quantity of money in circulation as measured by the Fed as M1, M2, and M3. Assumed to be fixed at a given point in time.
623632511M1The most liquid of money definitions and the basis for all other more broadly defined measures of money. M1 = cash, coins, checking deposits, and traveler's checks
623632512M2Less liquid than M1 because holders would incur a penalty if they wanted to convert their assets into cash. M2 = M1 + saving deposits, small time deposits, money market deposits, and money market mutual funds
623632513M3The least liquid of all because the asset holder would have to wait longer to liquidate a CD or pay a large penalty. M3 = M2 + large (over $100,000) time deposits
623632514LiquidityA measure of how easily an asset can be converted into cash
623632515Transaction DemandThe amount of money held in order to make transactions. This is not related to the interest rate, but increases as nominal GDP increases
623632516Asset DemandThe amount of money demanded as an asset. As nominal interest rates rise, the opportunity cost of holding money begins to rise and you are more likely to lessen your asset demand for money
623632517Money demandThe demand for money is the sum of money demanded for transactions and money demanded as an asset. It is inversely related to the nominal interest rate
623632518Theory of Liquidity PreferenceKeynes's theory that the interest rate adjusts to bring the money market into equilibrium
623632519Fractional Reserve BankingA system in which only a fraction of the total money deposited in banks is held in reserve as currency
623632520Reserve ratioThe fraction of total deposits that must be kept on reserve. rr = required reserves / total deposits
623632521Required reservesThe portion of a deposit that must be held at the bank for withdrawals. Requires reserves = reserve ratio * total deposits
623632522Excess ReservesThe portion of a deposit that may be borrowed by customers. Excess reserves = (1-rr) * total deposits
623632523Balance sheet (T-Account)A tabular way to show the assets and liabilities of a bank. Total assets must equal liabilities
623632524Asset of a bankAnything owned by the bank or owed to the bank is an asset of the bank. Cash on reserve is an asset and so are loans made to citizens
623632525Liability of a bankAnything owned by depositors or lenders is a liability to the bank. Checking deposits of citizens or loans made to the bank are liabilities to the bank.
623632526Money multiplierThis measures the maximum amount of new checking deposits that can be created by a single dollar of excess reserves. M = 1/rr. The money multiplier is smaller if a) at any stage the banks keep more than the required dollars in reserve, b) at any stage borrowers do not redeposit funds into the bank and keep some as cash, and c) customers are willing to borrow
623632527Expansionary monetary policyDesigned to fix a recession and increase AD, lower the unemployment rate, and increase real GDP, which may increase the price level
623632528Contractionary policyDesigned to avoid inflation by decreasing AD, which lowers the price level and decreases real GDP back to full employment
623632529Open Market Operations (OMOs)A tool of monetary policy, it involves the Fed's buying (or selling) of securities from (or to) commercial banks and the general public.
623632530Discount rateThe interest rate commercial banks pay on short-term loans from the Fed
623632531Federal funds rateThe interest rate paid on short-term loans made from one bank to another. When this rate is a target for an OMO, bonds are bought or sold accordingly until the interest rate target has been met.
623632532Quantity Theory of MoneyA theory that asserts that the quantity of money determines the price level and that the growth rate of money determines the rate of inflation
623632533Equation of ExchangeThe equation says that nominal GDP (P*Q) is equal to the quantity of money (M) multiplied by the number of times each dollar is spent in a year (V). MV = PQ
623632534Velocity of MoneyThe average number of times a dollar is spent each year; V = PQ/M
623632535Domestic PriceThe equilibrium price of a good in a nation without trade
623632536World PriceThe global equilibrium price of a good when nations engage in trade
623632537Balance of Payments StatementA summary of the payments received by the US from foreign countries and the payments sent by the US to foreign countries
623632538Current accountThis account shows current import and export payments of both goods and services and investment income sent to foreign investors of US and investment income received by US citizens who invest abroad
623632539Capital (or Financial) AccountThis account shows the flow of investment on real or financial assets between a nation and foreigners
623632540Official reserves accountThe Fed's adjustment of a deficit or surplus in the current and capital account by the addition or subtraction of foreign currencies so that the balance of payments is zero
623632541Exchange rateThe price of one currency in terms of a second currency
623632542Appreciating (depreciating currency)When the value of a currency is rising (falling) relative to another currency, it is said to be appreciating (depreciating)
623632543Determinants of exchange ratesConsumer tastes, relative incomes, relative inflation, and speculation all can shift the exchange rates of currencies
623632544Revenue tariffAn excise tax levied on goods not produced in the domestic market
623632545Protective tariffAn excise tax levied on a good that is produced in the domestic market so that it may be protected from foreign competition
623632546Import quotaA limitation on the amount of a good that can be imported into the domestic market

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