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This chapter discusses the measurement of economic growth, focusing on the importance of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the limitations of GDP as a measure of wealth. It also explores business cycles and the factors that influence economic growth.
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Gross Domestic Product and Growth Chapter 12
What makes a nation wealthy? • Rank the countries based on what you perceive makes the nations wealthy according to the decsriptions.
Why Measure Growth? • After the Great Depression, economists felt it was important to measure macroeconomic status to predict and prevent future economic downturns. • Established NIPA
NIPA • National Income and Product Accounts • Collects data on production, income, investment, and savings • Maintained by the Department of Commerce • This data is reported and used to influence government policy
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) • Most important measure of wealth • GDP is the dollar value of all FINAL goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a given year. • Final goods are those sold to consumers • Intermediate goods are those used in the production process (not calculated)
“Within a Country’s Borders” • GDP doesnot include products made by a US company overseas • GDP does include a car made in the US by Toyota (Japanese company)
What do you think? (Included in GDP or no) • A new house? • A used house? • The realtor's fee on the used house? • All the products used to produce the new house? (nails, shingles, siding etc...)
What is included... • A new house?...Yes • A used house?...No • The realtor's fee on the used house?...Yes • All the products used to produce the new house (nails, shingles, siding etc...)?...No (secondary goods)
Nominal vs. Real GDP • Nominal GDP is GDP measured in current prices • Does not always measure an increase in output • To measure growth from year to year, economists measure Real GDP • Real GDP is measured by calculating GDP with constant price (accounts for inflation).
Influences on GDP • Aggregate Supply • The total amount of goods and services available in an economy at all price levels • Aggregate Demand • The total amount of goods and services demanded in an economy at all price levels
Is it Accurate? • Many things to calculate in GDP and much is missed or overlooked • However, it does provide us with a baseline of stats and over time, shows important trends • The meausrment may not be accurate but t is constant
Review 1. Real GDP takes which of the following into account? (a) changes in supply (b) changes in prices (c) changes in demand (d) changes in aggregate demand 2. Which of the following is reflected in GDP? (a) The underground economy (b) Non-market activities (c) Mr. Klein’s extraordinary teaching at WHS (d) Negative externalities
Business Cycles Chapter 12, Section 2
Business Cycles • Period of macroeconomic expansion followed by contraction • Phases of Business Cycles • Expansion…period of economic growth measured by a rise in real GDP • Growth being a steady, long term rise in GDP • Plentiful jobs, falling unemployment
Phases of Business Cycles (cont.) • Peak…height of economic expansion • Contraction…economic decline marked by falling real GDP • Trough…bottom of contraction
Contractions with Different Characteristics • Recession…real GDP falls for two straight quarters • Prolonged period of economic contraction • Usually a rise in unemployment • Depression…a severe recession • Stagflation…decline in real GDP, combined with a rise in price level
Keeping the Cycle • Typically, a sharp rise or fall in a key indicator sparks a series of events • 4 main indicators • Business investment • Interest rates and credit • Consumer expectations • External shocks
Business Investment • Spending by business or non spending will change the cycle
Interest Rates and Credit • Low interest rates will lead to spending • High interest rates will lead to savings
Consumer Expectations • Consumers may spend or save • Like other things, consumer’s choices drive the economy
External Shocks • Unpredictable and disrupt aggregate supply • Wars • Floods • Natural disasters • Oil shortage • Can be positive • Discoveries • Good weather
Review 1. A business cycle is (a) a period of economic expansion followed by a period of contraction. (b) a period of great economic expansion. (c) the length of time needed to produce a product. (d) a period of recession followed by depression and expansion. 2. A recession is (a) a period of steady economic growth. (b) a prolonged economic expansion. (c) an especially long or severe economic contraction. (d) a prolonged economic contraction.
Economic Growth Chapter 12, Section 3
Economic Growth • A change in GDP over time illustrates growth • For economic growth to occur, it should change with population • Real GDP per capita measures such growth and the standard of living
Quality of Life • GDP measures standard of living but not quality of life • Pollution • Stress • Nutrition • Also does not tell how GDP is distributed • Poor sections of the country • Poor percentage of population
Capital Deepening • The process of increasing capital per worker • Goal is to increase productivity • Savings and investing lead to capital deepening
Population • Increased population without capital deepening will lower the standard of living • Increased population without increase in production will lower the standard of living
Government • Taxes can increase or decrease capital deepening • It is dependent upon what the taxes are spent on
Foreign Trade • Foreign trade and running a trade deficit can actually be good in some ways • If the goods being traded enhance capital deepening • In the long run…this capital deepening can increase productivity and help to pay back debt that results from a trade deficit
Technological Progress • An increase in efficiency gained by producing more output from more inputs • Technology • Realignment • Knowledge • Technological progress is measured by looking at the amount of GDP that increases from technology and not labor
Review 1. Capital deepening is the process of (a) increasing consumer spending. (b) selling off obsolete equipment. (c) decreasing the amount of capital per worker. (d) increasing the amount of capital per worker. 2. Taxes and trade deficits can contribute to economic growth if the money involved is spent on (a) consumer goods. (b) investment goods. (c) additional services. (d) farming.