Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction To Economics: Macroeconomics
Introduction To Economics: Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics
Course Outline
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Supplementary Texts
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Macroeconomics, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers, 2000
McCandless Jr., George T. with Neil Wallace, Introduction to Dynamic Macroeconomic
Theory: An Overlapping Generations Approach, Harvard University Press, 1991 (ISBN:
0-674-46111-8)
*****************************************************
Session 1: Introduction: Aims of macroeconomics
1
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics1
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Session 1
(The way of thinking and some important terms)
1. Introduction
What is macroeconomics?
the study of the economy as a whole
Example: Income, growth rate, inflation, unemployment rate
to attempt to formulate general theories that help to explain the data
-> why? -> economists cannot conduct controlled experiments, and have to
use the data that history gives them.
Particularly important data:
Real GDP: the total income of everyone in the economy
Inflation Rate: how quickly prices are rising
Unemployment Rate: the fraction of the labour force that is out of work
1
Examples and figures used in the lecturenotes have been obtained from Mankiw (2000)
‘Macroeconomics, 4th Edition’.
2
Example 1: the market of paracetamol
(when you talk about a market, there are always demand and supply in the market)
What you want to explain -> how the price and quantity of paracetamol in the market are
affected (changed)
What are endogenous variables? -> the price of paracetamol and the quantity of paracetamol in
equilibrium
What are exogenous variables?--which depend upon what you want to consider—Income of
buyers, the cost of production of paracetamol, and the price of substitutes (complements):
Two goods are substitutes if both can satisfy the same need of the consumer; they are complements if they are consumed jointly in order to satisfy
some particular need.
Demand function: Q d = D( p, I )
Supply function: Q s = S ( p , c, p s )
Market clearing condition: Qd = Qs
(the condition under which the market is in equilibrium)
where Q, p, I , c, p s denote the quantity of paracetamol, the price of paracetamol, income of
buyers, the cost of production of paracetamol, and the price of a substitute, respectively.
Figures
3
2. The Data of Macroeconomics
~ To qualify the performance of the economy
~ To learn how to measure economic performance
to be interpreted as the total income of everyone in the economy as well as the total
expenditure on the economy’s output of goods and services
4
GDP=£2.00*10+£1.00*5+£3.00*20=£85.00
The sale of used goods is not included as part of GDP. The transfer of an asset is not
included in GDP (not an addition to the economy’s income).
Example 3: The current sale of a Pokemon card (£1.50) is added to GDP.
However, when a collector sells a rare Pokemon card to another collector for £20.00, this
is not included in GDP.
Total 5000kg
(1) Sold 3000kg
(2) kept in the freezer for sale 1500kg
later
(3) spoiled 500kg
Suppose that (2) was sold in year 2001. Does this contribute to GDP of year 2001?
Key Point 3: GDP includes only the value of final goods and services. AND, the sum of all value
added must equal the value of all final goods and services.
Example 6: The quantity of each good is the same as in Example 2, but the prices have
been changed (as double much) in year 2001 as follows:
5
which implies that the GDP of year 2001 would be as double much as that of year 2000, although
the amount of goods are services, which can be consumed physically in year 2001, is exactly the
same as in year 2000.
The value of GDP is influenced by the change in prices.
No min al Deflator
GDP Deflator: GDP Deflator =
Re al GDP
Key Point 4: GDP measures the total income produced domestically, and GNP measures the total
income earned by nationals.
Example 7: A British resident owns a flat in Tokyo. How is the rental income he/she earns in
Tokyo treated?
Included in the GDP of Japan, since it is earned in Japan, but not in the GNP of
Japan. Included in the GNP of the UK, but not in the GDP of the UK.
6
To measure the cost of living
An increase in the overall level of prices is called inflation, and how can the overall level of prices
(namely, inflation) be measured?
The CPI turns the prices of many goods and services into a single index measuring
the overall level of prices.
The price of a basket of goods and services purchased by a typical consumer is used
for computing the CPI (Not all goods are included)
Why a typical consumer?
7
Okun’s Law: The (negative) relationship between unemployment and GDP
8
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Session 2
(The economy in the long run)
9
Q1: What Determines the Total Production of Goods and Services?
Production function of the economy (taken as given) determines the total
production level of the economy. The production function is assumed such that:
Y = F (K , L),
where K and L denote capital and labour, respectively, both of which are called
the factors of production.
Key Point 5: GDP is determined by the economy’s production function, which is assumed to be
taken as given.
Factors
Labour, L Capital, K
Economic agent to demand for The firm The firm
Economic agent to supply of The worker (the Household) The savers (the Households)
Due to the first assumption, the supply curve is vertical such that
10
As seen in the above figure, the equilibrium quantity of each factor is always the supply level.
How about the equilibrium price of each factor?
The demand curve determines the price.
How can we obtain the demand curve by the firm?
The profit maximisation behaviour of the firm
Assumption on the market
It is assumed that the market is competitive.
What does “competitive” in economics mean?
Each economic agent in the market is too small so that they have no power to change
the price in the market, thus they take all prices as given.
The Marginal Product of Capital (MPC): MPC is the extra amount of output the firm gets
from one extra unit of capital, holding the amount of labour fixed, which can be written as
MPC = F (K + 1, L) - F (K , L)
Real Wage (W/P: wage rate W divided by price P): The payment to labour measured in units of
output rather than in pounds.
Real Rental Price of Capital (R/P: rental price R divided by price P): The payment to capital
measured in units of output rather than in pounds.
11
Example 11: Suppose that the firm is hiring one more unit of labour to produce more output. Is
this decision profitable? From an increase in one unit of labour, the following will occur:
Key Point 6: The firm demands for labour according to the relationship such that
MPL = real wage rate
Since the production function is assumed to have a diminishing marginal product, the demand
function curves downward as
12
How is the case of an increase in one unit of capital?
Answer is the same, thus
Key Point 7: The firm demands for labour according to the relationship such that
MPC = real rental price
What is the relationship between GDP and the total income paid?
According to assumption 3. on the production function (a constant returns to scale
property), the production function also has a property such that:
F K , L MPK K MPL K ,
which implies that GDP is fully paid out to households in the form of wage and rent.
Key Point 8: Total output (GDP) is divided between the payments to capital and the payments to
labour, depending on their marginal productivities. Since their productivities are given by the
production function, which is also assumed to be taken as given, the payments, or the
distribution of income are determined by the factor prices.
13
Under the above assumption, GDP is expressed by
Y CI G
Consumption, C
It is assumed that consumption depends on disposable income.
Disposable income is defined as:
Disposable income Y T ,
where Y, T denote income (GDP) and tax paid minus transfers from the government,
respectively
It is assumed that the higher is disposable income, the greater is consumption,
and the consumption function is given by
C C Y T
Investment, I
Assumption on Investment
The amount of investment depends on the (real) interest rate
Why?
I = I (r ) , Investment goes up (down) as the interest goes down (up), namely,
investment is a decreasing function of the (real) interest rate.
Q4. What Brings the Supply and Demand for Goods and Services into Equilibrium?
The interest rate has the crucial role of equilibrating supply and demand
How?
There are 2 ways to obtain the answer.
(A) Equilibrium in the Market for Goods and Services
(Supply and Demand for the Economy’s Output (GDP))
Step 1: By the definition of GDP, we can get
Y = C + I + G, (1)
which implies that GDP is divided into four categories (the above equation is an identity!! In
other words, the above equation is the definition of GDP, thus it always holds).
Step 2: By the assumption on consumption, we get
C = C(Y - T ), (2)
which implies that consumption is determined (demand for consumption) , depending on
disposable income.
Step 3: By the assumption on investment, we get
I = I (r ), (3)
which implies that investment is determined (demand for investment), depending on the real
interest rate.
Step 4: By the assumption on G and T, we get
G = G,
(4)
T = T,
which implies that the government budget is fixed (demand for the government purchases).
Step 5: Note that (2), (3), and (4) are demand functions of 3 components, so
14
C(Y - T ) + I (r ) + G (5)
is the total demand function in the economy.
Step 6: What determined the supply function of the economy?
By the assumption on factors in the economy, we get
K = K,
L = L,
which implies that two factors are fixed, and it is also assumed that the factors are fully
utilised.
Through the economy’s production function, we get the supply function of the
economy such that
Y = F (K , L ), (6)
which determined the total supply level of this economy.
Step 7: As we have got demand ((5)) and supply ((6)), what we need to do is to obtain an
equilibrium. Yes, in equilibrium, we get
Y = C(Y - T ) + I (r ) + G . (7)
Step 8: How is the above equation guaranteed (How does the left hand side (supply) equal the
right hand side (demand))? Since Y , T , G are all fixed, the real interest rate has to change in
order to equilibrate the left hand side and the right hand side.
The real interest rate has the crucial role!!!
Key Point 9: In the market of output of goods and services, we get
Demand function equation (5)
Supply function equation (6)
the equilibrium condition equation (7)
endogenous variable r
exogenous variables Y (K , L ), G , T
15
and in equilibrium in loanable funds markets, we get
S p + S G = I (r ), (8)
where the real interest rate also has crucial role for equilibrating supply and demand in loanable
funds markets.
Key Point 10: When (7) holds, (8) always holds, and the real interest rate to satisfy (7) is the same
as the real interest rate to satisfy (8). If the output market is in equilibrium, then the loanable
funds market is also in equilibrium.
Now, we know how to examine the effects of fiscal policy on the economy.
How can we examine the effect of fiscal policy within this framework?
an expansion (a cut) of social security (transfers from the government to households),
or of subsidies
an expansion of government purchases such as public investment
an effect of a decrease (an increase) in taxes
an effect of immigration
Example 12: A effect of an increase in public investment to stimulate an economy
Suppose that the government decides to increase public investment (or a decision to
make another huge dome somewhere)
Now, what we want to examine is to evaluate the effect of building a new dome on the UK
economy.
What is an exogenous variable?
What is an endogenous variable?
What is the equilibrium condition?
Study the effect both in the output market and in the loanable funds market.
4. Unemployment
Questions answered here
1. What determines the natural rate of unemployment?
2. Why is always there some unemployment?
16
A Simple Model to describe the rate of unemployment
L: the labour force
E: the number of employed
U: the number of unemployed workers
L = E +U (9)
s: the rate of job separation, the fraction of employed individuals who lose their job each month
f: the rate of job finding, the fraction of unemployed indidivuals who find a job each month
If the labour market is stable, or in a steady state – the unemployment rate is neither rising nor
falling – then the number of people finding jobs must equal the number of people losing jobs,
which yields:
fU = sE (10)
(9) and (10) yield
17
fU = s( L - U ),
which also yields
U s
= ,
L s+ f
where the left hand side denotes the steady state rate of unemployment
Example14: Suppose that 1 percent of the employed lose their jobs each month (s=0.01). This
means that on average jobs last 100 months, or about 8 years. Suppose further that about 20
percent of the unemployed find a job each month (f=0.20), so that spells of unemployment last 5
months on average. Then the steady state rate of unemployment is given such that:
U 0.0 1
= = 0.0 4 7 6,
L 0.0 1 + 0.2 0
.which means that the steady state rate of unemployment in this example is about 5 %.
Key Point 11: Any policy aimed at lowering the natural rate of unemployment must either reduce
the rate of job separation or increase the rate of job finding. Similarly, any policy that affects the
rate of job separation or job finding also changes the natural rate of unemployment.
The above model can succeed in explaining how the rate of unemployment is affected, but it
cannot explain the reason why there is unemployment in the first place!!
18
3. The firm itself sets the wage rate at a relatively higher level than the market
clearing level (an equilibrium level). This idea is called efficiency-wage theory.
The efficiency-wage theory says:
3-1. Better-paid workers are healthier, thus more productive
3-2. The more a firm pays its workers, the greater their incentive to
say with the firm, thus resulting in decreasing the time spent hiring and training
new workers for the firm.
3-3. If a firm reduces its wage the best employee may quit, thus
resulting in a decrease in the average quality of a firm’s work force.
3-4. The higher the wage, the greater the cost to the worker of
getting fired, thus resulting in an increase in productivity.
19
The most commonly used measures for studying the effects of money on the economy are M1
and M2.
<Terminology>
Currency: the sum of outstanding paper money and coins
Demand Deposits; the funds people hold in their checking account
T: the total number of transactions in one year. T is also interpreted as the number of times in a
year that goods or services are exchanged for money.
P: the price of a typical transaction, or the number of pounds exchanged.
M: the quantity of money
V: the transactions velocity of money, which measures the rate at which money circulates in the
economy. V is the number of times a pound bill changes hands in a year.
Step 2: what is the product, P x T?
P x T = the number of pounds exchanged in a year
which is the total transactions measured in money (pounds).
Step 3: This must always be equal to
M x V= the quantity of money circulated through all the transactions,
thus, we always have the following identity:
M x V= P x T,
which is called the quantity equation.
Example15: Suppose that 100 packages of paracetamol are sold in a year at 86p per package.
Then T equals 100 per year, and P equals £0.86 per package. The total number of pounds
exchanged is
20
P x T = 100 x £0.86 = £86 per year
Suppose further that the quantity of money in this economy is £10.00. Then we can compute
velocity as
V = PT/M = (£86 per year)/( £10.00)=8.6 times per year,
which means that each pound must change hands 8.6 times a year for £86.00 of transactions per
year to take place with £10.00 of money in this economy.
Key Point 12: The quantity equation is an identity: The definitions of the four variables make it true.
This implies that one of the variables changes, one or more of the others must also change to
maintain the identity.
Now, substitute T, transactions, with Y, output in a year. Then we can interpret the quantity
equation as
Y: the total output, namely GDP
P: the price of one unit of output, or the GDP deflator,
V: income velocity of money, since Y is also total income
so PY can be interpreted as nominal GDP, and we can get
M x V = P x Y, (11)
which is also an identity. (11) is most commonly used to explain inflation.
Assumption on Velocity
It is assumed that the velocity is constant.
Then, (11) becomes a useful theory of the effects of money, called the Quantity Theory of
Money, since, under the above assumption,
MV = PY , (12)
which implies that the quantity of money determines the pound value of the economy’s output
(nominal GDP).
Under all the assumptions
1. The (real) output level, Y, is determined by the economy’s production function,
thus, the money supply determines the nominal level of GDP, PY.
2. Since the money supply determines nominal GDP, the money supply also
determines the GDP deflator (real GDP is determined by the production function).
(12) is also written as:
% change in M + % change in V = % change in P + % change in Y
A % change in V is zero by assumption. A % change in Y depends on growth in the
factors of production and on technology, all of which are assumed to be taken as
given so far. A % change in M is controlled by the central bank, which is the rate of
money supply. A % change in P is the rate of inflation.
Thus, the growth in the money supply fully determines the rate of inflation.
Key Point 13: The Quantity Theory of Money states that the central bank, which controls the
money supply, has ultimate control over the rate of inflation. If the central bank keeps the money
supply stable, the price level will be stable. If the central bank increases the money supply rapidly,
the price level will rise rapidly (inflation will occur).
21
Real money balances are defined by M/P, the quantity of money in terms of the
quantity of goods and services it can buy.
Real money balances measure the purchasing power of the stock of money.
Example 16:: Suppose that an economy produces only paracetamol. If the quantity of
money in this economy is £10.00, and the price of a package of paracetamol is £0.50,
then real money balances in this economy are 20 packages of paracetamol. That is, at a
current price, the stock of money in this economy is able to buy 20 packages of
paracetamol.
Demand for real money balances depend on real income, Y (real GDP) such that:
( )
d
P = L1 (Y ),
M
where demand for real money balances (the left hand side) increases (decreases) as
real income increases (decreases).
Demand for real money balances also depend on the nominal interest rate, i.
Why? & What is the nominal interest rate?
Nominal interest rate: the interest rate that the bank pays
Real interest rate: the interest rate that increases your purchasing power
There is the relationship among the nominal interest rate, i, the real interest rate, r,
and the rate of inflation, , such that:
r = i -
The nominal interest rate is the opportunity cost of holding money. The nominal rate
is what you give up by holding money rather than bonds.
If the opportunity cost of holding money increases, then demand for real money
balances will decrease, thus,
( )
d
P = L2 (i ),
M
where demand for real money balances (the left hand side) increases as the
nominal interest decreases (increases).
Demand for the real money balances is simply written as:
( )
d
P = L1 (Y ) + L2 (i ) = L(i , Y )
M
( ) ( )
d
the equilibrium condition: M P = M P = L(i , Y )
22
23
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Session 3
(The economy in the short run)
24
Now, we can talk about demand and supply in the market of goods and services. Since we now
know the aggregate demand for goods and services, what we have to think about is the supply of
goods and services. (Note that when we say “demand” and “supply” we always focus on the
relationship between “price” and “quantity ”)
How can we obtain “aggregate supply”?
It differs depending on the assumption “in the long run” or “the short run”.
In the long run, the quantity of supply is fixed. In the short run, the price is fixed
(“sticky”).
Example 17: The effect of a decrease in the money supply.
In the long run
What happens in the transition from the short run to the long run?
When the economy is in its long run equilibrium, the short run aggregate supply curve
must cross this point as well, as shown in the following figure:
25
Example 17: The effect of a decrease in the money supply.
Step 1: In the short run, output and employment fall below their natural levels, which means that
the economy is in a recession.
Step 2: Over time, in response to the low demand, wages and prices fall. The gradual reduction in
the price level moves the economy downward along the aggregate demand curve in the transition.
Step 3: In the long run, output and employment are back to their natural levels, but prices are lower
than before.
Key Point 15: A shift in aggregate demand caused by a demand shock such as a change in the
money supply affects output in the short run, but this effect dissipates over time as firms adjust
their prices in the long run.
26
d
M
L1 Y kY
P
The expansion can be interpreted as a decrease in k. This implies with the market
clearing condition in the money market that
V 1k
thus, an expansion of availability of credit cards can be interpreted as an increase in
velocity. This implies an outward shift of the aggregate demand curve as:
27
7. IS - LM Model
The leading interpretation of Keynes’s theory.
The goal of this model is to show what determined national income for any given price
level
So, it is assumed that the price is fixed = the analysis in the short run.
the goods and services market -> IS curve
the real money balances market -> IM curve
If planned expenditure is equal to actual expenditure, the goods and services market is in
equilibrium as follows:
28
Example 20: The effect of fiscal policy (an expansion of government purchases / a tax cut / an
increase in social security benefits etc. )
It has been assumed that planned investment is fixed. However, as we learned, it is more realistic
to assume that planned investment depends on the interest rate such that:
I I r ,
where planned investment decreases (increases) as the interest rate increases (decreases).
Under this assumption, we can get the downward IS curve as follows:
Example 21: The effect of fiscal policy reconsidered (How fiscal policy shifts the IS curve?)
29
Key Point 16: The IS curve shows the combinations of the interest rate and the level of income
that are consistent with equilibrium in the market for goods and services. The IS curve is drawn
for a given fiscal policy. Changes in fiscal policy that raise the demand for goods and services
shift the IS curve to the right. Changes in fiscal policy that reduce the demand for goods and
services shift the IS curve to the left.
30
where it is simply assumed that the rate of inflation is zero (why?). As we learned, L2
decreases (increases) as the interest rate increases (decreases). <- why?
With all the assumptions, we get
Key Point 17: The LM curve shows the combinations of the interest rate and the level of income
that are consistent with equilibrium in the market for real money balances. The LM curve is
drawn for a given supply of real money balances. Decreases in the supply of money shift the LM
curve upward. Increases in the supply of money shift the LM curve downward.
31
Exogenous variables: T, G, M, P
The equilibrium of the economy is the point at which the IS curve and the LM curve
cross. This point gives the interest rate r and the level of income Y that satisfy
conditions for equilibrium in both the goods market and money market as shown
Key Point 18: At the intersection, actual expenditure equals planned expenditure (equilibrium in
the goods and services market), and the demand for real money balances equals the supply
(equilibrium in the money market).
32
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Session 4
(Policy Evaluation)
33
Example 24: The effect of an increase in the money supply
An increase in the money supply M leads to an increase in real money balances.
People have more money than they want to hold at the prevailing interest rate.
They start depositing this extra money in banks or use it to buy bonds.
The interest rate then falls until people are willing to hold all the extra money that the
Bank of England created.
A lower interest rate stimulates planned investment, which increases planned
expenditure. This increase in planned expenditure results in an increase in income Y.
In case (1)
What happens in the amount of disposable income when an income tax rate increases?
What happens in the economy?
In case (2)
What happens in investment by keeping the interest rate at the current level?
What happens in the economy (income) by the policy followed?
In case (3)
What happens in the money market?
What happens in the good and services market?
34
Aggregate Demand Curve from the IS – LM model
We derived the aggregate demand curve from the quantity theory of money such that
MV PY
by assuming M and V are both constant. Now we obtain the aggregate demand curve from the
IS – LM model.
What happens in the IS – LM model when the price level changes?
For any given money supply, a higher price level reduces the supply of real money
balances.
A lower supply of real money balances shifts the LM curve upward, which raises the
equilibrium interest rate and lowers the equilibrium level of income.
35
36
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
Session 5
(Economic Growth)
9. Economic Growth
There are three elements to make an economy grow:
(1) Investment in Capital
(2) An expansion of an Population
(3) Technological Progress
zY F zK , zL ,
y f k , (12)
The demand for output is assumed to be only consumption and investment (the government
sector and international trade are ignored by assumption) such that:
y ci (13)
and it is also assumed that people save a fraction s of their income and consume a fraction (1-s)
such that
c 1 s y (14)
37
y 1 s y i
i sy (15)
i sf k , (16)
which shows the relationship between the existing stock of capital k and the accumulation of new
capital i.
k i k (17)
k sf k k (18)
When k 0, the capital stock k and output f(k) are steady over time (rather than growing or
shrinking), since the capital stock will not change due to the reason that the two forces
(investment and depreciation) just balance. The capital stock when k 0, denoted k* is called
the steady state level of capital.
38
9-(2) Population Growth
An assumption on a population
The population and the labour force now grow at a constant rate n. Then (18) is modified such
that:
k sf k n k
39
Introduction to Economics
Macroeconomics
Instructor
Professor Ryuta Ray Kato
Email: raykato@meiji.ac.jp
40
According to the Quantity Theory of Money, the central bank has ultimate control over
the rate of inflation.
The demand for money depends on income and the nominal interest rate such that:
M
P
d
Li, Y
<Exercises>
Exercise 1:
Suppose that there is no foreign account. Suppose also that the following functions are given:
C A cY T ,
I B ar ,
L 0.1Y 10r 100
M
100
P
where
C: private consumption,
I: private investment
Y: income (GDP)
T: tax
41
G: government expenditure
r: interest rate
M: nominal money supply
P: price level
L: money demand
c, a, B: parameters
Exercise 2:
Suppose that there is not the foreign account. Suppose also that the following functions are
given:
C A Y T ,
I B r ,
L Y r 100
M
100
P
where
C: private consumption,
I: private investment
Y: income (GDP)
T: tax
G: government expenditure
r: interest rate
M: nominal money supply
P: price level
L: money demand
A, B, , , , : parameters
42
3. Suppose that the government introduced a new plan to increase public investment by
dG 0 . Then how much can GDP be expected to increase in a new equilibrium?
4. Suppose that the government introduced a new plan to increase public investment by
dG 0 followed by the same amount of an increase in tax. Thus, under this policy, we
have dG dT . What happens to the equilibrium interest rate under this policy?
Exercise 3:
Suppose that there is not the foreign account. Suppose also that the following functions are
given:
C F Y T ,
I I r ,
L L1 Y L2 r
M
B
P
where
C: private consumption, or F, the function of Y-T, and dF d Y T 0
I: private investment, or the function of the interest rate, r, and dI dr 0
Y: income (GDP)
T: tax
G: government expenditure
r: interest rate
M: nominal money supply
P: price level
L: money demand, and dL1 dY 0, dL2 dr 0
B : parameter, and positive
43