Chapter 17 - 3e

You might also like

Download as rtf, pdf, or txt
Download as rtf, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 40

Chapter 17—Macro Policy Debate: Active or Passive?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Advocates of the active approach believe that discretionary government policy can restore economic
stability and improve economic performance.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

2. Advocates of the passive approach to government economic policy believe that the government should
lower tax rates when there is a contractionary gap.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

3. In the 1992 presidential campaign, candidate Al Gore advocated a more active role for government in
economic policy than did candidate George W. Bush
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

4. In the event of a recession, which of the following is the most likely policy stance of those who
advocate a passive approach to economic policy?
a. cut taxes
b. increase government spending
c. reduce interest rates
d. increase the money supply
e. do nothing
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

5. Both those who favor an active approach as well as those who favor a passive approach to policy
believe that the economy can suffer from extreme and long-lasting swings in real GDP.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

6. An economy that self-corrects a contractionary gap will experience falling nominal wages, rising real
wages and falling output.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

7. If self-correction causes prices to fall less than nominal wages, both output and real wages will
decrease.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

8. A policy to increase aggregate demand to cure a contractionary gap may succeed; however, inflation is
a likely result.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

9. Which of the following is not consistent with a self-correcting economy?


a. Market forces work relatively well in pushing the economy to potential GDP.
b. Prices and wages are flexible.
c. A contractionary gap is corrected through falling wages and prices.
d. The short-run aggregate supply tends to shift until it intersects aggregate demand at
potential GDP.
e. An active approach to a recession or depression.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

10. When self-correcting forces cure a contractionary gap,


a. money wages and real wages both increase
b. money wages remain constant while real wages fall
c. money wages and real wages both decrease
d. money wages fall while real wages increase
e. real wages must increase regardless of what happens to money wages
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

11. If a contractionary gap is cured by increasing aggregate demand,


a. both c and e are correct
b. both d and e are correct
c. real wages fall because prices rise
d. prices rise causing real wages to increase
e. money wages decrease as prices decrease
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap
12. The reason why self-correction works to close a contractionary gap is because
a. a labor shortage causes money wages to increase
b. a labor surplus causes money wages to increase
c. a labor shortage causes money wages to fall
d. a labor surplus causes money wages to fall
e. falling money wages shift the short-run aggregate supply curve to the left
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

13. If we observe an economy adjusting to potential GDP as prices fall and real output increases,
a. it was experiencing an expansionary gap
b. the correction involves a shift of the AD curve
c. it was experiencing a contractionary gap
d. self-correction is not the process that is occurring
e. there are widespread labor shortages
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

14. An economy in which actual GDP is $10 billion below potential GDP
a. is experiencing an expansionary gap
b. will have the short run aggregate supply shifting outward, if the passive approach is
correct
c. will typically have the short-run aggregate supply curve shifting to the left
d. will likely have falling prices but rising wages
e. will experience stagflation (i.e., rising prices and falling output)
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

15. According to the active policy position, eliminating a contractionary gap


a. can only be achieved by decreasing wages
b. requires a public policy of wage and price controls
c. should be accomplished by stimulating aggregate demand
d. will increase unemployment
e. will cause a recession
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

16. For those who favor an active approach, public policy changes are necessary to cure a contractionary
gap because
a. the short-run aggregate supply curve will otherwise shift quickly to the right
b. prices and wages are flexible downward but not upward
c. the required decrease in output can be achieved only by shifting the AD curve
d. real wages must fall through price increases rather than waiting for money wages to fall
e. falling money wages will cause the AD curve to shift leftward unless policy counters this
movement
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

17. If the advice of those who favor a passive approach to policy is correct, how would a contractionary
gap eventually close?
a. The aggregate demand curve would shift rightward.
b. The aggregate demand curve would shift leftward.
c. The short-run aggregate supply curve would shift rightward.
d. The short-run aggregate supply curve would shift leftward.
e. There would be a movement upward along the aggregate demand curve.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

18. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, a contractionary gap will be eliminated
because
a. prices and wages rise rapidly
b. prices and wages are flexible
c. the aggregate demand curve will shift to the right
d. the economy automatically slows down
e. the aggregate demand curve will shift to the left
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

19. If an economist who favors a passive approach observes a drop in real GDP caused by a decrease in
aggregate demand, she is most likely to think that
a. the economy will recover by itself before discretionary policy can correct the situation
b. discretionary policy will correct the situation before the economy recovers by itself
c. the imposition of policy rules will correct the situation before the economy recovers by
itself
d. aggregate supply will decrease to compensate for the decrease in aggregate demand
e. the economy will not recover by itself
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

20. To favor a passive approach to policy is to believe that the private sector is
a. relatively stable and both wages and prices adjust quickly to eliminate excess supply or
excess demand for labor
b. basically unstable, although both wages and prices adjust quickly to eliminate excess
supply or excess demand for labor
c. relatively stable, although both wages and prices tend to be very sticky downward
d. basically unstable and both wages and prices tend to be very sticky downward
e. so stable that wages and prices rarely change
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

21. If prices and wages are not flexible, an adverse supply shock is most likely to be followed by
a. a rightward shift of the aggregate supply curve
b. a rightward shift of the aggregate demand curve
c. a leftward shift of the aggregate supply curve
d. a leftward shift of the aggregate demand curve
e. persistent unemployment
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

NARRBEGIN: Exhibit 31-1


Exhibit 17-1

NARREND

22. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, how will the economy shown in Exhibit
17-1 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

23. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, how will the economy shown in Exhibit
17-1 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. Real wages will fall shifting the SRAS curve to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

24. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, where will the economy in Exhibit 17-1
end up when it achieves its potential output?
a. point A
b. point B
c. point C
d. either point B or C
e. unable to tell from the information given
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

25. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, how can the economy shown in Exhibit 17-
1 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

26. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, how can the economy shown in Exhibit 17-
1 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. The Fed or the government should act to shift the aggregate demand curve to the right.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

27. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, where will the economy in Exhibit 17-1
end up when it achieves its potential output?
a. point A
b. point B
c. point C
d. either point B or C
e. cannot tell from the information provided
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

28. If the economy were in a recession, which of the following policies would a person who favors an
active approach to policy be most likely to support?
a. The economy should be left to cure itself without government intervention.
b. The Fed should sell U.S. government securities in its open-market operations.
c. The Fed should raise the discount rate.
d. Government purchases should increase.
e. The Fed should raise the required reserve ratio.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap
29. In the long run, how would an active approach to a contractionary gap differ from a passive approach
to policy?
a. Both the price level and the level of real GDP would be higher in the long run with the
activist solution.
b. Both the price level and the level of real GDP would be lower in the long run with the
activist solution.
c. The price level would be higher and the level of real GDP would be lower in the long run
with the activist solution.
d. Only the price level would be lower in the long run with the activist solution.
e. Only the price level would be higher in the long run with the activist solution.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

30. Those who favor a passive approach to policy think that all of the following conditions will allow the
economy to bring itself out of a contractionary gap except one. Which is the exception?
a. lower real wages
b. a shortage of labor
c. lower production costs
d. a lower expected price level
e. a rightward shift in the short-run aggregate supply curve
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

31. Which of the following is consistent with an active approach to policy?


a. The natural rate of unemployment is uncertain.
b. Wages and prices adjust relatively quickly.
c. The short-run aggregate supply curve is slow to shift in the presence of a contractionary
gap.
d. The size of the multiplier is irrelevant.
e. Self-correction lags are not a problem.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing a Contractionary Gap

32. An economy that self-corrects an expansionary gap will experience stagflation.


a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

33. When self-correction works to eliminate an expansionary gap,


a. both money wages and real wages increase
b. money wages increase while real wages decrease
c. both money wages and real wages decrease
d. money wages decrease while real wages increase
e. money wages remain unchanged
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

34. If an economy adjusts to potential GDP accompanied by a rising price level and a falling output level,
a. all of the following are correct
b. an active approach to correcting a contractionary gap is being used
c. an active approach to correcting an expansionary gap is being used
d. a passive approach to correcting a contractionary gap is being used
e. a passive approach to correcting an expansionary gap is being used
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

35. An economy experiencing an expansionary gap


a. operates in an environment in which labor shortages drive up money wages, real wages,
and prices
b. results in an excess supply of labor due to rising money wages and prices
c. will self-correct as rising money wages decrease faster than rising prices
d. will experience rising money wages and prices but falling real wages
e. will have excessive involuntary unemployment (e.g., cyclical unemployment)
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

36. An economy in which actual GDP exceeds potential GDP means that
a. wages and prices must fall
b. self-correcting forces will shift the SRAS curve to the left
c. self-correcting forces will shift the AD curve to the left
d. inflation will occur when AD shifts to the left
e. unemployment is likely to be unusually high
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

NARRBEGIN: Exhibit 31-2


Exhibit 17-2

NARREND
37. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, how will the economy shown in Exhibit
17-2 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

38. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, how will the economy shown in Exhibit
17-2 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. Real wages will rise causing the SRAS curve to shift left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be decreased.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

39. According to those who favor a passive approach to policy, where will the economy in Exhibit 17-2
end up once the expansionary gap is eliminated?
a. point A
b. point B
c. point C
d. either point B or C
e. cannot tell from the information provided
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

40. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, how can the economy shown in Exhibit 17-
2 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the money supply or government spending should be decreased.
e. Aggregate demand should be increased.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

41. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, how can the economy shown in Exhibit 17-
2 attain equilibrium at potential output?
a. The SRAS curve will shift to the left.
b. The SRAS curve will shift to the right.
c. Either the money supply or government spending should be increased.
d. Either the Fed or the government will act to decrease aggregate demand.
e. Aggregate demand should be increased.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

42. According to those who favor an active approach to policy, where will the economy in Exhibit 17-2
end up once the expansionary gap is eliminated?
a. point A
b. point B
c. point C
d. either point B or C
e. cannot tell from the information given
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

43. If an active approach to policy is followed, how would an expansionary gap eventually close?
a. The aggregate demand curve would shift rightward.
b. The aggregate demand curve would shift leftward.
c. The short-run aggregate supply curve would shift rightward.
d. The short-run aggregate supply curve would shift leftward.
e. There would be a movement up and to the left along the short-run supply curve.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

44. If a passive approach to policy was followed, how would an expansionary gap eventually close?
a. Restrictive fiscal policy would be used.
b. Restrictive monetary policy would be used.
c. Both restrictive fiscal policy and restrictive monetary policy would be used.
d. Inflation would cure the problem because the price level in an expansionary gap is lower
than firms and workers had expected.
e. Inflation would cure the problem because the price level in an expansionary gap is higher
than firms and workers had expected.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

45. According to the passive policy maker's position, an expansionary gap will be eliminated because
a. the short-run aggregate supply will shift to the left
b. the short-run aggregate supply will shift to the right
c. rising prices will shift the aggregate demand to the left
d. wages will fall relatively quickly
e. aggregate demand will shift to the right as wages increase
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

46. If self-correction works, a policy that continually increases aggregate demand will
a. have a strong impact on GDP
b. cause permanent inflation
c. eventually cause the SRAS curve to shift to the right
d. have relatively large impact on GDP
e. will cause inflation to continually diminish
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

47. If the natural unemployment rate cannot easily be estimated, __________ policy making becomes
more difficult.
a. active
b. passive
c. monetarist
d. classical
e. rational expectations
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

48. The formulation of active policy is


a. made easier if the natural unemployment rate can be easily calculated
b. made easier if the natural unemployment rate cannot be easily calculated
c. made more difficult if the natural unemployment rate can be easily calculated
d. made more difficult if the natural unemployment rate cannot be easily calculated
e. done without considering the natural unemployment rate because such a policy focuses on
rules to follow in any unemployment situation
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

49. Problems facing active policy decisions include


a. both c and d
b. all of the following
c. timing problems related to lags and self-correction
d. that the natural unemployment rate is uncertain
e. the self-correcting forces in the economy don't work well
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

50. Which of the following pieces of information is not necessary for active policy to work successfully?
a. All of the following are necessary for good policy.
b. the size of potential output or the natural rate of unemployment
c. the speed of self-correction
d. the slope of the short-run aggregate supply curve
e. the size of the multiplier
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

51. The effectiveness lag for monetary policy is short.


a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

52. Which of the following lags reduces the effectiveness of active policy?
a. both d and e
b. all of the following
c. self-correction lag
d. recognition lag
e. decision-making lag
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

53. In total, the lags associated with discretionary policy can extend from the time a
a. problem occurs in the economy through the time it is recognized by the government
b. problem is recognized by the government through the time an agreed-on policy is
approved
c. policy is approved through the time the policy is implemented
d. policy is implemented through the time its impact is felt in the economy
e. problem occurs in the economy through the time a corrective policy has an impact on the
economy
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

54. Long lags make discretionary policy less effective because


a. in the long run, we shall all be dead
b. by the time the impact of a policy is felt, the problem it was meant to cure may have been
corrected
c. lags are longer in contractions than in expansions
d. lags are longer in expansions than in contractions
e. automatic stabilizers are subject to longer lags than are discretionary policies
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

55. One reason that long time lags hamper the effectiveness of economic policy is that
a. people don't want to wait for economic recovery
b. the longer unemployment lasts the more intense inflation becomes
c. by the time the impact of a policy is felt, a new problem may have come along that
requires a different policy, which may make the economic situation even worse
d. if inflation is allowed to continue for too long, it becomes immune to policy interference
e. if unemployment is allowed to continue for too long, it becomes immune to policy
interference
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

56. The time it takes for a new policy to register its full impact on the economy after it has been put in
force is known as the
a. activity lag
b. decision-making lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. implementation lag
e. recognition lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

57. The time it takes for the Fed's purchase of government securities to ultimately change aggregate
demand is called the
a. recognition lag
b. implementation lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. decision-making lag
e. self-correction lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

58. The time it takes to identify and examine the nature and seriousness of an economic problem is the
a. activity lag
b. decision-making lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. implementation lag
e. recognition lag
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

59. The selection of a new policy takes place during a period of time known as the
a. activity lag
b. decision-making lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. implementation lag
e. recognition lag
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

60. A new policy is actually put in force during the


a. activity lag
b. decision-making lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. implementation lag
e. recognition lag
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

61. Policy makers may not know that the economy is in a recession until six months after the recession
starts; this is a phenomenon known as the
a. implementation lag
b. policy coordination problem
c. decision-making lag
d. recognition lag
e. effectiveness lag
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

62. Suppose that policy makers are concerned about a shortage of long-term capital investment. To remedy
the problem, various plans to cut capital gains taxes have been suggested. The delay in picking a plan
is called the
a. implementation lag
b. policy coordination problem
c. decision-making lag
d. recognition lag
e. effectiveness lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

63. Time required __________ is not a time lag associated with using discretionary policy to correct an
economic problem.
a. to recognize the problem
b. to decide how to handle the problem
c. to set a policy change in action
d. for a policy to affect economic variables
e. to coordinate monetary and fiscal policy
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

64. Those who favor a passive approach to policy believe that


a. discretionary monetary policy can be used to help the economy since monetary policy lags
are short
b. discretionary fiscal policy can be used to help the economy since fiscal policy lags are
short
c. lags associated with implementing policies are too long and unstable for discretionary
policy to be effective
d. despite the lags involved, implementing discretionary policy is preferable to inaction
e. none of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

65. Suppose a recession surprises economic forecasters, who did not see it coming. Which type of lag is
that?
a. cyclical lag
b. recognition lag
c. decision-making lag
d. implementation lag
e. effectiveness lag
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

66. An implementation lag is the time it takes


a. policy makers to decide what to do
b. for the chosen policy to have its full impact on the economy
c. to identify trouble in the economy and to assess its severity
d. to put a selected policy into action
e. before a policy's effects on the economy are noticed by ordinary people
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

67. Which of the following pairs of lags are typically shorter for monetary policy than for fiscal policy?
a. the recognition lag and the implementation lag
b. the effectiveness lag and the decision-making lag
c. the decision-making lag and the implementation lag
d. the implementation lag and the effectiveness lag
e. the recognition lag and the effectiveness lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

68. The average U.S. recession (after World War II) has lasted
a. a few months
b. about half a year
c. just under a year
d. about three weeks
e. about two years
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

69. The __________ lag is typically longer for fiscal policy than monetary policy.
a. both b and d
b. decision-making
c. effectiveness
d. implementation
e. recognition
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

70. Those who favor a passive approach to policy often argue that changes in prices and wages will shift
the short-run aggregate supply curve
a. before active policy shifts the aggregate demand curve
b. only after active policy shifts the aggregate demand curve
c. more than active policy shifts the aggregate demand curve
d. less than active policy shifts the aggregate demand curve
e. in a direction opposite to the shift in the aggregate demand curve caused by active policy
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags
71. If the time for an economy to self-correct is shorter than the active policy lags,
a. active policy should be strengthened
b. active policy will likely be destabilizing
c. the passive policy case is weakened
d. the aggregate demand curve shifts more rapidly than the short-run aggregate supply curve
e. active policy will work better than passive policy
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

72. Which of the following statements supports the passive approach to a contractionary gap?
a. It is likely that policies will be subject to time lags.
b. Prolonged unemployment may cause the economy's potential real GDP to fall.
c. Workers' skills may grow rusty during a prolonged recession.
d. Unemployed workers may drop out of the labor force during a prolonged recession.
e. Firms may neglect their capital stock during a prolonged recession.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

73. If high unemployment lasts a long time, it could cause potential real GDP to fall.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

74. Those who favor an active approach to policy and those who favor a passive approach disagree not
only on how quickly the government can act but also on how stable the economy basically is.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

75. Those who favor an active approach to policy believe that


a. discretionary monetary policy cannot be used to help the economy since monetary policy
lags are long
b. discretionary fiscal policy cannot be used to help the economy since fiscal policy lags are
long
c. lags associated with implementing policies are too long and unstable for discretionary
policy to be effective
d. despite the lags involved, implementing discretionary policy is preferable to inaction
e. none of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

76. Discretionary policy advocates believe


a. both c and d
b. that self-correction forces work slowly
c. that rules are effective in changing output
d. in rational expectations
e. none of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

77. An effective policy of governmental intervention in the economy requires all of the following except
one. Which is the exception?
a. the will to reject sound policy if it gets in the way of political considerations
b. the ability to estimate the economy's potential level of output
c. the ability to predict what would happen without intervention
d. an assortment of effective tools of discretionary policy
e. the ability to achieve effective cooperation between fiscal and monetary policy makers
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

78. A passive approach to economic policy calls for the government to do nothing to offset unemployment
because of
a. a lack of any real concern for those who have no jobs
b. a conviction that unemployment is relatively harmless
c. a belief that active economic policy is likely to be either ineffective or harmful
d. a desire to await further economic data before intervening
e. belief in the law of diminishing returns
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

79. Which of the following is not a valid criticism of discretionary fiscal policy?
a. Implementation of fiscal policy is sometimes difficult.
b. Time lags in fiscal policy are long.
c. Fiscal policy works only during periods of stagflation.
d. Fiscal policy often affects only current income, but many economic decisions are made on
the basis of permanent income.
e. Fiscal policy might have undesirable long-term effects on aggregate supply.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: A Review of Policy Perspectives

80. According to the rational expectations school, people base their expectations about inflation on
a. the announcement of a change in policy
b. weighted averages of previous inflation rates, with the most distant getting the heaviest
weight
c. all information available to them
d. changes in monetary policy only
e. changes in both monetary and fiscal policy
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Role of Expectations
81. According to the rational expectations school,
a. on average people have very little idea of what to expect from government policy makers
b. people form expectations by focusing only on the private sector
c. changes in the expected price level shift the aggregate demand curve
d. people do not consider likely government policies when forming expectations, choosing to
remain rationally ignorant
e. people form expectations, in part, by considering the probable future actions of
government policy makers
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Role of Expectations

82. One of the reasons fiscal and monetary policy can stimulate output and employment in the short run is
that nominal wages increase faster than the price level.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

83. If the price level increases by more than expected, output can be expected to decrease as a result.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

84. If the price level increases more rapidly than expected,


a. output will fall
b. output will increase
c. output will not change
d. real wages will increase
e. none of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

85. If an economy is at potential GDP and an expansionary policy is correctly anticipated, the result will
be
a. both c and e
b. little or no increase in GDP
c. an increase in wages along with a dramatically falling price level
d. a rapidly expanding economy
e. a severe recession
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

86. The time inconsistency problem occurs when


a. all of the following occur
b. expectations are slow to adjust to reality, causing output to vary in the short run
c. public officials' reelection goals generate short-term economic gains at the expense of
long-term inflation
d. execution lags are shorter than self-correction lags
e. policy makers execute one type of policy after influencing the public to anticipate another
type
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

87. Which of the following would eliminate the time inconsistency problem?
a. Each of the following would eliminate the time inconsistency problem.
b. When lags associated with monetary and fiscal policy are extremely short.
c. When discretionary macro policy is replaced with fixed policy rules which are well
publicized.
d. When expectations about the economy adjust very slowly.
e. None of the above.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

88. Given the expected price level, policies for reaching potential GDP will work best if the money supply
is
a. large, so that prices at potential GDP are below expectations and people can afford to buy
enough goods to support the natural level of employment
b. large enough that prices at potential GDP are above expectations and firms can afford to
hire workers
c. small, so that prices at potential GDP are below expectations and people can afford to buy
enough goods to support the natural level of employment
d. small, so that prices at potential GDP are above expectations and firms can afford to hire
the workers
e. exactly the size that makes prices equal to the prices people expected to prevail
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

89. Economists of the rational expectations school believe that expansionary monetary policy is fully
effective only if
a. the policy is anticipated by workers and firms
b. aggregate supply shifts to the left
c. the economy is operating at or above its potential output level
d. policy makers follow through on their previously announced plans
e. the policy is totally unexpected
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

90. If rational expectations cause people's price expectations to be generally correct, active policy will
influence the price level but not output.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

91. The wage rate considered acceptable to workers engaged in collective bargaining will be determined in
part by what monetary policy workers expect in the near future.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

92. According to the rational expectations school, when monetary policy makers do exactly what is
expected of them, their efforts to stimulate the economy will have no effect either on output or
employment.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

93. According to the rational expectations school, when the economy is operating at the potential output
level, a temporary decrease in unemployment is possible through appropriate monetary policy--but
only if workers and employers are aware in advance of the Fed's intentions.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

94. According to the rational expectations school, which of the following can affect the levels of output
and employment?
a. an expansionary monetary policy, if it is fully anticipated
b. a contractionary monetary policy, if it is fully anticipated
c. monetary policy that is unanticipated
d. fiscal policy that is anticipated
e. the Fed's announcement of no change in monetary policy
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

95. If resource owners anticipated a monetary growth rate of 6 percent, but the money supply actually
grew at only 2 percent,
a. real wages would fall
b. output would fall
c. output would increase
d. output would increase, but only if nominal wages were increased more rapidly than prices
e. the expected inflation rate was less than the actual rate
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy
96. According to the rational expectations school, if the Fed announces a policy of rapid growth in the
money supply, but then puts the brakes on money expansion without any announcement, the short-run
result is likely to be
a. an unexpected surge in aggregate demand
b. an unexpected drop in aggregate demand
c. an anticipated surge in aggregate demand
d. an anticipated drop in aggregate demand
e. no change in aggregate demand
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

97. Suppose that in 2004 the Fed announced a policy of rapid growth in the money supply, but then put the
brakes on money expansion without any announcement. If in 2005, Fed officials announce again that
an expansion is planned, the most likely result is that
a. people will believe the announcement since the conditions that created a need for the
expansion are probably still in effect
b. people will believe the announcement since they will believe that having failed to
implement the expansion previously, the Fed still plans to do so
c. people will not believe the announcement since they will believe that the conditions that
created a need for the expansion must have changed in the meantime
d. people will not believe the announcement since they will believe that having failed to
implement the expansion previously, the Fed will probably fail again
e. there will be more uncertainty about the Fed following through on the policies it
announces
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

98. Some economists believe that when workers and firms come to expect an expansionary monetary
policy and the resulting inflation,
a. they act so as to prevent the inflation from occurring
b. their actions lead to a further increase in output
c. the expansionary monetary policy will have no effect on either output or employment
d. the monetary authority will be forced to cancel its planned expansionary policy
e. both output and employment will increase even more than was originally planned
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Anticipating Monetary Policy

99. A credible policy designed to lower inflation must throw the economy into recession.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Credibility

100. For an economy to eliminate inflation once people have begun to anticipate inflation,
a. all of the following could occur
b. credibility of policy is crucial to the cost of lowering inflation
c. actual inflation must be less than anticipated inflation
d. cold-turkey solutions will reduce inflation relatively rapidly
e. a recession will have to be endured until expectations have been reduced
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Credibility

101. The Fed is not completely independent because


a. Congress could rewrite the laws that created the Fed
b. it relies heavily on Congressional appropriations
c. the president sits on the Board of Governors
d. Congress must approve any new monetary policy
e. the president must approve any new monetary policy
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Credibility

102. The time inconsistency problem arises when


a. attempts are made to coordinate monetary policy throughout different time zones
b. there is a lag between the announcement of a monetary policy and the implementation of it
c. policy makers have an incentive to mislead people about their monetary policy intentions
d. policy makers do not allow enough time for a new policy to take effect
e. there is a deep conflict among monetary policy makers
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Credibility

103. Those who prefer a pasive approach to the conduct of macroeconomic policy tend to believe that
markets are self-correcting.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

104. In the conduct of macroeconomic policy there are 4 lags that complicate the timing of the policy’s
implementation. They are
a. recognition lag, decision-making lag, correction lag and feedback lag
b. statistical lag, decision-making lag, implementation lag and effectiveness lag
c. recognition lag, decision-making lag, implementation lag and effectiveness lag
d. statistical lag, decision-making lag, correction lag and effectiveness lag
e. recognition lag, statistical lag, correction lag and feedback lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

105. A major problem in the conduct of macroeconomic policy is the time it takes to recognize that the
economy is experiencing a problem.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags
106. A major problem in the conduct of macroeconomic policy is the time it takes to decide how to deal
with the problem the economy is experiencing.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

107. Rational excectations is a school of thought that argues people form expectations based on
all available information, including the likely future actions of government policy makers.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Role of Expectations

108. According to the rational expectations theory, monetary policy is fully anticipated and therefore only
affects
a. the level of real GDP
b. the level of real investment
c. the price level
d. the level of real consumption
e. the level of exports
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

109. The Phillips curve shows


a. the relationship between the interest rate and the inflation rate
b. the relationship between the inflation rate and the rate of unemployment
c. the relationship between the unemployment rate and the level of real GDP
d. the relationship between the growth rate and the inflation rate
e. the relationship between the rate of unemployment and the growth rate
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

110. Some of those who favor a passive approach to policy disapprove of government intervention in the
economy because they think government policy makers do not know which policy is correct.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Limitations on Discretion

111. Advocates of policy rules rather than discretion believe that self-correction forces work too slowly
when discretionary policy is used.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Limitations on Discretion

112. The active approach to monetary policy involves predetermined rules that are followed virtually
without exception.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Limitations on Discretion

113. One often-cited rationale for a fixed-growth-rate monetary policy is that


a. it is too expensive to pay a staff to continually make adjustments in policy
b. although it's possible to determine what's happening in the economy, it's not possible to
determine what to do about it
c. it is not possible to determine with any certainty what's happening in the economy, so it's
easy to make a mistake with active policy
d. we know that the economy is increasing at a fixed rate year after year, so a fixed rate of
growth in the money supply is justified
e. then the Federal Reserve would be superfluous and we could eliminate one large
bureaucracy
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Limitations on Discretion

114. According to rational expectations theory, people's predictions about the future course of
governmental economic policy influence the position of the short-run aggregate supply curve.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

115. According to the rational expectations model, the only time active policy has an impact on aggregate
output is when
a. it is expansionary
b. it is contractionary
c. it is unannounced
d. the economy has a contractionary gap
e. the economy has an expansionary gap
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

116. If an economist of the rational expectations school were advising a policy maker, the advice most
likely to be given would be:
a. Don't use discretionary policy if recognition lags are long.
b. Don't use discretionary policy if activity lags are long.
c. Don't use fiscal policy if effectiveness lags are long.
d. Don't use monetary policy if implementation lags are long.
e. Don't use discretionary policy.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

117. The main policy conclusion of the rational expectations school is


a. fiscal policy lags are so long and variable that such policy is worthless, but monetary
policy can be helpful
b. monetary policy lags are so long and variable that such policy is worthless, but fiscal
policy can be helpful
c. both monetary and fiscal policy can be helpful if policy makers correctly anticipate the
plans of firms and households
d. both monetary and fiscal policy can be helpful if firms and households correctly anticipate
the plans of policy makers
e. neither monetary nor fiscal policy can be helpful if firms and households correctly
anticipate the plans of policy makers
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

118. The rational expectations school advocates


a. monetarism
b. Keynesianism
c. the use of fiscal policy
d. the use of monetary policy
e. a passive approach to policy
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

119. According to the rational expectations school, a correctly anticipated expansionary monetary policy
will
a. increase prices and real output
b. increase real output in the short run only
c. have no effect on prices or real output
d. decrease prices and real output
e. lead only to a higher price level
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

120. Those of the rational expectations school


a. favor monetary rules because they believe we know too little about how the economy
works
b. favor monetary rules so that workers and firms do not get any unanticipated surprises from
the Fed
c. are those who favor an "active approach" to policy and therefore reject monetary rules
d. oppose any monetary rules because they believe rules impede the natural self-correcting
mechanism of the economy
e. neither oppose nor favor monetary rules
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

121. Economists of the rational expectations school


a. have no confidence in the ability of workers and firms to observe and react to economic
events
b. believe workers and firms behave the same regardless of what the Fed does
c. have great faith in the ability of monetary policy makers to maintain a full employment
economy with stable prices
d. believe that effective monetary policy can shift the potential level of output to the right
e. believe workers and firms make decisions based on what they think monetary policy will
be in the future
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

122. The rational expectations school advocates the passive rule of a fixed-growth-rate monetary policy
because
a. we don't have enough information to pursue an active policy
b. the economy is not in bad enough shape to require active intervention
c. then the Federal Reserve Board would be superfluous and we could eliminate a large
bureaucracy
d. people render active policy ineffective by figuring out what it's going to be and taking
actions to offset it
e. they prefer to put their major emphasis on an active fiscal policy
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

123. In general, the Fed has not embraced a fixed-growth-rate monetary policy because
a. its adoption would cost them their jobs
b. no influential economists have yet come out in favor of it
c. the Fed has to answer to Congress, and Congress is not in favor of it
d. the Fed prefers active fiscal policy
e. they believe the economy is too complex and too changeable to make such a policy work
consistently
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Rules and Rational Expectations

124. The early Phillips curve showed a tradeoff between unemployment and inflation because it was drawn
for a period in which the main source of instability was aggregate demand.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

125. In the early 1960s, the discovery of the Phillips curve relationship caused economists and policy
makers to think that they understood the tradeoffs between
a. aggregate supply and aggregate demand
b. excess aggregate supply and excess aggregate demand
c. inflation and unemployment
d. monetary and fiscal policy
e. rule-making and discretionary policy
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

126. On the Phillips curve graph, the immediate effects of a discretionary increase in government spending
are represented by a
a. rightward shift of the aggregate demand curve
b. leftward shift of the aggregate demand curve
c. rightward shift of the Phillips curve
d. leftward shift of the Phillips curve
e. movement along the Phillips curve
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

127. Economist A. W. Phillips believed that


a. the Fed should follow a policy rule because it does not know the lag structure
b. the Fed should follow a policy rule to avoid monetary surprises
c. there is an inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment
d. private sector spending is inherently unstable
e. government spending is inherently unstable
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

128. The inflation associated with the oil embargoes of the 1970s illustrated the __________ of the
downward-sloping Phillips curve in the long run, as unemployment __________.
a. validity; fell
b. validity; rose
c. fallacy; rose
d. fallacy; fell
e. fallacy; did not change
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

129. The inflation associated with the oil embargoes of the 1970s resulted in
a. reduced unemployment because aggregate demand increased
b. reduced unemployment because aggregate demand fell
c. increased unemployment because aggregate demand increased
d. increased unemployment because aggregate demand fell
e. increased unemployment because aggregate supply fell
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

130. Suppose the economy had been operating along a given short-run Phillips curve for several years and
then experienced a year of stagflation. The year of stagflation would
a. be represented as a move upward along the short-run Phillips curve
b. be represented as a move downward along the short-run Phillips curve
c. be represented as a point above the short-run Phillips curve
d. be represented as a point below the short-run Phillips curve
e. correspond to the origin
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

131. A Phillips curve shows the relationship between


a. the price level and the number of workers unemployed
b. the inflation rate and the unemployment rate
c. the unemployment rate and the level of GDP
d. the inflation rate and the supply of money
e. the inflation rate and the level of government spending
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Framework

132. In its original form, the Phillips curve depicted a situation in which an economy could reduce its
unemployment rate by holding the inflation rate steady.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

133. The short-run Phillips curve is drawn for a given expected inflation rate and so it shifts as inflation
expectations change.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

134. The short-run Phillips curve shows that


a. the economy can have low inflation and low unemployment simultaneously
b. the economy can have high inflation and high unemployment simultaneously
c. a reduction in unemployment comes at the expense of lower inflation
d. a reduction in unemployment comes at the expense of higher inflation
e. a reduction in inflation comes at the expense of lower unemployment
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

135. An increase in the expected inflation rate will


a. shift the short-run Phillips curve upward and to the right
b. shift the short-run Phillips curve downward and to the left
c. not shift the short-run Phillips curve unless the unemployment rate changes
d. cause the unemployment rate associated with each inflation rate to decrease
e. tend to increase production unless the actual inflation rate also increases
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

136. The short-run Phillips curve portrays a(n)


a. direct relationship between total employment and the inflation rate
b. inverse relationship between inflation and total employment
c. direct relationship between the unemployment rate and the inflation rate
d. inverse relationship between the unemployment rate and the inflation rate
e. inverse relationship between the price level and the unemployment rate
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

137. Which of the following would correspond to movement downward along a short-run Phillips curve?
a. The aggregate demand curve shifts rightward, moving up along a short-run aggregate
supply curve.
b. The aggregate demand curve shifts leftward, moving down along a short-run aggregate
supply curve.
c. The short-run aggregate supply curve shifts leftward, moving up along the aggregate
demand curve.
d. The short-run aggregate supply curve shifts rightward, moving down along the aggregate
demand curve.
e. Both the aggregate demand and the short-run aggregate supply curves shift leftward.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

138. Suppose we observe several years of falling inflation rates for an economy. Which of the following
would best explain this phenomenon?
a. Unemployment is probably at the natural rate.
b. The unemployment rate must be rising.
c. The unemployment rate must be below the natural rate.
d. The unemployment rate is probably above the natural rate.
e. Aggregate output must be increasing.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

139. Along the short-run Phillips curve, when the unemployment rate goes down,
a. unemployment benefit payments go up
b. prices go down
c. the Phillips curve shifts outward
d. the inflation rate goes up
e. there is no change in the rate of inflation
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

140. One way of expressing the meaning of the short-run Phillips curve is to say that
a. the cost of reducing unemployment is higher inflation
b. nothing but good comes from reducing unemployment
c. the cost of reducing inflation is lower unemployment
d. aggregate supply and aggregate demand will always be equal at the potential output level
e. the best economic policy is one that attempts to make the rate of inflation equal to the rate
of unemployment
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

141. The short-run Phillips curve is based upon labor contracts that reflect a given expected
a. price level
b. unemployment level
c. money supply
d. aggregate demand
e. unemployment rate
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Short-Run Phillips Curve

142. The long-run Phillips curve is located at the natural rate of unemployment.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

143. The long-run Phillips curve suggests that changing the rate of unemployment in the economy has no
impact on the inflation rate.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

144. Some economists believe that in the long run the unemployment rate is independent of the inflation
rate and so the Phillips curve becomes a vertical line.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

NARRBEGIN: Exhibit 31-3


Exhibit 17-3
NARREND

145. In Exhibit 17-3, the most desirable of the points shown is


a. point a
b. point b
c. point c
d. point d
e. point e
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

146. In Exhibit 17-3, if the economy started near point b, and government purchases increased, we would
expect the economy in the short run to move to
a. point a
b. point e
c. point c
d. point d
e. none of the above; the economy would remain at point b
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

147. In Exhibit 17-3, the natural rate of unemployment is


a. 2 percent because it occurs at the intersection of the curves
b. 4 percent because it is the midpoint of the short-run curve
c. 4 percent because it is on the long-run curve
d. 8 percent because it is the most the economy can attain with high inflation
e. 10 percent because it is the most the economy can attain
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

NARRBEGIN: Exhibit 31-4


Exhibit 17-4
NARREND

148. Consider Exhibit 17-4. If the economy is initially at point c and aggregate demand increases, the
economy will (in the long run)
a. move toward point a
b. move toward point b
c. stay at point c
d. move toward point d
e. move toward point f
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

149. If the economy in Exhibit 17-4 is initially at point c and aggregate demand decreases, the economy
will (in the long run)
a. move toward point a
b. move toward point b
c. stay at point c
d. move toward point d
e. move toward point f
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

150. If the economy in Exhibit 17-4 is initially at point c and aggregate demand is stable, the economy will
a. move toward point a
b. move toward point b
c. stay at point c
d. move toward point d
e. move toward point f
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

151. The long-run Phillips curve


a. is vertical
b. is the same as the short-run Phillips curve
c. slopes downward
d. slopes upward
e. is horizontal
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

152. The long-run Phillips curve


a. represents the fact that inflation is consistent with many unemployment rates
b. represents the fact that inflation will not influence unemployment in the long run
c. has a negative slope because the short-run Phillips curve shifts up and to the left
d. shows that expected inflation can never equal actual inflation
e. shows that unemployment is a short run, but not a long run, phenomenon
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

153. Along the long-run Phillips curve,


a. the economy is at an unemployment level that corresponds to the potential output level
b. expectations have not fully adjusted
c. policy makers can have lower inflation only with higher unemployment
d. a cut in taxes will lower inflation
e. a tax cut will increase unemployment
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

154. All of the following are true along a long-run Phillips curve except one. Which is the exception?
a. unemployment is at the natural rate
b. employers and workers have the time and ability to adjust fully to unexpected changes in
aggregate demand
c. the only choices for policy makers are different levels of inflation
d. inflation and unemployment are inversely related
e. changes in aggregate demand will have no effect in the long run on unemployment
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

155. Which of the following is true about the long-run Phillips curve?
a. No event can shift the curve rightward; it can only be shifted leftward.
b. No event can shift the curve leftward; it can only be shifted rightward.
c. No event can shift the curve either rightward or leftward.
d. Only fiscal and monetary policy can shift the curve.
e. Demand-side policy cannot shift the curve.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

156. One implication of the Phillips curve analysis is that


a. unemployment rates below the natural rate are only possible in the long run
b. unemployment rates below the natural rate lead to falling rates of inflation in the long run
c. if inflationary expectations are accurate, the economy is on the short-run Phillips curve but
not on the long-run Phillips curve
d. unemployment rates below the natural rate may be achieved only with rising inflation rates
e. the natural rate of unemployment is strictly a short-run phenomenon
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

157. If the actual inflation rate exceeds the expected inflation rate,
a. the economy is on the long-run Phillips curve
b. unemployment exceeds the natural rate
c. maintaining the existing unemployment rate will require increasing inflation in the long
run
d. the actual rate will tend to fall toward the expected rate
e. unemployment will tend to decrease in the long run
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

158. Probably the most significant implication of the natural rate of unemployment hypothesis is that
a. the natural rate of inflation tends toward zero
b. long-run policy should be directed toward controlling inflation rather than unemployment
c. the natural rate of unemployment can be reduced by accepting worsening inflation
d. the natural rate of unemployment is consistent only with a zero inflation rate in the long
run
e. tax cuts stimulate the economy and lower inflation
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

159. If inflationary expectations increase, we can infer that


a. unemployment is above the natural rate
b. the economy is not on the long-run Phillips curve
c. the short-run Phillips curve is shifting to the left
d. output is below potential GDP
e. the unemployment rate is at the natural rate
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

160. The unemployment rate can remain below the natural rate, but only
a. in the long run
b. with continuous deflation
c. with a continuously increasing inflation rate
d. with a series of adverse supply shocks
e. if the money supply is constant
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

161. In general, the faster inflationary expectations adjust,


a. the less macro policy can influence unemployment
b. the better discretionary policy can be expected to work
c. the slower the adjustment of the short-run Phillips curve
d. the stronger the case for active policy
e. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

162. The long-run Phillips curve is


a. downward-sloping
b. vertical
c. upward-sloping
d. horizontal
e. U-shaped
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

163. Current thinking on the Phillips curve suggests that it would be best for policy makers to
a. focus on controlling unemployment
b. stimulate permanent shifts in aggregate supply
c. focus on controlling inflation
d. stimulate permanent shifts in aggregate demand
e. develop a two-pronged policy to control both unemployment and inflation
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

164. Unemployment cannot be maintained below the natural rate, no matter what inflation rate is tolerated.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

165. The natural rate hypothesis claims that policy makers can have considerable success in reducing
unemployment through monetary and fiscal policy.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

166. According to the natural rate hypothesis, the economy tends toward
a. the natural rate of unemployment in the long run
b. the natural rate of unemployment in the short run
c. potential output in the short run
d. zero inflation in the long run
e. a stable tradeoff between inflation and unemployment in the long run
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

167. The hypothesis that the economy tends toward the natural rate of unemployment in the long run is
known as the
a. cyclical unemployment hypothesis
b. full employment hypothesis
c. natural rate hypothesis
d. economic stability hypothesis
e. policy ineffectiveness hypothesis
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

168. According to the natural rate hypothesis, the natural rate of unemployment is
a. largely independent of the level of aggregate supply stimulus provided by fiscal or
monetary policy
b. largely independent of the level of aggregate demand stimulus provided by fiscal or
monetary policy
c. dependent on the level of aggregate supply stimulus provided by fiscal or monetary policy
d. dependent on the level of aggregate demand stimulus provided by fiscal or monetary
policy
e. dependent on the size of the federal budget deficit or surplus
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

169. According to the natural rate hypothesis,


a. government policy makers can influence the tradeoff between inflation and unemployment
in the long run but not in the short run
b. government policy makers can target both stable interest rates and a stable money supply
in the long run but not in the short run
c. government policy makers can target both stable interest rates and a stable money supply
in the short run but not in the long run
d. the economy tends toward the natural rate of unemployment only when the government
provides the appropriate demand stimulus
e. government policy makers can influence the tradeoff between inflation and unemployment
in the short run but not in the long run
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

170. According to the natural rate hypothesis, unemployment can


a. never be maintained below the natural rate
b. be maintained below the natural rate only at the cost of higher taxes
c. be maintained below the natural rate while maintaining a constant low inflation rate
d. be maintained below the natural rate only at the cost of ever-increasing inflation
e. be maintained below the natural rate only at the cost of ever-increasing federal budget
deficits
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis
171. An important implication of the natural rate hypothesis is that regardless of concerns about
__________, the government policy that results in __________ is generally the optimal long-run
policy.
a. unemployment; low inflation
b. inflation; low unemployment
c. unemployment; low interest rates
d. inflation; low interest rates
e. inflation; a stable foreign exchange rate
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Reflective Thinking
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

172. An important implication of the natural rate hypothesis is that the government policy that results in
low inflation is generally the optimal long-run policy
a. only if there is no cyclical unemployment in the short run
b. only if there is no structural unemployment in the short run
c. regardless of concerns about unemployment
d. regardless of concerns about currency exchange rates
e. only if the dollar's exchange rate is stable
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

173. In general, we would expect those who favor a passive approach to policy to believe in
a. slow rather than rapid self-correction
b. potentially incorrect rather than rational price expectations
c. short, certain rather than long, variable policy lags
d. a negatively sloped rather than vertical Phillips curve
e. the natural rate hypothesis
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

174. The natural rate hypothesis states that in the long run,
a. economic policy can reduce both inflation and unemployment
b. the economy's natural rate of annual growth is approximately 3%
c. monetary and fiscal policy have their greatest effect on the rate of unemployment
d. the Phillips curve is horizontal
e. the economy tends toward the natural rate of unemployment
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Natural Rate Hypothesis

175. As people come to expect higher inflation, the long-run Phillips curve shifts leftward.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve
176. Contrary to what the Phillips curve would have predicted, the U.S. economy in the 1970s experienced
simultaneous increases in inflation and unemployment.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve

177. Before discovering that the short-run Phillips curve does not show the true long-run situation, policy
makers were successful in trying to bring the economy to the zero-inflation, zero-unemployment point
on the short-run curve.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve

178. An increase in price expectations shifts the long-run Phillips curve, but not the short-run Phillips
curve.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve

179. After the 1960s, the short-run Phillips curve based on U.S. economic data
a. began shifting inward
b. began shifting outward
c. shifted little or none at all
d. became virtually horizontal
e. became virtually vertical
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve

180. During the period __________, the short-run Phillips curve for the United States was farthest from the
origin.
a. 1960 to 1964
b. 1964 to 1969
c. 1970 to 1973
d. 1974 to 1983
e. 1984 to 1989
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Hard NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Evidence of the Phillips Curve

181. According to the __________ approach, __________ policy may __________ the instability of the
economy.
a. passive, automatic, increase
b. passive, discretionary, increase
c. passive, discretionary, decrease
d. active, discretionary, increase
e. active, automatic, decrease
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Active Policy Versus Passive Policy

182. Which of the following is not a potential problem with active policy for policy makers?
a. predicting what would happen with a passive approach
b. lacking the tools needed to achieve the desired result quickly
c. not predicting the effects of an active policy on the economy’s key performance measures
d. fiscal and monetary policy makers not working together
e. failing to implement the appropriate policy because of political obstacles
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Problems with Active Policy

183. The economy may turn around on its own before a new policy registers its full impact primarily
because of the
a. recognition lag
b. decision-making lag
c. effectiveness lag
d. implementation lag
e. time lag
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Problem of Lags

184. The long run Phillip’s curve is a horizontal line at the country’s natural rate of inflation.
a. True
b. False
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Long-Run Phillips Curve

185. Active macroeconomic policy would move to close an expansionary gap by decreasing aggregate
demand.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap

186. Passive macroeconomic policy would rely on natural market forces and automatic stabilizers to close
an expansionary gap.
a. True
b. False
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Closing an Expansionary Gap
187. When policy makers have an incentive to announce one policy to shape expectations but then pursue a
different policy once those expectations have been formed and acted on, there is
a. no problem; this is normal behavior
b. policy credibility
c. a time-inconsistency problem
d. rational expectation
e. None of the answers is correct
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Monetary Policy and Inflation Expectations

188. An anti-inflation policy that involves announcing and executing tough measures to stop inflation is
called
a. cold turkey
b. cold chicken
c. hot water
d. chokehold
e. time-inconsistency
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Credibility

189. Opponents of inflation targets say that


a. such targets encourage workers to plan on a low and stable inflation rate and hold down
demands for wage increases
b. the Fed will pay less attention to jobs and economic growth
c. such targets encourage firms to plan on a low and stable inflation rate and hold down price
increases
d. such targets encourage investors to plan on a low and stable inflation rate and hold down
demands for interest rate increases
e. None of the answers is correct
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: Policy Rules versus Discretion

190. The initial Phillips curve relationship implied that the opportunity cost of __________ __________
was higher __________.
a. reducing, unemployment, inflation
b. increasing, unemployment, inflation
c. reducing, unemployment, deflation
d. increasing, employment, deflation
e. reducing, employment, inflation
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: Analytic
LOC: Monetary and fiscal policy TOP: The Phillips Curve

You might also like