the economy of the united states, economic indicators, government regulation, and international...
TRANSCRIPT
MacroeconomicsThe Economy of the United States, Economic Indicators, Government Regulation, and International Trade
Economic IndicatorsEconomic Indicators: Used to evaluate the state of the US economy and try to predict what is going to happen to the economy in the future, The government studies these indicators to decide what to do to regulate the US economy to benefit the peopleIndicators:1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – measures the market
value of all goods and services produced in the United States during a period of one year
- can be used to compare the US economy year to year and with other nations
2. Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Measures the change in prices overtime of a set of ‘basket of goods and services’ typically purchased by an American family
- Used to measure inflation (increase in general price level, reduction in the value of money) and deflation (decrease in the general price level, increase in the value of money)
Economic Indicators Cont.
3. Business Cycle: fluctuation in economic activity – how much is spent in the US
- Contraction v. Expansion- Recessions and Depressions
4. Standard of Living: how many goods and services are produced per person, indicates the level of economic prosperity in a country
5. Unemployment – percentage of Americans who are actively seeking work and cannot find it – 7.3%
- Underemployment – workers who are over qualified for their jobs or are working less hours than they desire
6. Poverty Rate: percentage of Americans living in poverty(1- $11,720, Family of 4- $23,492) – 15%
US Government Regulation of the Economy
The United States government regulates the economy to try to move the economy towards full employment, price stability and a stable expanding economy.
Three Means:1. Fiscal Policy: Government Spending and
Taxation2. Monetary Policy: Regulation of the Money
Supply, Interest Rates, and Banking3. Regulation of Foreign Trade and International
Aid
Fiscal Policy: Government Spending
Government spends money in three ways to help the economy:1. Public Goods – goods available to all whether or not a
person pays for them – Police, National Defense, Disease Control, Schools
- Increase quality of life of Americans- Increase private sector revenue, create jobs
2. Social Insurance Programs (Entitlement) – designed to make up for lost income of people who worked but are now retired, unemployed, or unable to work – not need based -SS and Medicare
3. Income Assistance Programs (Means-tested) – provide money and assistance to those living in poverty, need based qualifications – TANF, Medicaid, CHIPs, SSI
Fiscal Policy: TaxationUS Government must tax people to pay for its spending, but it also uses tax policy to help the economy:
Proportional Taxes/Flat Taxes – Sales Taxes
Progressive Taxes – The higher the income, the higher the percentage of that income paid in taxes – US income taxes
- Individual Income Tax v. Corporate Income Tax- Earned Income Tax Credit- Income taxes are disproportionately paid by the wealthy and disproportionally help the poor
Regressive Taxes – People who make less pay a higher percentage of their income – Payroll taxes – SS, Medicare
2012
Employee Employer
Social Security Taxes
6.2% in earnings up to $106,800
6.2% in earnings up to $106,800
Medicare Taxes
1.45% 1.45%
Income Taxes:
Payroll Taxes:
Fiscal Policy: Economic TheoryKeynesian Economic Theory – John Maynard Keynes -1936
- In order to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment, the government can alter its spending and tax
policies.Demand-Side Economics – Belief that the economy can be stimulated and unemployment reduced by increasing government spending and shifting the aggregate demand curve to the right, increase money supply
Fiscal Policy: Economic Theory
Supply-side Economics – Belief that the economy can be stimulated and unemployment reduced by decreasing government taxation and shifting the aggregate supply curve to the right, can help control inflation
The United States Government has done both since the Great Depression and often tries to do both at the same time.
Fiscal Policy: National DebtWhen the government tries to reduce taxes and increase spending this creates a deficit.Deficit- amount which total government expenditures exceeds government revenue, measured annuallyNational Debt – Total amount the US government owes – sum of the deficitsProblems with the National Debt:1. US Government must fund the debt by borrowing money:
- This increases the demand for loans which causes an increase in the equilibrium interest rate
- Increase in the interest rate discourages private borrowing which reduces spending- Reduces corporate investments - All of this hurts the economy
2. The US Government must pay interest on these loans
Analyzing Tables, Charts, and Graphs1. Quickly look at labels, headings, legends, units of
measurement2. Does it have a title? If not, what should it be?3. Summarize the main point4. Generalizations/Trends
- starting and end points- highest and lowest data points- largest and smallest changes- tipping points- gradual/dramatic increases/decreases- constants
Monetary Policy and The Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve - 1913- Central bank and monetary authority in the United States- Role is to conduct the nation's monetary policy, supervise and regulate banking institutions, maintain the stability of the financial system - Seven member board of governors makes decisions
- 14 year non-renewable terms- One member is appointed every two years- Chairman is appointed every four years - can be renewed
- 12 District Reserve Banks - each has a president - implement Fed policies and hold member bank reserves- FOMC - Federal Open Market Committee - make actual decisions regarding money supply and interest rates - 7 members of board of governors and five district bank presidents
Role of the Federal ReserveIn order to keep the country prosperous the FOMC (Fed) can regulate
the money supply, set the discount rate and federal fund rate, and set the required reserve ratio
1. Money Supply - Doesn’t print money but is responsible to put money into circulation- If it wants to increase the money supply it buys bonds from member banks- If it wants to decrease the money supply it sells bonds to member banks
2. Set the discount rate and the federal fund rateDiscount Rate = rate at which federal reserve loans money to banksFederal Fund Rate = rate at which member banks can loan money to one another- Can either encourage or discourage banks to borrow money
3. Set the Required Reserve Ratio- can encourage banks to increase or reduce the number of loans
The Fed and Monetary PolicyIn an economic downturn or recession the Fed will:1. Increase the Money Supply by buying bonds2. Decrease the discount rate and federal fund rate to increase the supply of loans 3. Reduce the required reserve ratio to free up more deposits for loansAll of this will decrease the market interest rate (by increasing the supply of loans) and encourage consumers to borrow and spend and businesses to borrow and invest
In a period of economic expansion where inflation becomes a problem the Fed will:1. Decrease the money supply by selling bonds2. Increase the discount rate and federal fund rate3. Increase the required reserve ratioAll of this will increase the market interest rate (by
decreasing the supply of loans) and encourage consumers and businesses to save money instead of borrowing and spending
International Trade and International Aid
The Government attempts to regulate international trade and aid to foreign countries to expand and stabilize the US economy.
History of Protective Policies : Tariffs and Quotas- foreign countries did the same to us - stifles trade
Free Trade Policies: Beginning in the 1990s- NAFTA, WTO and GATT, CAFTA, etc.- idea is countries will specialize in producing the goods
that they can produce at the lowest opportunity cost - prices on
goods will decrease and consumers will benefit - comparative
advantage based on resources, climate, and labor supply
The Good: American Consumers benefit from lower prices and it raises the standard of living for Americans and across the world
The Problems with Free Trade:- The United States Labor Laws and Environmental Laws make
it difficult for us to have a comparative advantage in manufactured
goods- Result is loss of American jobs and trade deficits- Trade deficits result in American currency leaving the
country and we must sells bonds and assets to get it back - the
country then owes interest on these securities to foreign governments- More American money worldwide decreases the value of
American moneySolutions:
1. Find areas of the economy where we do have a comparative advantage - retraining and services
2. Find ways to encourage production here in the United States
3. International Aid - improve their economies, adopt labor and environmental laws, US companies can compete, more foreigners can afford US products, who gets the aid money?
International Trade and International Aid
