Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Chapter 6
Econ 320
28
Economics
Undergraduate 3
04/03/2012

Additional Economics Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is the Rule of 70?
Definition
70/growth rate = time it takes for any population to double
Term
What are the three sources of growth identified by growth accounting?
Definition

1. Growth of Productivity (ΔA/A)

 

2. Growth of Capital (ΔK/K)

 

3. Growth of Labor (ΔN/N)

Term
How do you calculate the growth of output?
Definition
ΔY/Y = ΔA/A + ΔK/K + ΔN/N
Term
Of the three sources of growth identified by growth accounting, which one is primarily responsible for the slowdown in U.S. economic growth after 1973?
Definition
Growth in productivity (ΔA/A)
Term
What are some of the reasons given for the decline in U.S. productivity after 1973?
Definition

1. Inaccuracies in the measurement of output, such as changes in the quality of output.

 

2. A "learning curve" effect from the exploding IT (information technology) revolution.

 

3. Higher oil prices, causing firms in all industrialized nations to conserve energy.

 

4. Changes in the legal and human environment, such as growing emphasis placed on protecting the environment and worker safety

Term
Suppose the current level of output is 5,000 and the elasitcity of output with respect to labor is 0.7. A 10% increase in labor would increase the current level of output to what?
Definition
5,350
Term
If capital and labor each grow 5% in a year, the elasticities of output with respect to capital and labor sum to one, and productivity grows 2% in the year, by how much does output grow during the year?
Definition
7%
Term
Labor productivity increased so much in second half of the 1990s because of what?
Definition
Improved information and communications technologies.
Term
The bowed shape of the per-worker production function is caused by
Definition
diminishing marginal productivity of capital
Term
What would be the most likely effect of increasing the number of grants for scientific research?
Definition
There would be a reasonable chance of productivity growth
Term
What is China's GDP growth rate? According to the rule of 70, how many years would it take for China to double its GDP?
Definition

China's GDP growth rate is 9%

 

70/9 = 7.5 years

Term
How much of an effect could problems with measurement of output contribute to the reported post-1973 U.S. slowdown? What kind of things would make up a measurement problem?
Definition

Measurement problems could explain up to 1/3rd of the reported post-1973 slowdown.

 

Measurement problems include not accounting for the increase in quality of things such as computers, since firms will generally produce the same number of computers every year, the measured output does not reflect the increase in quality of computers from year to year.

Term
What are 4 possible explanations for the Post-1973 Slowdown in Productivity Growth?
Definition

1. Measurement problems

 

2. 1973 oil embargo

 

3. The Legal and Human Environment

 

4. The "New Industrial Revolution"

Term
What effects did the 1973 OPEC oil embargo have on the U.S.? What is an argument against this theory?
Definition

Effects:


Energy prices went up

 

"Aged" capital stock

 

Demand for capital decreased


Investment decreased

 

 

 

 

Inflation decreased consumption

 

Argument against this theory: Productivity remained low after oil prices decreased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term
What effects did the Legal and Human Environment have on post-1973 U.S. productivity?
Definition
Since 1973, a cleaner environment and worker safety and health have been emphasized.  To the extent that capital and labor devoted to these goals, measured output and productivity will decline.
Term
What effects did the "New Industrial Revolution" have on the post-1973 U.S. productivity decline? What is another name for this?
Definition

Information Technology (IT) Revolution

 

Training: less producing and more learning (temporarily lowered productivity).

 

Implementing new systems

 

During the learning process of training and implementing new IT systems, productivity was temporarily depressed.

Term
Over the past year, productivity grew 1%, capital grew 0%, and labor grew 5%.  If the elasticities of output with respect to capital and labor are 0.4 and 0.6, respectively, how much did output grow?
Definition
4%
Term
What are the three income classes, and what do they earn?
Definition

1. workers - wages

 

2. capitalists - profit

 

3. landlords - rent

Term
According to the Solow model of economic growth, if there is no productivity growth, what will happen to output per worker, and capital per worker in the long run?
Definition
All will remain the same
Term
What  two explanations of productivity growth does endogenous growth theory offer?
Definition
accumulation of human capital and technological innovation
Term
What is the difference between production functions in the Solow Growth model and the Endogenous Growth model?
Definition
In the Solow Growth model, the production function exhibits diminishing marginal productivity, while in the Endogenous Growth model, the production function does not exhibit diminishing marginal productivity.
Term
Over the past year, productivity grew 2%, capital grew 1%, and labor grew 1%. If the elasticities of output with respect to capital and labor are 0.2 and 0.8, respectively, how much did output grow?
Definition
3%
Term
Over the past year, productivity grew 1%, capital grew 2%, and labor grew 2%. If the elasticities of output with respect to capital and labor are 0.3 and 0.7, respectively, how much did output grow?
Definition
3%
Term
Why did labor productivity increase so much in the second half of the 1990s?
Definition
Because of improved information and communication technologies.
Term
A new pollution law requires businesses to pay for inspections of their plants by independent pollution-monitoring firms. What effect is this likely to have?
Definition
Reduction in productivity
Term
Output grows by 10%. Capital grows by 10%; ak = 1.0. What is the contribution of labor to output growth?
Definition
0%
Term
Output grows by 9%. Capital grows by 3%; ak = .5. Labor grows by 5% and aN = .5. What is the contribution of labor, capital, and productivity?
Definition
2.5%, 1.5%, and 5%
Supporting users have an ad free experience!