Reference no: EM131131560

Part 1: Multiple choice questions:

1. Consider the following model

i) C = 1500 + mpc (Y - tY)
ii) I = 800
iii) G = 500
iv) X - M = 500 - mpi (Y)

where:
t = the (flat) tax rate
mpc = the marginal propensity to consume
mpi = the marginal propensity to import
supposempc = .80, t = .25, mpi = .2

Given the information above, solve for the equilibrium output:

A) Y* = 3300
B) Y* = 5500
C) Y* = 1500
D) Y* = 1800

2. We know that the formula for the (government) spending multiplier is 1/(1-mpc(1-t) + mpi). The value of the government spending multiplier in this problem is: Round to 2 decimal places.

A) 1.33
B) 2.55
C) 3.33
D) 1.67

3. When we discussed the multiplier we discussed the impact effect. For example, suppose that G increases by 100 to 600 and we assume, as we often do, that firms match the increase in demand by increasing Y by 100. In round two, this is an increase in income of 100 to consumers. We will trace out exactly where this 100 increase in income goes in the second round. Recall, there are three leakages to address (via taxes, imports and savings).

Given that t=.25, we know that .25 of every dollar increase in gross income is a leakage due to taxes. Since the increase in income is $100, we know the leakage due to taxes is:

A) $25
B) $100
C) $75
D) 25 cents

4. Given that mpi=.2, we know that .2 of every dollar increase in gross income is a leakage due to imports. Since the increase in income is $100, we know the leakage due to imports is:

A) $100
B) $80
C) $20
D) 20 cents

5. Given that the MPC=.8, we know that .2 of every dollar increase in gross income is saved. Since the increase in income is $100, we know the leakage due to savings is:

A) $100
B) $80
C) $20
D) 20 cents

6. To find out how much consumption increases we need to take the increase in income ($100) and subtract out the leakages. So take the $100 and subtract your answers from #3, #4 and #5 above. When income increases by $100, consumption increases by:

A) $100
B) $25
C) $20
D) $35

7. What would happen to the multiplier if the mpi rises to .25? Round to 2 decimal places.

A) the new multiplier is 1.54
B) the new multiplier is 1.89
C) the new multiplier is .65
D) the new multiplier is .37

8. What would happen to the size of the leakage if the mpi rises to .25?
A) this would reduce the size of the leakage
B) this would increase the size of the leakage

9. In this question, we are going dig deeper into the Taylor Rule and it variants (modifications).

Federal Reserve data from October 1, 2011:
Potential GDP growth y* = 1.7%
Actual GDP Growth yA = 2.0%
Inflation PCE (actual inflation) πA = 2.6%
Effective Federal funds Rate = .07%

As Taylor assumed, we assume the equilibrium real rate of interest r* = 2% and the optimal inflation rate, the target inflation rate π* is also equal to 2%.

The standard (original) Taylor rule formula:
iff TR = r* + πA + 0.5[πA - π*] + 0.5 [ yA - y*]

Using the 'standard' Taylor rule from above and using the data provided, what is the federal funds rate implied by the 'standard' Taylor Rule?

A) 2.04%
B) 1.56%
C) 3.33%
D) 5.05%

10. According to the actual federal funds rate (use the Effective Federal Funds Rate provided above for 2011-10-01), is the Fed being hawkish or dovish?

A) hawkish
B) dovish

11. Now consider the modified version of the Taylor using the unemployment gap instead of the GDP gap just like we did in the lectures. Also, we will use the PCE core rate of inflation instead of overall inflation like you used above - the Fed arguably cares more about core inflation than overall inflation.

Modified Taylor Rule formula:

iff TR = r* + πA + 0.5[πA - π*] + (-1.25) [URA - NAIRU]

Additional needed data from Federal Reserve data from October 1, 2011:
Unemployment Rate URA = 8.7%
NAIRU = 5.5%
Inflation PCE Core (actual inflation) πA = 1.8%

Now what is the federal funds rate implied by the modified Taylor Rule above?

A) -.45
B) -.30
C) 0.45
D) 0.30

12. According to the actual federal funds rate, is the Fed being hawkish or dovish?

A) hawkish
B) dovish

Part 2: True/false questions:

13. Unemployment benefits are an example of fiscal policy.

A) True
B) False

14. According to Ricardian Equivalence in a strict sense, the tax multiplier is zero.

A) True
B) False

15. When looking at the GDP data from quarter 3 of 2012, government purchases accounted for a larger share of the economy than investment expenditures did.

A) True
B) False

16. According to one of the lectures featuring a pie chart on federal government expenditures, transfer payments went from about 25% of total expenditures in the 1960s to over 46% of total expenditures in 2010.

A) True
B) False

17. As of 2010, interest payments on the federal debt exceeded 10% of total expenditures.

A) True
B) False

18. We argued that the tax revenue that the federal government collects is pro-cyclical, that is, when economic activity is growing so is tax revenue. An example of this is the new economy when tax revenue increased along with the economic growth.

A) True
B) False

19. If aggregate expenditures exceed aggregate income then inventories will rise and firms will eventually lay off workers.

A) True
B) False

20. We argued that cutting the corporate income tax will have supply side effects in that cutting the corporate income tax can potentially increase the pace of technological change with the implication being the aggregate supply will shift to the right.

A) True
B) False

21. According to the Laffer curve, increases in tax rates always result in less tax revenue.

A) True
B) False

22. One reason that tax revenue may fall when tax rates are increased is due to tax evasion, that is, the higher the tax rate, the higher the probability of the tax evasion and thus, lower tax revenue. The example I used was when Canada quadrupled the tax rate on cigarettes Canadian citizens sought out to buy illegally smuggled in US cigarettes to evade the tax on Canadian cigarettes.

A) True
B) False

23. The term 'voodoo economics' is a term used by the proponents of supply side economics trying to explain to its critics that lower tax rates will result in higher tax revenue.

A) True
B) False

24. Barro is considered to be a supply side economist which is consistent with his idea that we should eliminate the corporate income tax.
A) True
B) False

25. According to the table depicting the effective tax rate on capital for 2007, the only country that has a higher effective tax rate on capital is Greece.

A) True
B) False

26. According to our discussion of supply side economics, there are positive aggregate demand side effects and positive supply side effects, similar to what happened during the new economy.

A) True
B) False

27. We argued that the tax multiplier is higher in absolute value than the government spending multiplier.

A) True
B) False

28. The more the Fed accommodates shocks to money demand, the larger the (government) spending multiplier.

A) True
B) False

29. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the stimulus package worked in terms of creating jobs, lowering unemployment, and raising GDP.

A) True
B) False

30. Spending by local governments to stimulate or slow down their local economies is an example of fiscal policy.

A) True
B) False

31. When talking about tax multipliers using tax rates instead of the more simple lump sum taxes, we argued that the social security tax cut resulted in a higher tax multiplier.

A) True
B) False

32. When we add the marginal propensity to import to our model, the spending multiplier falls. In fact, the higher the marginal propensity to import, the smaller the spending multiplier, all else constant.

A) True
B) False

33. According to the "We are all Keynesians Now" article, the labor secretary at that time wanted the unemployment rate to fall down to 3%.

A) True
B) False

34. The misery index in 1980 exceeded 25.

A) True
B) False

35. The mid to late 1970s was the 'heyday' of Keynesian economics in the US economy.

A) True
B) False

36. Keynes believed that it was the responsibility of the government to use its powers to increase production, incomes and jobs.

A) True
B) False

37. Consistent with his thought on spending heavily, Keynes was known as an excellent tipper.

A) True
B) False

38. The steeper the SRAS curve, the steeper the short-run Phillips curve.

A) True
B) False

39. If the long-run aggregate supply curve is vertical so is the long-run Phillips curve.

A) True
B) False

40. Friedman and Phelps agreed that there is a trade-off between unemployment and inflation, but only in the long run.

A) True
B) False

41. If actual inflation is lower than expected inflation, then the actual real wage is higher than the expected real wage. This being the case, firms will lay off workers.

A) True
B) False

42. According to the Taylor Rule described in the lectures, if the Fed is getting an A+, then the federal funds rate should be set at 5%.

A) True
B) False

43. According to the Taylor principle, if actual inflation rises by 1% over target inflation, then the Fed should raise the federal funds rate by 2% to make sure that the real federal funds rate rises which is referred to as "leaning against the wind."

A) True
B) False

44. If the actual federal funds rate is higher than the funds rates implied by the Taylor rule, then we say that the central bank is hawkish.

A) True
B) False

45. If actual inflation rises one percent above target and the central bank raises the actual funds rate by one percent then according to the Taylor rule, the central bank is being hawkish.

A) True
B) False

46. According to the Taylor rule, the Greenspan Fed was hawkish during the new economy years.

A) True
B) False

47. According to the Taylor rule, the Greenspan Fed was hawkish during the job-less recovery as well as the job-loss recovery.

A) True
B) False

48. One way to explain the apparent tradeoff between inflation and unemployment during the 1960s, expected inflation was consistently higher than the actual inflation implying that firms would be willing to hire more workers given this difference between expected and actual inflation. The result therefore would be higher inflation and lower unemployment, consistent with the facts during the 1960s.

A) True
B) False

49. We argued that the modified version of the Taylor rule during the jobless recovery following the 1990 - 1991 recession explained Greenspan and the Fed's behavior much better than the original Taylor Rule.

A) True
B) False

50. According to the Phillips curve analysis, if expected inflation is equal to actual inflation then we are at NAIRU. However, if actual inflation is higher than expected, then the actual unemployment rate will be higher than that associated with NAIRU.

A) True
B) False

51. If firms and workers had perfect foresight as to inflation so that actual = expected inflation at all times, then the Phillips curve would be vertical and thus, there would be no trade between unemployment and inflation, even in the short run.

A) True
B) False

52. We argued that a federal funds rate target of 4% is consistent with the stance of monetary policy being neutral as in neither tight nor loose.

A) True
B) False