Unit 8 Assignment: Aggregate Demand, Aggregate Supply, Unemployment, and Inflation

In this assignment, you will examine factors that affect aggregate demand (AD) and aggregate supply (AS). You will compute the rates of inflation using the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) and then examine how the results impact nominal interest rates, inflation, disinflation, and deflation.

Instructions: This assignment presents scenarios in which you will analyze macroeconomic indicators of economic health. It requires a combination of short paragraph answers, computations, and completion of a 450-500-word essay. You are required to follow proper APA format. Read the Criteria section below for more information before you begin this assignment.

In this assignment, you will be assessed on the following Outcome:

MT445-4: Examine how U.S. macroeconomic indicators are used to gauge economic health.

1. Determine whether each of the following would cause a shift of the aggregate demand (AD) curve, a shift of the aggregate supply (AS) curve, neither, or both. Which curve will shift, and in which direction? What will happen to aggregate output and the price level in each case?

1. The price level changes.

1. Which curve will shift?
2. Which direction does it shift?
3. What will happen to aggregate output?
4. What will happen to the price level?

2. Consumer confidence declines.

1. Which curve will shift?
2. Which direction does it shift?
3. What will happen to aggregate output?
4. What will happen to the price level?

3. The supply of resources increases.

1. Which curve will shift?
2. Which direction does it shift?
3. What happens to aggregate output?
4. What happens to the price level?

4. The wage rate increases.

1. Which will curve shift?
2. Which direction does it shift?
3. What will happen to aggregate output?
4. What will happen to the price level?

2. Explain whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Some people who are officially unemployed are not in the labor force.
2. Some people in the labor force are not working.
3. Everyone who is not unemployed is in the labor force.
4. Some people who are not working are not unemployed.

3. Refer to the following data on the U.S. consumer price index and answer the questions below.

    Year           CPI                 Year   CPI                 Year   CPI                 Year   CPI

1988           118.3              1993   144.5              1998   163.0              2003   184.0

1989           124.0              1994   148.2              1999   166.6              2004   188.9

1990           130.7              1995   152.4              2000   172.2              2005   195.3

1991           136.2              1996   156.9              2001   177.1              2006   201.8

1992           140.3              1997   160.5              2002   179.9

1.  Compute the inflation rate for each year 1988-1989, 1989-1990, 1990-1991, 1991-1992 etc. using the CPI data for 1988-2006 in the table above. Show your work.
2. Which years were years of inflation? What do you expect to happen to real interest rates during this time period if nominal rates remain unchanged?
3. In which years did deflation occur? What do you expect to happen to real interest rates during this time period if nominal rates remain unchanged?
4. In which years did disinflation occur?

4. Answer the following questions in a 450–500-word essay.

Explain the difference between anticipated and unanticipated inflation? What are the costs associated with unanticipated inflation? Why do these inflation costs differ from those associated with anticipated inflation?

Criteria

• This assignment should be completed in the Word template provided under Course Documents.
• It should be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.
• Respond to the questions in a thorough manner, providing specific examples where asked.
• Add references in APA format as a separate page at the end of your paper.
• Your sources and content should follow proper APA format (A title page is not required). Review the APA formats found in the Writing Resources accessed through the Academic Success Center within the Academic Tools area of the course.
• Review the grading rubric to ensure all points have been captured in the paper.

Directions for Submitting your Assignment

Complete your assignment in the Word template provided. Submit your assignment by the end of Unit 8 to the Unit 8 Assignment Dropbox. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.