In Year 1, the cyclically adjusted budget showed a deficit of about $100 billion and the actual budget showed a deficit of $150 billion one year. In Year 2, the full employment budget showed a deficit of about $125 billion and the actual budget showed a deficit of $150 billion. Based on these data, what can be concluded about the direction of fiscal policy?
What will be an ideal response?
Fiscal policy was expansionary because the cyclically adjusted budget deficit increased from one year to the next. The actual deficit is composed of the full-employment portion and the cyclical portion. The full-employment portion of the actual budget deficit rose from $100 to $150 billion. The cyclical portion is determined by taking the actual deficit and subtracting the cyclical portion from it. The cyclical portion of the actual deficit fell from $50 billion to $25 billion. The actual budget deficit did not change, but it does not provide a good indication of the direction of fiscal policy. Only the cyclically adjusted budget tells the direction of fiscal policy.
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A) all of the assumptions of the model. B) all of the assumptions of the model except that regarding technology. C) all of the assumptions of the model except those regarding technology, goods and shipping costs. D) all of the assumptions of the model except those regarding technology, shipping costs and gravity. E) all of the assumptions of the model except those regarding shipping costs.
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a. fallen; increasing cost b. fallen; decreasing cost c. increased; increasing cost d. increased; decreasing cost e. decreased; constant cost
Refer to the information provided in Figure 2.4 below to answer the question(s) that follow.
Figure 2.4Refer to Figure 2.4. The economy moves from Point E to Point B. This could be explained by
A. a change in society's preferences for hybrid cars versus motorcycles. B. an increase in economic growth. C. an increase in unemployment. D. a reduction in unemployment.
The bonus of a plant manager in a vertically integrated firm is based on the following formula:
Bonus = 10,000 - 0.5(Qf - Q) where Qf is feasible production and Q is actual production. The value for Qf is provided by the plant manager at the beginning of the year. With this scheme, the plant manager has an incentive: A) to underestimate Qf. B) to overestimate Qf. C) to reveal the true Qf and make Q as small as possible. D) to reveal the true Qf and make Q as large as possible.