The business cycle Unit 13.1. - 13.2.
Sunday, 07 August 2022 20:20
Revisions of definitions
Gross Domestic Product [GDP] is the total value of everything produced in a given period such as
a year [within the borders of the country].
GDP per capita is the average annual income, calculated as GDP divided by the number of people
in the population.
▪ GDP per capita is used as a measure of wellbeing!
Real GDP
Real GDP is nominal GDP adjusted for inflation.
Nominal GDP can increase for two reasons:
1. The amount of goods and services produced increased.
2. The amount of goods and services produced did not increase, but the prices of those goods and
services did increase [price level increase = inflation].
○ We want to know whether the economy changed in terms of actual output and therefore
we work mostly with real GDP.
○ When output changes it will influence the level of unemployment in the economy.
13.1. Growth and Fluctuations
13.2. Output growth and changes in unemployment
This graph shows real GDP per capita: This graph shows Log of real GDP per capita:
- [Hockey stick effect from unit 1] - Shows the economic growth rate more
- Growth is not smooth. effectively.
- Cannot effectively showcase the economic - The dashed line [slope] shows the
growth rate. average annual growth rate.
- The long-run growth: Unit 16 and 17,
while this unit focuses more on the
fluctuations.
Unit 13 Page 1
, fluctuations.
THE BUSINESS CYCLE
Economic growth is not a smooth process.
• The business cycle = alternating periods of positive and negative growth rates.
• Recession = the period when output is declining or below its potential level. Also defined as 2
consecutive quarters of negative growth in an economy.
The business cycle affects labour market outcomes.
Okun's law
Okun's law is a strong and stable relationship between unemployment and GDP growth.
Changes in the rate of GDP growth are negatively correlated with the unemployment rate.
Output falls Unemployment rises Well-being falls
Okun's coefficient is the degree of correlation.
Unit 13 Page 2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jana20. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.68. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.