Author Question: Use the neoclassical theory of investment to explain why technological progress that reduces the ... (Read 74 times)

Metfan725 · **on:** Jun 30, 2018

Use the neoclassical theory of investment to explain why technological progress that reduces the price of computers (and related information technology) impacts investment differently than technological progress that makes computers more productive.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In a two-period model, holding everything else constant, an increase in current taxes

A) unambiguously increases the current account surplus.
B) unambiguously decreases the current account surplus.
C) has an uncertain effect on the current account surplus.
D) has no effect on the current account surplus, as long as Ricardian equivalence holds.

fur · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 30, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Expected improvements in productivity cause the marginal product of capital curve to shift up. Reductions in the price of capital goods (such as computers) cause the user cost of capital curve to shift down. In either case, the desired level of capital and of investment increase. Expected reductions in the price of capital goods increase the user cost of capital. The size of the increase in the desired level of capital depends on the size of the expected productivity increase and the actual price decrease relative to the expected price decrease.

Answer to Question 2

D