Author Question: How might a real business cycle theorist explain the Volcker recession of the early 1980s? What ... (Read 59 times)

acc299 · **on:** Jun 30, 2018

How might a real business cycle theorist explain the Volcker recession of the early 1980s?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In the endogenous growth model, an increase in a worker's level of human capital

A) increases the amount of additional human capital she can produce, but does not increase the amount of output she can produce.
B) increases the amount of additional output she can produce, but does not increase the amount of human capital she can produce.
C) increases both the amount of additional human capital she can produce and the amount of output she can produce.
D) increases neither the amount of additional human capital she can produce nor the amount of output she can produce.

Shshxj · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 30, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Volcker took office in October 1979 in the midst of high inflation and unemployment. Clearly, the long-run aggregate supply curve had shifted to the left. High and unpredictable inflation was undermining incentives to work and to invest. At first, Volcker's appointment only added to the uncertainty: maybe inflation would now come down, maybe not. The decision to lower the federal funds rate in mid-1980 merely stimulated aggregate demand and did nothing to encourage output to recover, so inflation and unemployment remained high. It took more than another year for convincing anti-inflationary policy to allow economic distortions to abate and potential output to rise.

Answer to Question 2

C