曼昆宏观经济学课后题答案.docVIP

Chapter 23 Measuring a nation’s income SOLUTIONS TO TEXT PROBLEMS: Quick Quizzes: The answers to the Quick Quizzes can also be found near the end of the textbook. 1. Gross domestic product measures two things at once: (1) the total income of everyone in the economy and (2) the total expenditure on the economy’s output of final goods and services. It can measure both of these things at once because all expenditure in the economy ends up as someone’s income. 2. The production of a pound of caviar contributes more to GDP than the production of a pound of hamburger because the contribution to GDP is measured by market value and the price of a pound of caviar is much higher than the price of a pound of hamburger. 3. The four components of expenditure are: (1) consumption; (2) investment; (3) government purchases; and (4) net exports. The largest component is consumption, which accounts for more than two-thirds of total expenditure. 4. Real GDP is the production of goods and services valued at constant prices. Nominal GDP is the production of goods and services valued at current prices. Real GDP is a better measure of economic well-being because changes in real GDP reflect changes in the amount of output being produced. Thus, a rise in real GDP means people have produced more goods and services, but a rise in nominal GDP could occur either because of increased production or because of higher prices. 5. Although GDP is not a perfect measure of well-being, policymakers should care about it because a larger GDP means that a nation can afford better healthcare, better educational systems, and more of the material necessities of life. Questions for Review: 1. An economys income must equal its expenditure, because every transaction has a buyer and a seller. Thus, expenditure by buyers must equal income by sellers. 2. The production of a luxury car contributes more to GDP than the production of an economy car because the luxury car has a higher market value. 3. The cont