Economics Phillips Curve Study Cards

Enhance Your Learning with Economics - Phillips Curve Flash Cards for quick understanding



Phillips Curve

A graphical representation of the inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment in an economy.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.

Unemployment

The state of being without any work, yet actively seeking employment.

Short-Run Phillips Curve

A curve that shows the trade-off between inflation and unemployment in the short run, suggesting an inverse relationship.

Long-Run Phillips Curve

A curve that represents the natural rate of unemployment, indicating that in the long run, there is no trade-off between inflation and unemployment.

Trade-Offs

The sacrifices made in one area to achieve gains in another area, such as the trade-off between inflation and unemployment.

Policy Implications

The consequences and effects of economic policies on inflation and unemployment, as suggested by the Phillips Curve.

Critiques

The criticisms and challenges faced by the Phillips Curve theory, including its applicability in different economic conditions.

Limitations

The constraints and shortcomings of the Phillips Curve model, such as its inability to explain stagflation and supply-side shocks.

Expectations-Augmented Phillips Curve

An extension of the Phillips Curve theory that incorporates the role of inflation expectations in determining the trade-off between inflation and unemployment.

Adaptive Expectations

A theory that suggests individuals form their expectations of future events based on past experiences and observations.

Rational Expectations

A theory that assumes individuals make predictions about future events based on all available information, including economic data and policy announcements.

Stagflation

A situation characterized by high inflation, high unemployment, and stagnant economic growth, which challenges the traditional Phillips Curve relationship.

Supply-Side Shocks

Sudden changes in production costs or availability of key inputs that impact the economy's aggregate supply, potentially leading to inflation and unemployment.

Monetary Policy

The actions taken by a central bank to manage the money supply and interest rates to influence economic growth, inflation, and unemployment.

Fiscal Policy

The use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy, including its impact on inflation and unemployment.

Demand-Pull Inflation

A type of inflation caused by excessive aggregate demand, typically resulting from increased consumer spending or government expenditure.

Cost-Push Inflation

A type of inflation caused by increases in production costs, such as wages or raw material prices, leading to higher prices for goods and services.

Natural Rate of Unemployment

The rate of unemployment that exists when the economy is in equilibrium, with no cyclical unemployment, only frictional and structural unemployment.

Cyclical Unemployment

Unemployment that occurs due to fluctuations in economic activity, such as recessions or booms, and is not related to individual skills or qualifications.

Frictional Unemployment

Unemployment that occurs when individuals are in the process of transitioning between jobs or entering the labor market for the first time.

Structural Unemployment

Unemployment that arises from a mismatch between the skills and qualifications of workers and the requirements of available jobs.

Okun's Law

An empirical relationship between the change in the unemployment rate and the change in real GDP, suggesting that for every 1% increase in unemployment, GDP will be approximately 2% lower than its potential.

NAIRU (Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment)

The lowest level of unemployment that can be sustained without causing accelerating inflation, representing the long-run Phillips Curve.

Hysteresis

The idea that past events or shocks can have persistent effects on the economy, including the potential impact on the Phillips Curve relationship.

Liquidity Trap

A situation where interest rates are very low, and monetary policy becomes ineffective in stimulating economic growth and reducing unemployment.

Inflation Targeting

A monetary policy framework where a central bank sets an explicit target for inflation and adjusts its policy instruments to achieve that target.

Output Gap

The difference between actual output and potential output in an economy, indicating the level of resource utilization and potential inflationary pressures.

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

A mechanism that automatically adjusts wages, benefits, or other payments based on changes in the cost of living, typically measured by inflation.

Inflationary Expectations

The anticipated rate of inflation that individuals and businesses incorporate into their decision-making processes, influencing wage negotiations and price-setting behavior.

Unemployment Rate

The percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment.

Inflation Rate

The percentage increase in the average level of prices for goods and services over a given period of time.

Aggregate Demand

The total demand for goods and services in an economy at a given price level and in a given time period.

Aggregate Supply

The total supply of goods and services in an economy at a given price level and in a given time period.

Output

The quantity of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by real GDP.

Economic Growth

An increase in the production of goods and services over time, resulting in higher standards of living and improved economic well-being.

Economic Recession

A significant decline in economic activity, typically characterized by a contraction in GDP, increased unemployment, and reduced consumer spending.

Economic Expansion

A period of positive economic growth, typically characterized by an increase in GDP, decreased unemployment, and higher consumer spending.

Monetary Policy Tools

The instruments and actions used by central banks to control the money supply, interest rates, and credit availability in an economy.

Fiscal Policy Tools

The measures and actions taken by governments to influence the economy through changes in government spending and taxation.

Central Bank

An institution responsible for managing a country's money supply, controlling interest rates, and ensuring the stability of the financial system.

Government Intervention

The involvement of the government in the economy through policies, regulations, and actions aimed at achieving specific economic objectives.

Economic Indicators

Statistics and data that provide insights into the overall health and performance of an economy, including inflation, unemployment, and GDP.

Economic Policy

The actions and measures taken by governments and central banks to manage and influence the economy, including monetary and fiscal policies.

Economic Equilibrium

A state of balance or stability in an economy, where the supply and demand for goods and services, as well as other economic variables, are in harmony.

Economic Efficiency

The optimal allocation of resources in an economy to maximize the production of goods and services, resulting in the highest possible standard of living.

Economic Inefficiency

A situation where resources are not allocated optimally, leading to a suboptimal level of production and a lower standard of living.

Economic Stability

A condition in which an economy experiences steady growth, low inflation, and low unemployment, without excessive fluctuations or crises.

Economic Fluctuations

The ups and downs in economic activity, including periods of expansion and recession, caused by various factors such as changes in aggregate demand or supply.

Economic Forecasting

The process of making predictions about future economic conditions, such as GDP growth, inflation, and unemployment, based on available data and economic models.