Long Run Economic Growth Modules 37-40
Outline What constitutes long run economic growth? What are the causes of long run growth? How do we measure growth in real terms? What are the impediments to long run growth?
Long Run Growth Changes in AD and SRAS can increase GDP in the short run But absent any change in LRAS, GDP returns to potential output
Figure 40.6 From the Short Run to the Long Run Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Long Run Growth Long run growth is represented by a rightward shift in LRAS Potential Output has increased Increase in Capital, Labor or productivity
Figure 40.5 Long-run Growth and the LRAS Curve Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Aggregate Production Function Relationship between technology, capital and labor At given amounts, we will have a limit to production We can create a PPC using this
Aggregate PPC Figure 40.3 The Trade-off Between Investment and Consumer Goods Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Long Run Growth So long run growth can also be represented by a shift in the Aggregate PPC In other words, we can increase capital, labor or improve technology In absolute terms (more of them) Through productivity (each unit does more)
Productivity Increases in per unit output Total Factor Productivity Physical capital per worker Human capital per worker Technology Increases in physical capital have diminishing marginal returns Technology is key
Figure 38.2 Technological Progress and Productivity Growth Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Measuring Growth Does increasing GDP mean we are better off economically? If population increases proportionally to GDP, we are no better off Better measure is Real GDP per capita
Table 37.1 U.S. Real GDP per Capita Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Rule of 70 Estimate of doubling time for economy Number of years to double = 70 divided by annual growth rate So an economy growing at 5% will double in (70/5) or 14 years
Figure 37.2 Incomes Around the World, 2008 Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Convergence Hypothesis Differences in Real GDP per capita tend to narrow over time True for many countries, but others seem stuck at low levels
Figure 38.3 Success and Disappointment Ray and Anderson: Krugman’s Macroeconomics for AP, First Edition Copyright © 2011 by Worth Publishers
Why some lag behind? Lack of capital investment Resource-dependence Income inequality Lack of human capital development Lack of political stability
Sustainability Must we trade off between economic growth and response to climate change? Not necessarily – technology/ideas are there Innovations spurred by conservation/reducing emissions Problem is political