Exam 2: Macroeconomics
Answers

1.       The existence of money enables us to avoid barter. In this capacity, money is functioning as a a.       standard of value.
b.     
source of status.
c.      
medium of exchange.
d.     
store of value.
e.      
unit of barter.

2.       In calculating GDP, the purchase of a new stereo system would be recorded as
a.      
a consumption expenditure.
b.     
an investment expenditure.
c.      
a capital consumption allowance.
d.     
a government expenditure.
e.      
personal saving.

3.       Which of the following is least likely to suffer a reduction in real income during a period of unanticipated inflation?
a.      
an unskilled worker earning the minimum wage
b.     
a widow on a fixed pension
c.      
a lawyer in private practice
d.     
a bus driver with a 3-year contract without a COLA clause
e.      
a salesperson with funds in a long-term, fixed interest savings deposit.

4.       If the federal government spends more than it collects in tax revenue,
a.      
it will have a balanced budget.
b.     
it will incur a budget deficit, and the public debt will decline.
c.      
it will have a surplus budget.
d.     
it will incur a budget deficit, and the public debt will increase.
e.      
the public debt will decline.

5.       Suppose that you hire a maid to do work that you have been doing yourself. Because of your decision,
a.      
GDP will fall.
b.     
GDP will remain unchanged.
c.      
GDP will increase.
d.     
money GDP will increase, but real GDP will be unchanged.
e.      
real GDP will increase, but money GDP will be unchanged.

6.       If the U.S. economy encounters a recession, which industry would likely reduce output by the smallest proportion?
a.      
construction
b.     
farm equipment
c.      
freezers
d.     
medical services
e.      
automobiles

7.       If the CPI in 1996 is 220 and is 200 in 1995, the annual inflation rate between the two years is _____ percent.
a.      
5
b.     
10
c.      
20
d.     
2
e.      
none of the above

8.       Which of the following would be most likely to reduce the level of investment spending?
a.      
an increase in the level of disposable income
b.     
a reduction in the rate of interest
c.      
a pessimistic forecast regarding future economic conditions
d.     
a growing shortage of production capacity among firms
e.      
a reduction in the rate of unemployment in the economy

9.       Which of the following would not be included in the “government purchases” component of GDP?
a.      
government spending for military weapons
b.     
Social Security payments by the federal government
c.      
government spending for roads, including major highways
d.     
purchases of office supplies by the federal government
e.      
government spending for space exploration

10.   If the economy were in the midst of a severe recession, an appropriate policy decision would be to
a.      
balance the federal budget.
b.     
deliberately incur a deficit in the federal budget.
c.      
plan for a surplus in the federal budget.
d.     
reduce the money supply in order to slow spending.
e.      
increase taxes.

11.   Banks “create” money by
a.      
printing paper currency.
b.     
accepting deposits.
c.      
making new loans.
d.     
selling securities.
e.      
charging interest on loans.

12.   Assume that the reserve requirement is 25 percent and that all banks in the system are “loaned-up” (have no excess reserve). If an individual deposits $1,000 in currency in a checking account at Bank A, Bank A can expand loans by a maximum of
a.      
$1,000.
b.     
$750.
c.      
$4,000.
d.     
$3,000.
e.      
$25,000.

13.   Today, the primary function of the Federal Reserve is to
a.      
stabilize the economy by regulating the money supply.
b.     
supply the economy with paper currency.
c.      
provide a check clearing system.
d.     
act as a lender of last resort.
e.      
collect taxes from the public.

14.   Which of the following would tend to increase aggregate demand?
a.      
a reduction in the overall wealth of society
b.     
pessimistic expectations about the future
c.      
a reduction in the money supply
d.     
 a reduction in the tax rates
e.      
a reduction in government spending

15.   Fiscal policy is enacted by the
a.      
Federal Reserve System.
b.     
Council of Economic Advisors.
c.      
Federal Open Market Committee.
d.     
Congress and the president together.
e.      
commercial banks.

ANSWERS:

  1. B

  2. A

  3. C

  4. D

  5. C

  6. D

  7. B

  8. C

  9. B

  10. B

  11. C

  12. B

  13. A

  14. D

  15. D