--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Okun's Law Coefficient Is so Large

Why the Okun's Law Coefficient Is so Large? Okun's Law posits not a 1-to-1 relation but a 2.5-to-1 relationship between real GDP growth and the unemployment rate. That is, a one percentage-point fall in the unemployment rate is associated not with a 1 but a 2.5 percent boost in the level of production. Why is this Okun's Law coefficient so large? Why isn't it the case that a one percentage point fall in unemployment produces a one percent rise in output, or even less? One answer is that the unemployment rate, as officially measured, does not count discouraged workers. In a recession, the number of people at work falls, the number of people looking for work rises, and the number of people who are not looking for work because they doubt they could find jobs--but would be working if business conditions were better--rises. Because the conventionally-measured unemployment rate does not include these discouraged workers, more than a 1 percent rise in real GDP is needed to reduce the unemployment rate by 1 percentage point. Moreover, when business returns to normal, firms' initial response is not to hire more employees, but to ask existing employees to work longer hours. So average hours of work per week go up, and the unemployment rate falls by less than one would otherwise expect. Finally, in some industries employing more workers increases production by more than a proportional amount: product design and set-up need to be done only once, no matter how much is produced. Thus businesses which have economies of scale do not need twice as many workers to produce twice as much output.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Product differentiation in conduct

    Several market structures may pivot around goods which are heterogeneous, however the only market structure that absolutely needs goods to be differentiated within the minds of consumers of: (1) perfect competition. (2) pure competition. (3) monopolistic competition.

    		•
  • Q : Monopolistic competitive firm in normal

    This monopolistically competitive firm in illustrated figure produces Q units as well as experiences: (1) economic profits equal to 0cbQ. (2) economic losses equal to cpab. (3) more than normal accounting profits. (4) marginal cost in excess of averag

    		•
  • Q : Problem regarding to demography of

    Onto average, African-Americans into the U.S., when compared to whites: (1) earn lower incomes. (2) have less education. (3) experience higher rates of unemployment. (4) are less likely to be capable to retire on Social Security. (5) All of the above.

    Q : Determine demand when total revenue and

    When raising ticket prices for Brad Paisley concert tickets raises total ticket revenue, in that case the demand for the concert tickets: (i) perfectly price inelastic. (ii) relatively price inelastic

    		•
  • Q : Problem on least likely Inferior Goods

    Chris ate Ramen Noodles or pinto beans for each and every meal whereas an impoverished college student. Chris graduated and landed a job beginning at a yearly salary of $50,000. Chris’s demands for the Ramen Noodles and pinto beans were most lik

    		•
  • Q : Definitions of Poverty by Researchers

    Some researchers have attempted to define poverty: (1) as the lowest 20% of the income distribution. (2) through estimates of the fundamental needs for families having various characteristics. (3) by estimating the costs of the minimum caloric intake

    		•
  • Q : Determine absolute value of price

    Since this demand curve for DVD games is a straight line, and its slope: (w) is constant, although the absolute value of price elasticity of demand falls as output increases. (x) varies to compensate for changes within elasticity. (y) is constant, alt

    		•
  • Q : Determine price and quantity when

    When the demand and supply for a good both raise, price: (w) and quantity both rise. (x) and quantity both fall. (y) falls but quantity increases. (z) changes need more information, when quantity rises.

    Q : Variation of supply of loanable funds

    The supply of loanable funds varies positively along with the: (w) willingness of people to defer consumption into the future. (x) profitability and productivity of new capital investments. (y) price of the output which new capital will produce. (z) f

    		•
  • Q : Comparative Advantage in opportunity

    The most important declines in opportunity costs of multiple goods for the consumers and greatest rises in the value of net production for all societies everywhere tend to be realized whenever production is organized in accord by: (1) The optimal clas

    		•