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Finding equilibrium

[link] gives some information on an economy. The Keynesian model assumes that there is some level of consumption even without income. That amount is $236 – $216 = $20. $20 will be consumed when national income equals zero. Assume that taxes are 0.2 of real GDP. Let the marginal propensity to save of after-tax income be 0.1. The level of investment is $70, the level of government spending is $80, and the level of exports is $50. Imports are 0.2 of after-tax income. Given these values, you need to complete [link] and then answer these questions:

  • What is the consumption function?
  • What is the equilibrium?
  • Why is a national income of $300 not at equilibrium?
  • How do expenditures and output compare at this point?

National Income Taxes After-tax income Consumption I + G + X Imports Aggregate Expenditures
$300 $236
$400
$500
$600
$700

Step 1. Calculate the amount of taxes for each level of national income(reminder: GDP = national income) for each level of national income using the following as an example:

National Income (Y) $300 Taxes = 0.2 or 20% × 0.2 Tax amount (T) $60

Step 2. Calculate after-tax income by subtracting the tax amount from national income for each level of national income using the following as an example:

National income minus taxes $300 –$60 After-tax income $240

Step 3. Calculate consumption. The marginal propensity to save is given as 0.1. This means that the marginal propensity to consume is 0.9, since MPS + MPC = 1. Therefore, multiply 0.9 by the after-tax income amount using the following as an example:

After-tax Income $240 MPC × 0.9 Consumption $216

Step 4. Consider why the table shows consumption of $236 in the first row. As mentioned earlier, the Keynesian model assumes that there is some level of consumption even without income. That amount is $236 – $216 = $20.

Step 5. There is now enough information to write the consumption function. The consumption function is found by figuring out the level of consumption that will happen when income is zero. Remember that:

C = Consumption when national income is zero + MPC (after-tax income)

Let C represent the consumption function, Y represent national income, and T represent taxes.

C  =  $20 + 0.9(Y – T)  =  $20 + 0.9($300 – $60)  =  $236

Step 6. Use the consumption function to find consumption at each level of national income.

Step 7. Add investment (I), government spending (G), and exports (X). Remember that these do not change as national income changes:

Step 8. Find imports, which are 0.2 of after-tax income at each level of national income. For example:

After-tax income $240 Imports of 0.2 or 20% of Y – T × 0.2 Imports $48

Step 9. Find aggregate expenditure by adding C + I + G + X – I for each level of national income. Your completed table should look like [link] .

National Income (Y) Tax = 0.2 × Y (T) After-tax income (Y – T) Consumption C = $20 + 0.9(Y – T) I + G + X Minus Imports (M) Aggregate Expenditures AE = C + I + G + X – M
$300 $60 $240 $236 $200 $48 $388
$400 $80 $320 $308 $200 $64 $444
$500 $100 $400 $380 $200 $80 $500
$600 $120 $480 $452 $200 $96 $556
$700 $140 $560 $524 $200 $112 $612

Step 10. Answer the question: What is equilibrium? Equilibrium occurs where AE = Y. [link] shows that equilibrium occurs where national income equals aggregate expenditure at $500.

Step 11. Find equilibrium mathematically, knowing that national income is equal to aggregate expenditure.

Y  =  AE  =  C + I + G + X – M  =  $20 + 0.9(Y – T) + $70 + $80 + $50 – 0.2(Y – T)  =  $220 + 0.9(Y – T) – 0.2(Y – T)

Since T is 0.2 of national income, substitute T with 0.2 Y so that:

Y  =  $220 + 0.9(Y – 0.2Y) – 0.2(Y – 0.2Y)  =  $220 + 0.9Y – 0.18Y – 0.2Y + 0.04Y  =  $220 + 0.56Y

Solve for Y.

Y  =  $220 + 0.56Y Y – 0.56Y  =  $220 0.44Y  =  $220 0.44Y 0.44  =  $220 0.44 Y  =  $500

Step 12. Answer this question: Why is a national income of $300 not an equilibrium? At national income of $300, aggregate expenditures are $388.

Step 13. Answer this question: How do expenditures and output compare at this point? Aggregate expenditures cannot exceed output (GDP) in the long run, since there would not be enough goods to be bought.

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Source:  OpenStax, Principles of economics. OpenStax CNX. Sep 19, 2014 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11613/1.11
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