Discuss the merits and disadvantages of GDP as a measure of a
nation's standard of living. Think of a country that has a lower
GDP but perhaps a higher standard of living than the United States,
and compare the two. How can we reconcile these two statistics?
We use GDP as a measure of the standard of living in society.
Yet, there are many activities that occur in society that lower our
standard of living an do NOT raise it. Discuss 3 items in our
economy that lower our quality of life even though
they may increase
GDP.
Why is per capita GDP only an imperfect measure of a country’s
standard of living? Provide examples and explain your answer.
What is the difference between a series of economic data over
time measured in nominal terms versus the same data series over
time measured in real terms? How do you convert a series of nominal
economic data over time to real terms? Provide examples and explain
your answer.
Explain why GDP per capita (by itself) is NOT
a good measure of living standards. What are some other
factors that are important for determining living
standards, which are not included in GDP per capita? Explain why
GDP per capita AND these other factors should all
be considered when evaluating living standards.
Explain why per capita GDP might be an unreliable indicator of
the standard of living. Please discuss it in combination with other
factors you think may also be relevant to the standard of living.
Please use examples to support your answers
A.
Explain why GDP is an effective measure of living standards.
B. Discuss how quality-of-life measures may be determined and
measured.
C. Explain why aspects of our quality of life in the United
States may be difficult to compare with other countries around the
world.
Changes in the value of a nation’s currency affect the nation’s net
exports, and thus GDP. How might this make a large country, like
the US, more willingly to adopt a flexible exchange rate regime
than a small country, like Belgium.
Explain the paradox of thrift and demonstrate it using a
numerical example.
Outline Keynes’s critique of the neoclassical theory of saving
and investment.