In: Economics
Suppose that a simple economy produces only nachos, tacos, tortilla chips and beer. Assume all tortilla chips are used in the production of nachos.
| 
 Quantity in 2013  | 
 Price in 2013  | 
 Quantity in 2014  | 
 Price in 2014  | 
 Quantity in 2015  | 
 Price in 2015  | 
|
| 
 Nachos  | 
 100  | 
 $4  | 
 120  | 
 $5  | 
 120  | 
 $4  | 
| 
 Tacos  | 
 200  | 
 $2  | 
 250  | 
 $2  | 
 250  | 
 $3  | 
| 
 Beer  | 
 200  | 
 $5  | 
 250  | 
 $4  | 
 250  | 
 $6  | 
| 
 Tortilla Chips  | 
 1000  | 
 $2  | 
 1200  | 
 $2  | 
 1400  | 
 $3  | 
a. Use the table to calculate nominal GDP, real GDP, and the GDP price index for each year. Use 2014 as the base year.
b. Did production increase more between 2013-2014 or 2014-2015? Explain
c. Did prices increase more between 2013-2014 or 2014-2015? Explain.
We have the following information
| 
 Year  | 
 Nachos  | 
 Tacos  | 
 Beer  | 
 Tortilla Chips  | 
 Nominal GDP ($)  | 
||||
| 
 Price ($)  | 
 Quantity  | 
 Price ($)  | 
 Quantity  | 
 Price ($)  | 
 Quantity  | 
 Price ($)  | 
 Quantity  | 
||
| 
 2013  | 
 4.0  | 
 100.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 200.0  | 
 5.0  | 
 200.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 1,000.0  | 
 3,800.0  | 
| 
 2014  | 
 5.0  | 
 120.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 250.0  | 
 4.0  | 
 250.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 1,200.0  | 
 4,500.0  | 
| 
 2015  | 
 4.0  | 
 120.0  | 
 3.0  | 
 250.0  | 
 6.0  | 
 250.0  | 
 3.0  | 
 1,400.0  | 
 6,930.0  | 
Consumer Price Index (CPI) = (Ʃp1q0/Ʃp0q0) × 100
In the above, p1 is the current year price; p0 is base year price; q0 is base year quantity. In the present case the base year is 2014.
| 
 Commodity  | 
 q0 (2014)  | 
 p0 (2014)  | 
 p1 (2013)  | 
 p1q0  | 
 p0q0  | 
| 
 Nachos  | 
 120.0  | 
 5.0  | 
 4.0  | 
 480.0  | 
 600.0  | 
| 
 Tacos  | 
 250.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 500.0  | 
 500.0  | 
| 
 Beer  | 
 250.0  | 
 4.0  | 
 5.0  | 
 1,250.0  | 
 1,000.0  | 
| 
 Tortilla Chips  | 
 1,200.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 2,400.0  | 
 2,400.0  | 
| 
 Total  | 
 4,630.0  | 
 4,500.0  | 
|||
CPI for 2013 = (4630/4500) × 100 = 102.9
| 
 Commodity  | 
 q0 (2014)  | 
 p0 (2014)  | 
 p1 (2015)  | 
 p1q0  | 
 p0q0  | 
| 
 Nachos  | 
 120.0  | 
 5.0  | 
 4.0  | 
 480.0  | 
 600.0  | 
| 
 Tacos  | 
 250.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 3.0  | 
 750.0  | 
 500.0  | 
| 
 Beer  | 
 250.0  | 
 4.0  | 
 6.0  | 
 1,500.0  | 
 1,000.0  | 
| 
 Tortilla Chips  | 
 1,200.0  | 
 2.0  | 
 3.0  | 
 3,600.0  | 
 2,400.0  | 
| 
 Total  | 
 6,330.0  | 
 4,500.0  | 
|||
CPI for 2015 = (6330/4500) × 100 = 140.7
| 
 Year  | 
 Nominal GDP ($)  | 
 CPI  | 
 Real GDP  | 
| 
 2013  | 
 3,800.0  | 
 102.9  | 
 3,692.9  | 
| 
 2014  | 
 4,500.0  | 
 100.0  | 
 4,500.0  | 
| 
 2015  | 
 6,930.0  | 
 140.7  | 
 4,925.4  | 
So, while the price level declined during 2013-14, it increased during 2014-15
| 
 Year  | 
 Production  | 
 Percentage Increase  | 
| 
 2013  | 
 1500  | 
 --  | 
| 
 2014  | 
 1820  | 
 21.3%  | 
| 
 2015  | 
 2020  | 
 11.0%  | 
So, production has increased more during 2013-14 as compared to 2014-15