In: Economics
This is a calculation question involving the Solow model. There
are three parts to the question. Part (a) asks for the steady state
level of k for a 'Solow country.' Part (b) asks for the
steady-state level of y for the same country. Part (c) asks you to
calculate a new savings rate for the country to satisfy certain
conditions. You have to answer all three parts of the question in
the box provided. Please make it clear what part of each question
you are answering. If you send me a pdf of your calculations by
11:59 pm tonight, I will use it to assign partial credit for your
answer (in the event that your answer is not completely
correct).
(a) The nation of Millenia has a Solow production function of y =
60k1/2, a savings rate of .20, a population growth rate of .03, and
its capital depreciates at the rate of .05. Using this information,
and the characteristic equation of the Solow growth model,
calculate the steady state level of k for Millenia.
(b) Based on the information given above, calculate Millenia's
steady state level of y.
(c) After Millenia reached the steady state that you calculated in
(a) and (b), tragedy struck. A civil war broke out to the east of
Millenia, and refugees coming across the border raised Millenia's
population growth rate to .05--a rate that will continue for the
forseeable future. (As a Solow expert, you know that this increase
in population growth will decrease Millenia's steady state level of
income). Assume that Millenia's production function and
depreciation rate are unchanged. What is the new savings rate that
Millenia must achieve to return to its old steady state (the one
you calculated in (a)), now that population growth = .05? (HINT:
draw a diagram and think about this problem before you start
tossing around equations. If you understand the model, the
calculations are trivial)