Effects of Fiscal Policy on Output
Effects of Fiscal Policy on Output
The IS curve persists even when consumption is independent of current income because it represents other elements of aggregate demand, such as investment and government spending. When c1 = 0 (i.e., consumption is independent of income), the IS curve becomes steeper and maintains a downward slope, as income changes still influence aggregate demand through investment and fiscal activity .
From a Keynesian perspective, an autonomous change in investment causes a shift in the IS curve. An increase in investment would shift the IS curve to the right, indicating a rise in equilibrium output at each interest rate level. This occurs as the increase in investment raises aggregate demand directly, stimulating economic activity and increasing overall output, assuming no offsetting factors like crowding out .
A change in the nominal supply of money shifts the LM curve because it affects the interest rate at all levels of income without altering the price level. Specifically, an increase in the nominal supply of money reduces interest rates, shifting the LM curve to the right, indicating a higher level of equilibrium output for any given price level .
Shifts in the LM curve occur due to changes in the nominal supply of money and changes in the price level, both of which alter the real supply of money. Conversely, changes in the interest rate or income level result in movements along the LM curve, rather than shifts, as these are endogenous factors used in the LM curve derivation .
In New Hamland's closed economy, the aggregate demand curve is derived by setting the IS equation equal to the LM equation and expressing output Y as a function of the price level P: Y = 850 + 500/P. The derivation shows a negative relationship between the price level and output, evidenced by the downward slope of the aggregate demand curve, indicating that as price level increases, the equilibrium output decreases .
The Lucas Critique highlights potential limitations in evaluating the efficacy of fiscal and monetary policy by arguing that changes in these policies can affect the behavioral parameters of economic agents. It suggests that past models might not reliably predict outcomes because policy changes could alter how people react, such as affecting the sensitivity of money demand or investment to interest rates, necessitating the use of models that account for these altered expectations .
In a fixed price level scenario, an increase in government spending leads to a rightward shift in the aggregate demand line in the Keynesian Cross diagram. This increase results in a multiplied effect on output due to the government spending multiplier, where the initial increase in spending triggers further consumption and investment, thereby raising the equilibrium output beyond the initial spending increase .
When consumption is independent of current income (c1 = 0), changes in investment still affect real income. This occurs because investment directly influences aggregate spending, causing shifts in the IS curve and affecting equilibrium output through altered investment levels, despite the lack of induced consumption .
In New Hamland's closed economy, fiscal policy is deemed more effective than monetary policy because the relative efficacy ratio m2/I1 equals 4, implying fiscal policy's stronger impact on aggregate demand. This ratio signifies that the sensitivity of money demand to interest rates is significantly higher than that of investment, making fiscal interventions like changes in government spending more impactful in shifting aggregate demand .
The tax multiplier in a Keynesian model can be derived by differentiating the aggregate expenditure equation Y = C + I + G + (X-M) with Y = c0 + c1(Y-T) + I + G + (X-M). The formula is given as -c1/(1-c1), where c1 is the marginal propensity to consume. An increase in taxes reduces disposable income, subsequently leading to a decrease in consumption and overall output per the multiplier effect .