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💲AP Macroeconomics Unit 3 Vocabulary

110 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 3 – National Income and Price Determination

Study Unit 3
Practice Vocabulary
💲Unit 3 – National Income and Price Determination
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💲Unit 3 – National Income and Price Determination

3.1 Aggregate Demand

TermDefinition
aggregate demandThe total quantity of goods and services demanded across an entire economy at different price levels.
Aggregate Demand curveA graph showing the relationship between the price level and the quantity of goods and services demanded in an economy at all price levels.
aggregate outputThe total quantity of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured as real GDP.
aggregate supplyThe total quantity of goods and services that producers are willing and able to supply at various price levels.
consumptionSpending by households on goods and services, which is affected by changes in tax revenues and disposable income.
exchange rate effectThe change in net exports that results from changes in the exchange rate caused by changes in the price level.
government spendingGovernment expenditures that can affect the demand for loanable funds and interest rates.
interest rate effectThe change in investment and consumption spending that results from changes in interest rates caused by changes in the price level.
investmentSpending by firms on capital goods and equipment, a component of aggregate demand.
macroeconomic shocksUnexpected events or changes that significantly impact the overall economy, affecting output, employment, and price levels.
net exportsThe difference between a country's total exports and total imports; a component of aggregate demand.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
quantity of goods and services demandedThe total amount of final goods and services that buyers are willing and able to purchase at a given price level.
real wealth effectThe change in consumer spending that results from changes in the real value of wealth caused by changes in the price level.
shift of the AD curveA change in aggregate demand at every price level, caused by changes in consumption, investment, government spending, or net exports independent of price level changes.

3.2 Spending and Tax Multipliers

TermDefinition
aggregate demandThe total quantity of goods and services demanded across an entire economy at different price levels.
autonomous expendituresSpending that is independent of income levels and initiates changes in total expenditures and output.
disposable incomeIncome remaining after taxes that consumers can spend or save.
expenditure multiplierA measure that quantifies the size of the change in aggregate demand resulting from a change in any component of aggregate demand.
marginal propensity to consumeThe change in consumer spending divided by the change in disposable income; represents the fraction of additional income that consumers spend.
marginal propensity to saveThe fraction of additional income that consumers save; equals one minus the marginal propensity to consume.
real GDPThe total monetary value of all final goods and services produced by an economy, adjusted for inflation to reflect actual changes in production.
spendingThe total amount of money spent on goods and services in an economy, including consumption, investment, government purchases, and net exports.
tax multiplierThe ratio of the change in real output to an initial change in taxes, indicating how much aggregate demand changes from each dollar of tax change.
taxesGovernment revenues that affect disposable income and the supply of loanable funds available for borrowing.

3.3 Short-Run Aggregate Supply (SRAS)

TermDefinition
aggregate outputThe total quantity of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured as real GDP.
employmentThe state of having a paid job or being engaged in work for compensation.
inflationA sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over time.
inflation-unemployment trade-offThe short-run inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment, where lower unemployment is associated with higher inflation and vice versa.
inflationary expectationsThe anticipated rate of inflation that consumers and businesses expect to occur in the future, influencing their economic decisions.
labor forceThe total number of people in an economy who are either employed or actively seeking employment.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
production costsThe expenses incurred by firms in producing goods and services, including wages, materials, and other inputs.
quantity of goods and services suppliedThe total amount of output (real GDP) that producers are willing and able to supply at different price levels.
Short-Run Aggregate Supply curveA graph showing the relationship between the price level and the quantity of goods and services supplied in an economy in the short run.
sticky pricesPrices that do not adjust quickly to changes in economic conditions, remaining fixed in the short run.
sticky wagesWages that do not adjust quickly to changes in economic conditions, remaining fixed in the short run.

3.4 Long-Run Aggregate Supply (LRAS)

TermDefinition
employmentThe state of having a paid job or being engaged in work for compensation.
fixed input pricesInput prices, such as wages, that cannot adjust immediately and remain constant in the short run.
flexible pricesPrices that can adjust freely in response to changes in supply and demand, characteristic of the long run.
flexible wagesWages that can adjust freely in response to changes in labor market conditions, characteristic of the long run.
full employmentAn economic condition where all available labor resources are being used efficiently and unemployment is at its natural rate.
inflationA sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over time.
long runA time period in macroeconomics where all factors of production are variable and prices fully adjust to changes in supply and demand.
Long-Run Aggregate Supply curveA vertical line on a graph representing the maximum sustainable output an economy can produce when all resources are fully employed and wages and prices have fully adjusted.
long-run trade-offThe absence of a permanent relationship between inflation and unemployment in the long run, as all prices and wages fully adjust.
maximum sustainable capacityThe total output an economic system will produce over a set period of time if all resources are fully employed.
Production Possibilities CurveA graph showing the maximum combinations of two goods that can be produced with available resources and technology.
short runA time period in macroeconomics where at least one factor of production is fixed and prices may not fully adjust to changes in demand.

3.5 Equilibrium in Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply (AD-AS) Model

TermDefinition
Aggregate Demand curveA graph showing the relationship between the price level and the quantity of goods and services demanded in an economy at all price levels.
aggregate quantity of output demandedThe total amount of real output that all buyers in an economy are willing and able to purchase at different price levels.
aggregate quantity of output suppliedThe total amount of real output that all producers in an economy are willing and able to supply at different price levels.
equilibrium output levelThe level of real output at which the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied in the economy.
equilibrium price levelThe price level at which the quantity of real output demanded equals the quantity of real output supplied.
full employmentAn economic condition where all available labor resources are being used efficiently and unemployment is at its natural rate.
inflationary output gapA positive output gap occurring when actual real output exceeds the full-employment level of output, putting upward pressure on prices.
Long-Run Aggregate Supply curveA vertical line on a graph representing the maximum sustainable output an economy can produce when all resources are fully employed and wages and prices have fully adjusted.
long-run equilibriumThe point where the short-run Phillips curve intersects the long-run Phillips curve, representing a stable economic state.
output gapThe difference between actual output and potential output in an economy.
Short-Run Aggregate Supply curveA graph showing the relationship between the price level and the quantity of goods and services supplied in an economy in the short run.
short-run equilibriumThe point where aggregate demand and short-run aggregate supply intersect, determining the current price level and output in the Phillips curve model.

3.6 Changes in the AD-AS Model in the Short Run

TermDefinition
aggregate demand shockA sudden, unexpected change in the total demand for goods and services in an economy, causing shifts in the AD curve.
aggregate outputThe total quantity of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured as real GDP.
aggregate supply shockAn unexpected event that causes a sudden shift in the aggregate supply curve, affecting the economy's ability to produce goods and services.
cost-push inflationInflation caused by a decrease in aggregate supply due to rising production costs, pushing prices upward.
demand-pull inflationInflation caused by an increase in aggregate demand that pulls prices upward when the economy is near full capacity.
employmentThe state of having a paid job or being engaged in work for compensation.
negative shockAn unexpected event that decreases aggregate demand or aggregate supply, leading to decreases in output and employment.
positive shockAn unexpected event that increases aggregate demand or aggregate supply, leading to increases in output and employment.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
short runA time period in macroeconomics where at least one factor of production is fixed and prices may not fully adjust to changes in demand.

3.7 Long-Run Self-Adjustment

TermDefinition
aggregate demandThe total quantity of goods and services demanded across an entire economy at different price levels.
aggregate outputThe total quantity of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured as real GDP.
aggregate supply shockAn unexpected event that causes a sudden shift in the aggregate supply curve, affecting the economy's ability to produce goods and services.
economic growthAn increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over time, measured by the growth rate of real GDP per capita.
employmentThe state of having a paid job or being engaged in work for compensation.
flexible wages and pricesThe ability of wages and prices to adjust upward or downward in response to changes in supply and demand.
full employmentAn economic condition where all available labor resources are being used efficiently and unemployment is at its natural rate.
long runA time period in macroeconomics where all factors of production are variable and prices fully adjust to changes in supply and demand.
Long-Run Aggregate Supply curveA vertical line on a graph representing the maximum sustainable output an economy can produce when all resources are fully employed and wages and prices have fully adjusted.
natural rate of unemploymentThe unemployment rate that exists when the economy produces full-employment real output, equal to the sum of frictional and structural unemployment.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
short-run aggregate supplyThe total quantity of goods and services that firms are willing to produce at different price levels in the short run, when some prices are sticky.

3.8 Fiscal Policy

TermDefinition
AD-AS modelAn economic model that shows the relationship between aggregate demand and aggregate supply to illustrate macroeconomic equilibrium and the effects of policy changes.
aggregate demandThe total quantity of goods and services demanded across an entire economy at different price levels.
contractionary fiscal policyGovernment spending decreases or tax increases designed to decrease aggregate demand and reduce inflation.
discretionary fiscal policyGovernment spending and taxation decisions made by policymakers to influence economic activity, as opposed to automatic stabilizers.
expansionary fiscal policyGovernment spending increases or tax decreases designed to increase aggregate demand and stimulate economic growth.
fiscal policyGovernment spending and taxation decisions that influence aggregate demand, real output, price level, and exchange rates.
full employmentAn economic condition where all available labor resources are being used efficiently and unemployment is at its natural rate.
government spendingGovernment expenditures that can affect the demand for loanable funds and interest rates.
government spending multiplierThe ratio of the change in real output to an initial change in government spending, indicating how much aggregate demand increases from each dollar of government spending.
inflationary output gapA positive output gap occurring when actual real output exceeds the full-employment level of output, putting upward pressure on prices.
lagsDelays between the time a policy action is taken and when its effects are fully realized in the economy.
macroeconomic goalsBroad economic objectives that governments aim to achieve, such as full employment, price stability, and economic growth.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
real outputThe total production of goods and services in an economy adjusted for inflation, measured in constant dollars.
short-run effectsThe immediate economic impacts of a policy action on output, employment, and prices in the near term.
tax multiplierThe ratio of the change in real output to an initial change in taxes, indicating how much aggregate demand changes from each dollar of tax change.
taxesGovernment revenues that affect disposable income and the supply of loanable funds available for borrowing.
transfersGovernment payments to individuals or groups that do not represent payment for current goods or services, such as social security or unemployment benefits.

3.9 Automatic Stabilizers

TermDefinition
automatic stabilizersGovernment policies and programs that automatically adjust to support the economy during recessions and prevent overheating during expansionary periods without requiring deliberate policy changes.
business cycleFluctuations in aggregate output and employment caused by changes in aggregate supply and/or aggregate demand.
consumptionSpending by households on goods and services, which is affected by changes in tax revenues and disposable income.
expansionary periodsPeriods of economic growth when GDP is rising and the economy is expanding.
Gross Domestic ProductThe total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a specific period.
overheatingA condition where the economy grows too rapidly, leading to inflation and unsustainable economic expansion.
recessionA period of economic contraction characterized by declining GDP and reduced economic activity.
tax revenuesIncome collected by the government through taxation.
transfer paymentsGovernment payments to individuals or groups that are not in exchange for goods or services, such as social security or welfare benefits.