Wednesday
Mostly summarized from Gregory Mankiw’s Principles of Economics, 5th Ed. PART 8 The Data of Macroeconomics Chapter 24 of 36 Measuring The Cost of Living Section 14 of 14 … Chapter conclusion. During recent history the dollar real value has not been stable. Increases in the level of prices has been the norm. Persistent inflation reduces money purchasing power over time. When comparing dollar figures from different times, we always must keep in mind a dollar value today is not the same as a dollar value 10 years ago and will not be the same as a dollar value 10 years from now. … In this chapter we have seen how economists measure the economy’s overall price level using price indexes such as the consumer price index. Price indexes allow us to compare dollar figures of different time points get a better understanding of how the economy is changing. Understanding price indexes, nominal and real prices, and GDP are first steps in macroeconomics study. These price and GDP measurement co...