Suppose That Many Households Look to the Stock Market to Gauge

question 16

Essay

Suppose that many households look to the stock market to gauge how the economy is likely to perform in the future. When stock prices are rising, then households will be optimistic about the future state of the economy and will increase their spending on houses and consumer durables, such as cars and furniture. When stock prices are falling, then households will be pessimistic about the future and will cut back on their spending. If this view of the link between stock prices and household spending is correct, then what will be the effect of a decline in stock prices on output in the new Keynesian view? Be sure to distinguish the short run from the long run.

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Definitions:

Consumer

An individual or group who purchases goods and services for personal use.

Budget

A financial plan for a defined period, often one year, that allocates future personal income towards expenses, savings, and debt repayment.

Paperback Novels

Books printed on lower quality paper, bound in a soft cover, and typically less expensive than hardcover editions.

Good X

A placeholder term used to represent any market commodity or product for the sake of economic analysis or discussion.