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February 2015

ECON2004
Class 2. The AD-ERU model and the 3-equation model
Discussion points
In this class, you will work through the medium run model and the dynamic 3equation open economy model. Make sure that you have been through your answers
to the problem set and that you can answer the following questions. You will be called
on in class to provide answers.
PS2.1
Assume you are modelling a small open economy.
a) What does the ERU curve represent? What would happen to the ERU curve if
unemployment benefits were raised? What would you expect to happen to
inflation? [30]
b) What does the AD curve represent? Derive the AD curve graphically from the
IS curve. Suggest two variables that shift both the IS and the AD curves and
summarize their effect on the medium-run real exchange rate. [30]
c) Suppose there is a rise in the world interest rate. Describe the new MRE. Does
your answer depend on the exchange rate regime? Explain. [40]

1. Why is the ERU curve vertical? What is being assumed about the real wage
wage-setters care about (in their utility function)? Does a rise in
unemployment benefit affect the demand or supply side of the labour market
and how?
2. Why does inflation change how do you derive the relevant Phillips curve
following the rise in unemployment benefits?
3. What are you holding constant when you derive the AD curve from the IS
diagram? What are you varying?
4. What variables will shift the AD curve? Will they shift the IS curve?
5. For one of the examples you gave in (b), explain in words the difference
between the initial and the new MRE.
6. Explain in words why the AD curve shifts to the left when the world interest
rate is higher. What happens to the MRE?
PS2.2 A positive permanent demand shock dynamic adjustment
a) Using the simulator:
Apply shock: Permanent 3% positive demand shock. Give a plausible
explanation of what could cause such a shock.
Use the impulse response functions to help explain the path of the economy
following the shock (output, inflation, real interest rate, real exchange
rate). In particular, how can you explain the adjustment of the real
exchange rate?
Save your data and use the button on the bottom left of the main page to
switch to the closed economy version of the simulator
Apply shock: Permanent 3% positive demand shock

Print the impulse response functions for the key variables (inflation,
output, interest rates, exchange rates).
b) If you cannot get the simulator to work, sketch the impulse-response functions for
the above exercise.
c) Comment on the differences in the impulse response functions between the open
and closed economy simulations (or in your sketches). Is the change in interest
rate necessary to stabilise the economy larger in the open or closed economy?
Why?
d) The default setting in the simulator uses the same coefficient on the real interest
rate in the open and closed economy (sensitivity of expenditure with respect to
real interest rate). This means that a is the same in the equation for the open
and closed economy IS:

yt A art 1 bqt 1

Open economy IS equation

yt A art 1

Closed economy IS equation

Sketch each of these IS curves. Now, explain in words why we would not expect
the coefficient on the real interest rate to be the same in the open and closed
economy IS curves. Would you expect the IS curve to be flatter or steeper in the
open economy?
e) [Extension for the keen: Use the simulator to experiment with the
sensitivity of output to the real interest rate in the open economy and
check what happens to the CBs choice of interest to respond to the shock.
Hint: choose a much lower sensitivity to see the results in the graphs; you
can also enlarge the vertical scale to get a better view. ]
7. If the coefficient on the interest rate in the IS curve is the same in the closed
and open economy, why does the central bank raise the interest rate by less in
the open economy? How is the result in the impulse response function
produced by the simulator reflected in the 3-equation model diagram? Why is
there no difference in the paths of inflation and output between the closed and
open economies? Match the simulator result to the diagrams and to your
verbal explanation.
8. Why is investment less sensitive to the interest rate in the open economy?
How does this affect the slope of the IS curve?
9. Who tried the last part of the question what results did you get from the
simulator?
Is the simulator useful in helping you to understand the model? In helping you to
understand macroeconomic policy-making in the world? Justify your answer.

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