Chapter 24: Problem 17

What is Keynes' law?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Keynes' law, developed by British economist John Maynard Keynes, states that in the short run, the level of employment in an economy is determined primarily by aggregate demand. Aggregate demand consists of consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports. When aggregate demand increases, businesses hire more workers, leading to higher employment levels. When aggregate demand decreases, businesses lay off workers, leading to increased unemployment rates. Keynes' law emphasizes the importance of government intervention through fiscal policy measures to boost aggregate demand during economic downturns, stabilizing economic growth and employment levels.

Step by step solution

Introduction to Keynes' Law

John Maynard Keynes was a British economist whose ideas have greatly shaped modern macroeconomics. His theories helped to understand the causes of recessions and depressions, and he proposed policies that could be used by governments to mitigate these economic downturns. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, contrary to the prevailing classical economic ideas at the time, Keynes proposed that insufficient aggregate demand in the economy would lead to high unemployment levels. This idea became known as Keynes' Law.

Aggregate Demand Definition

Aggregate demand is the total demand for all goods and services produced in an economy within a specific period. It is a macroeconomic concept that encompasses the total amount of consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports. In a closed economy, the aggregate demand (AD) can be expressed as: \[ AD = C + I + G \] Where \(C\) represents consumption, \(I\) represents investment, and \(G\) represents government spending. In an open economy, we would also include net exports, which can be expressed as: \[ AD = C + I + G + NX \] Where \(NX\) represents the difference between exports and imports.

Understanding Keynes' Law

Keynes' law states that, in the short run, the level of employment is determined primarily by aggregate demand. In other words, when aggregate demand increases, businesses will need to hire more workers to produce the additional goods and services demanded. Conversely, when aggregate demand decreases, businesses will let go of workers, leading to increasing unemployment rates. Keynes argued that during a recession or depression, the free market would not automatically return to a state of full employment. According to him, in such situations, businesses have no incentive to hire more workers or invest in new technologies, as they do not see any potential to increase their revenues.

Policy Implications of Keynes' Law

Keynes' Law has several significant policy implications. To boost aggregate demand during economic downturns, Keynes suggested government intervention through fiscal policy measures such as increasing government spending or cutting taxes. These actions would stimulate demand, provide income to consumers, and encourage businesses to hire workers and invest, thereby reducing unemployment rates. In conclusion, Keynes' law suggests that the level of employment in an economy is determined primarily by aggregate demand. It highlights the importance of government intervention in stabilizing economic growth and employment levels, particularly during recessions and depressions.

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