Macroeconomics: The Big Picture
Read this chapter and attempt the "Try It" exercises. Also, complete the concept problems and the numerical problems at the end of the chapter. In the first section of this chapter, you will read about the definition of Gross Domestic Product and some of the issues around measuring it. You will also learn about the 4 phases of the business cycle. As you will see, the economy goes through naturally alternating periods of economic growth and recession. You will review certain sections of this chapter later in the unit.
3. Unemployment
ANSWER TO TRY IT! PROBLEM
In Year 1 the total labor force includes 22 million workers, and so the unemployment rate is 2/22 = 9.1%. In Year 2 the total labor force numbers 23.4 million workers; therefore the unemployment rate is 2.4/23.4 = 10.3%. In this example, both the number of people employed and the unemployment rate rose, because more people (23.4 − 22 = 1.4 million) entered the labor force, of whom 1 million found jobs and 0.4 million were still looking for jobs.