C h a p t e r

13

EXPENDITURE
MULTIPLIERS: THE
KEYNESIAN MODEL*

Key Concepts
Fixed Prices and Expenditure Plans1
In the very short run, firms do not change their prices
and they sell the amount that is demanded. As a result:
The price level is fixed.
GDP is determined by aggregate demand.
Aggregate planned expenditure is the sum of planned
consumption expenditure, planned investment, planned
government purchases, and planned exports minus
planned imports.
GDP and aggregate planned expenditures have a twoway link: An increase in real GDP increases aggregate
planned expenditures, and an increase in aggregate
expenditures increases real GDP.
Consumption expenditure, C, and saving, S, depend
on disposable income (disposable income, YD, is income minus taxes plus transfer payments), the real interest rate, wealth, and expected future income.
The consumption function is the relationship between consumption expenditure and disposable income. Figure 13.1 illustrates a consumption function.
The amount of consumption when disposable income is zero ($1 trillion in Figure 13.1) is called
autonomous consumption. Consumption above this
amount is called induced consumption.
The marginal propensity to consume, MPC, is
the fraction of a change in disposable income that is
C
where means
consumed, or MPC =
YD
change in.

The slope of the consumption function equals the

MPC. The slope of the U.S. consumption function
is about 0.9.
Changes in the real interest rate, wealth, or expected future income shift the consumption function.
Consumption varies when real GDP changes because
changes in real GDP change disposable income.
The saving function is the relationship between saving
and disposable income. The marginal propensity to
save, MPS, is the fraction of a change in disposable
S
income that is saved, or MPS =
.
YD
The sum of the MPC plus MPS equals 1.
Domestic imports are determined in the short run
mainly by U.S. GDP. The marginal propensity to
import is the fraction of an increase in real GDP spent
on imports.

1* This is Chapter 29 in Economics.

191

192

Real GDP with a Fixed Price Level

CHAPTER 13 (29)

equilibrium expenditure and real GDP. The multiplier

is larger than 1.0 because a change in autonomous expenditure also changes induced expenditure.
With no income taxes or imports, the multiplier
1
1
.
, or, equivalently,
equals
(1 MPC )
MPS
Income taxes and imports shrink the multiplier.
Imports and income taxes reduce the slope of the
AE curve. With them the multiplier equals
1
.
(1slope of the AE curve)
A business cycle expansion occurs when autonomous expenditure increases and the multiplier effect increases equilibrium expenditure; a business
cycle recession occurs when autonomous expenditure decreases.
The Multiplier and the Price Level

The aggregate planned expenditure schedule shows

how aggregate expenditure depends on real GDP. The
aggregate expenditure curve plots the aggregate planned
expenditure schedule. Figure 13.2 illustrates an aggregate expenditure curve, AE = C + I + G + NX, where
NX is exports minus imports.
Induced expenditure is the sum of the components of aggregate expenditure that change with
GDP.
Autonomous expenditure is the sum of the components of aggregate expenditure that do not
change when real GDP changes. In Figure 13.2
autonomous expenditure is $8 trillion.
Equilibrium expenditure is the level of aggregate expenditure that occurs when aggregate planned expenditure equals real GDP. In Figure 13.2 the equilibrium
expenditure is the point at which the 45 line crosses
the AE line, or $10 trillion.
If real GDP exceeds equilibrium expenditure, unplanned inventories accumulate; if real GDP is less
than equilibrium expenditure, inventories are
drawn down in an unplanned manner.

The aggregate expenditure curve (AE ) shows the relationship between aggregate planned expenditure and
disposable income; the aggregate demand curve (AD)
shows the relationship between the aggregate quantity
of goods demanded and the price level. The AD curve
is derived from the AE curve.
An increase in the price level shifts the AE curve
downward and equilibrium expenditure decreases.

The Multiplier
A change in autonomous expenditure creates an additional change in induced expenditure. The multiplier
is the amount by which a change in autonomous expenditure is multiplied to determine the change in

Figure 13.3 illustrates this effect: When the price

level rises from 130 to 170, the AE curve shifts

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

193

from AE0 to AE1 and equilibrium expenditure decreases from $10 to $8 trillion.
Figure 13.3 shows that, when the price level is 130,
the aggregate quantity demanded is $10 trillion
and, when the price level is 170, the aggregate
quantity demanded is $8 trillion. These are two
points on the AD curve in Figure 13.4.

In the long run, real GDP returns to potential real

GDP and does not change as a result of a change in
aggregate demand. In the long run, the multiplier
is zero.

Helpful Hints
An increase in the price level leads to a movement
along the aggregate demand curve. Figure 13.4
shows how an increase in the price level from 130
to 170 lead to a movement along the AD curve
from point a to point b. The AD curve does not
shift in response to a change in the price level.
The AD curve shifts when autonomous expenditure changes for any reason other than a change in
the price level. For instance, a change in investment
or government purchases shifts the AD curve.
The size of the shift in the AD curve equals the
multiplier times the change in autonomous expenditure. Figure 13.5 shows this result, where the AD
curve shifts rightward and the multiplied change in
equilibrium expenditure is equal to the length of
the double-headed arrow, $2 trillion.
The change in real GDP is less than the shift in the
AD curve. In Figure 13.5 the shift in the AD curve
is $2 trillion. The increase in the price level reduces
the increase in GDP; in the short run, real GDP in
the figure increases by only $1 trillion.

1. AUTONOMOUS AND INDUCED EXPENDITURE :

Autonomous expenditure is independent of
changes in real GDP, whereas induced expenditure
varies as real GDP changes. In general, a change in
autonomous expenditure creates a change in real
GDP, which in turn creates a change in induced
expenditure. The induced changes are at the heart
of the multiplier effect.
2. THE INTUITION OF THE MULTIPLIER : The concept of the multiplier is very important. An initial
increase in autonomous expenditure, such as invest-ment, increases real GDP directly, but that is
not the end of the story. The initial increase in real
GDP generates an increase in induced expenditure,
which further increases real GDP and thus creates
further increases in (induced) expenditure. Induced
expenditure occurs because the increase in real
GDP created by the increase in autonomous expenditure raises disposable income. For instance,
an increase in investment purchases of computers
raises the incomes of workers who are hired to
manufacture the additional computers. Then, the

194

CHAPTER 13 (29)

increase in disposable income increases these workers (induced!) consumption expenditures.

3. THE MULTIPLIER AND THE AGGREGATE SUPPLY
CURVE : The multiplier shows the change in equilibrium expenditure. So, if the multiplier is 5.0 and
investment (a component of autonomous expenditure) increases by $10 billion, the equilibrium expenditure increases by $50 billion.
However, an increase in the equilibrium expenditure of $50 billion does not necessarily mean that
equilibrium real GDP also increases by $50 billion.
The change in equilibrium real GDP depends on
the interaction of aggregate demand and aggregate
supply. The $50 billion increase in equilibrium expenditure implies that the AD curve shifts rightward by $50 billion, but this shift is one part of the
picture. Depending on the aggregate supply curve,
real GDP could increase by an amount close to $50
billion (if the SAS curve is relatively flat) or by an
amount less than $50 billion (how much less depends on the steepness of the SAS curve).

19. The multiplier equals

1
.
(1 MPS )

10. The larger the marginal propensity to consume, the

smaller the multiplier.
11. If the marginal propensity to consume is 0.8 and
there are no income taxes nor imports, the multiplier equals 5.0.
The Multiplier and the Price Level

12. An increase in investment shifts the AE curve upward and the AD curve rightward.
13. In the short run, an increase in investment expenditure of $1 billion increases equilibrium GDP by
more than $1 billion.
14. In the long run, an increase in investment expenditure of $1 billion increases equilibrium GDP by
more than $1 billion.
Multiple Choice
Fixed Prices and Expenditure Plans

Questions

Use Figure 13.6 for the next question.

True/False and Explain

Fixed Prices and Expenditure Plans

11. A change in disposable income shifts the consumption function.

12. The marginal propensity to consume equals consumption divided by disposable income.
13. The sum of the marginal propensity to consume
and the marginal propensity to save equals 1.
Real GDP with a Fixed Price Level

14. When real GDP increases, induced expenditure

increases along the AE curve.
15. Planned aggregate expenditure can be different
than the actual aggregate expenditure.
16. Equilibrium expenditure occurs when aggregate
planned expenditure equals real GDP.
17. When aggregate planned expenditure exceeds real
GDP, inventories rise more than planned.
The Multiplier

18. An increase in autonomous expenditure leads to an

induced increase in consumption expenditure.

11. What is the marginal propensity to consume, MPC,

in Figure 13.6?
a. 1.00.
b. 0.90.
c. 0.67.
d. $3 trillion.

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

12. The fraction of a change in disposable income saved

is called
a. the marginal propensity to consume.
b. the marginal propensity to save.
c. the marginal tax rate.
d. none of the above.
13. The MPC plus MPS equals
a.
b.
c.
d.

1.
0.
a number between 1 and 0.
a number not between 0 and 1.

14. Consumption expenditure increases when ___

increases.
a. the interest rate
b. the price level
c. real GDP
d. saving
15. Which of the following increases the amount a
household saves?
a. A decrease in the households current disposable
income.
b. An increase in the households expected future
income.
c. An increase in the households net taxes.
d. A decrease in the households expected future
income.
16. Which of the following shifts the consumption
function downward?
a. An increase in current disposable income.
b. An increase in future expected income.
c. An increase in wealth.
d. A decrease in wealth.
17. An increase in expected future income ____ consumption expenditure and ____ saving.
a. increases; increases
b. increases; decreases
c. decreases; increases
d. decreases; decreases

195

Real GDP with a Fixed Price Level

18. The aggregate expenditure curve shows the relationship between aggregate planned expenditure and
a. government purchases.
b. real GDP.
c. the interest rate.
d. the price level.
19. Autonomous expenditure is NOT influenced by
a. the interest rate.
b. taxes.
c. real GDP.
d. any variable.
10. If unplanned inventories rise, aggregate planned
expenditure is
a. greater than real GDP and firms increase their
output.
b. greater than real GDP and firms decrease their
output.
c. less than real GDP and firms increase their
output.
d. less than real GDP and firms decrease their
output.
11. If aggregate planned expenditure exceeds real GDP,
in the short run,
a. aggregate planned expenditure will increase.
b. real GDP will increase.
c. the price level will fall to restore equilibrium.
d. exports decrease to restore equilibrium.
The Multiplier

12. If investment increases by $200 and, in response,

equilibrium expenditure increases by $800,
a. the multiplier is 0.25.
b. the multiplier is 4.0.
c. the slope of the AE curve is 0.25.
d. None of the above.
13. The multiplier equals
a. 1/(MPC ).
b. MPC /(1 MPC ).
c. MPS /(MPC ).
d. 1/(1 MPC ).

196

14. When the marginal propensity to consume is 0.50

and there are no income taxes or imports, the multiplier equals
a. 10.0.
b. 5.0.
c. 2.0.
d. 0.5.
15. If the marginal propensity to consume is 0.75 and
there are no income taxes nor imports, what does
the multiplier equal?
a. 1.33
b. 1.50
c. 2.00
d. 4.00
16. An increase in autonomous expenditure shifts the
AE curve
a. upward and leaves its slope unchanged.
b. upward and makes it steeper.
c. upward and makes it flatter.
d. downward and makes it steeper.
17. Income taxes ___ the magnitude of the multiplier.
a. increase
b. do not change
c. decrease
d. sometimes increase and sometimes decrease
18. A recession begins when
a. the multiplier falls in value because the marginal
propensity to consume has fallen in value.
b. autonomous expenditure increases.
c. autonomous expenditure decreases.
d. the marginal propensity to consume rises in
value, which boosts the magnitude of the multiplier.
The Multiplier and the Price Level

19. An increase in the price level shifts the AE curve

____ and ____ equilibrium expenditure.
a. upward; increases
b. upward; decreases
c. downward; increases
d. downward; decreases

CHAPTER 13 (29)

20. A fall in the price level leads to

a. a downward shift in the aggregate expenditure
curve and a movement along the aggregate demand curve.
b. an upward shift in the aggregate expenditure
curve and a rightward shift in the aggregate demand curve.
c. an upward shift in the aggregate expenditure
curve and a movement along the aggregate demand curve.
d. a movement along both the aggregate expenditure curve and the aggregate demand curve.
21. The multiplier is 2.0 and, owing to an increase in
expected future profit, investment increases by $10
billion. The increase in investment and the multiplier result in the AD curve
a. shifting rightward by exactly $20 billion.
b. shifting rightward by more than $20 billion.
c. shifting rightward by less than $20 billion.
d. not shifting and the SAS curve shifting rightward
by $20 billion.
22. The multiplier is 2.0 and, owing to an increase in
expected future profit, firms increase their investment by $10 billion. As long as the SAS curve is not
horizontal, in the short run, equilibrium real GDP
will
a. increase by $20 billion.
b. increase by more than $20 billion.
c. increase by less than $20 billion.
d. be unaffected.
23. The multiplier is 2.0 and, owing to an increase in
expected future profit, investment increases by $10
billion. If potential real GDP is unaffected, in the
long run, equilibrium real GDP will
a. increase by $20 billion.
b. increase by more than $20 billion.
c. increase by less than $20 billion.
d. be unaffected.
24. Investment increases by $10 billion. In the short
run, which of the following increases the effect of
this change on equilibrium real GDP?
a. A smaller value for the marginal propensity to
consume.
b. The presence of income taxes.
c. A steeper short-run aggregate supply curve.
d. A flatter short-run aggregate supply curve.

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

197

Short Answer Problems

1. Explain why the MPC plus the MPS sum to 1.
2. What is the difference between autonomous and
induced expenditure?
3. Suppose that aggregate planned expenditure is
greater than real GDP so that inventories are decreasing. If prices are sticky, explain the process by
which equilibrium expenditure is achieved.
TABLE 13.1

Aggregate Expenditure Components

Real
GDP

Consumption
expenditure

Investment

Government
purchases

0.5

0.2

0.3

0.2

1.0

0.6

0.3

0.2

1.5

1.0

0.3

0.2

2.0

1.4

0.3

0.2

2.5

1.8

0.3

0.2
TABLE 13.3

4. Table 13.1 shows the components of aggregate

expenditure in the nation of Woodstock. All quantities are in billions of 2000 dollars. Woodstock has
no foreign trade and no taxes.
a. Plot these components of aggregate expenditure
in Figure 13.7. Label the lines.

New Aggregate Expenditure Components

Real
GDP

Consumption
expenditure

Investment

Government
purchases

0.5

0.2

0.4

0.2

1.0

0.6

0.4

0.2

1.5

1.0

0.4

0.2

TABLE 13.2

2.0

1.4

0.4

0.2

Aggregate Expenditure

2.5

1.8

0.4

0.2

Real GDP
(billions of
2000 dollars)

Aggregate expenditure
(billions of
2000 dollars)

0.5

____

1.0

____

1.5

____

2.0

____

2.5

____

b. Complete Table 13.2 to show aggregate expenditure in Woodstock.

c. Use Table 13.2 and plot the aggregate expenditure line in Figure 13.7. Label it AE.
d. Draw a 45 line in Figure 13.7. What is equilibrium expenditure in Woodstock?
e. Use either Figure 13.7 or Table 13.1 to determine the equilibrium consumption expenditure, investment, and government purchases.

5. Continuing with the Woodstock nation, investment increases by $0.1 billion to $0.4 billion, as
shown in Table 13.3.
a. Taking into account the increase in investment,
complete Table 13.4 to show aggregate expenditure in Woodstock.
TABLE 13.4

New Aggregate Expenditure

Real GDP
(billions of 2000 dollars)

Aggregate expenditure
(billions of 2000 dollars)

0.5

____

1.0

____

1.5

____

2.0

____

2.5

____

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CHAPTER 13 (29)

b. What is the new equilibrium level of expenditure? What is the increase in equilibrium consumption expenditure? Equilibrium investment? Equilibrium government purchases?
c. Compared to problem 4, what is the increase in
consumption expenditure? In investment? In
government purchases?
d. What is Woodstocks multiplier? How does the
fact that the multiplier exceeds 1.0 relate to
your answers to part (c)?
6. Explain why the multiplier is larger if the marginal
propensity to consume is larger.

expenditure? The shift in the aggregate demand

curve?
19. Briefly explain what the AE curve illustrates and
how it is related to the AD curve.

TABLE 13.5

The MPC, MPS, and Multiplier

MPC

MPS

Multiplier

0.9

____

____

0.8

____

____

0.7

____

____

0.6

____

____

0.5

____

____

17. a. Complete Table 13.5.

b. Based on Table 13.5, how does a decrease in the
size of the MPC affect the multiplier?
18. The island nation of Wet has no international trade
and no income taxes. The marginal propensity to
consume in Wet is 0.75.
a. Investment increases by $20 billion. Before
prices change, what is the change in equilibrium
expenditure?
b. By how much and in what direction does the
aggregate demand curve shift?
c. Suppose that instead of being 0.75, the marginal propensity to consume is 0.90. With this
marginal propensity to consume, what is the
change in equilibrium expenditure? The shift in
the aggregate demand curve?
d. In the short run, prices rise. Without giving a
precise numeric answer, what is the effect of the
higher price level on the change in equilibrium

10. Figure 13.8 shows the aggregate expenditure curve

when the price level is 110. When the price level
rises to 120, the AE curve shifts vertically downward from AE0 by $1 trillion. When the price level
falls to 100, the AE curve shifts vertically upward
from AE0 by $1 trillion.
a. Draw two new AE curves in Figure 13.8 for the
price levels of 100 and 120. What are the equilibrium levels of aggregate expenditure for these
two price levels? Label as b the equilibrium
point when the price level is 100 and as c the
equilibrium when the price level is 120.
b. Use Figure 13.8 to obtain three points, a, b,
and c, on the aggregate demand curve. Plot
these three points in Figure 13.9 (on the next
page). Assume that the aggregate demand curve
is linear and draw the AD curve in Figure 13.9.

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

199

Youre the Teacher

1. Ive got something of an idea about how the multiplier, AD, SAS, and LAS curves all fit together,
but I know Im still a little confused. Remember
when I helped you in our other class? Cmon, dont
you still owe me for that? Can you help me with
this stuff? Well, you actually might owe your
friend some help. And, after all, your friend is asking you about a lot of material that is really important. So pay back your debt by explaining to your
friend how these topics all fit together by using the
example of an increase in investment. Explain how
the shift in the AD curve is determined, what the
short-run effects are on the price level and real
GDP, and what the long-run effects are on the
price level and real GDP.

200

CHAPTER 13 (29)

Answers
True/False Answers
Fixed Prices and Expenditure Plans

11. F A change in disposable income creates a movement along the consumption function, not a
shift in it.
12. F The marginal propensity to consume equals the
change in consumption divided by the change in
disposable income.
13. T Because MPC + MPS = 1, the two formulas for
1
1
the multiplier,
and
, are
MPS
(1 MPC )
equivalent.
Real GDP with a Fixed Price Level

14. T The increase in GDP induces increases in aggregate expenditure. Indeed, that is why the AE
curve has a positive slope.
15. T If the economy is not in equilibrium, actual
aggregate expenditure is different from planned
aggregate expenditure.
16. T The question gives the definition of equilibrium
expenditure.
17. F When aggregate planned expenditure exceeds
real GDP, inventories fall because more goods
and services are being purchased than are being
produced.
The Multiplier

18. T The question presents the essential reason why

the multiplier is larger than 1 in value.
1
,
19. F With the MPC, the multiplier is
(1 MPC )
1
with the MPS, the multiplier is
.
MPS
10. F The larger the marginal propensity to consume,
the larger is the change in consumption resulting
from any change in disposable income, which
causes the multiplier to be larger.
1
, so when the
11. T The multiplier is
(1 MPC )
MPC is 0.8, the formula equals 1/(1 0.8), and
the multiplier is 5.0.

The Multiplier and the Price Level

12. T Any increase in autonomous expenditure not the

result of a change in the price level shifts the AE
curve upward and the AD curve rightward.
13. T An increase in investment creates a larger increase in GDP because of the multiplier.
14. F In the long run, the economy returns to potential GDP, so the long-run change in GDP is
zero.
Multiple Choice Answers
Fixed Prices and Expenditure Plans

1. c The MPC is (C )/(YD ), which here is

($2 trillion)/($3 trillion) = 0.67.
2. b The question presents the definition of the marginal propensity to save.
3. a The fact that MPC + MPS = 1.0 means that
knowing a value for one (say, the MPC ) allows
us to calculate the value of the other.
4. c An increase in real GDP induces increases in
consumption expenditure.
5. d When people expect less income in the future
than they did before, they respond by increasing
their savings in order to (partially) make up for
the newly recognized shortfall in future income.
6. d A decrease in wealth makes people poorer, so
they decrease their consumption expenditure.
7. b As people perceive that their income will be
higher in the future, they increase current spending and decrease current saving.
Real GDP with a Fixed Price Level

8. b The aggregate expenditure curve shows that, as

real GDP increases, so does the quantity of
planned expenditure.
9. c The definition of autonomous expenditure is
expenditure that is not affected by changes in
real GDP.
10. d If unplanned inventories rise, aggregate planned
expenditure is less than production, that is, is
less than GDP. In response to the unplanned
rise in inventories, firms reduce their level of
production and real GDP decreases.
11. b If aggregate planned expenditure exceeds real
GDP (aggregate production), inventories decline. In response, to rebuild their inventories,

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

201

firms increase their production and GDP increases.

The Multiplier

12. b The multiplier here is 4.0 because 4.0 is the

amount by which the change in autonomous
spending is multiplied to give the change in
equilibrium expenditure.
13. d Answer (d) is the formula for the multiplier.
1
14. c The multiplier is
, which means
(1 MPC )
that, here, the multiplier equals 2.0.
15. d Comparing the answer to this question with the
answer to the last question shows that as the
MPC increases in magnitude, so does the
multiplier.
16. a An increase in autonomous expenditure shifts
the AE curve upward; a decrease shifts it downward.
17. c Income taxes reduce the effect a change in real
GDP has on disposable income and thereby reduce the magnitude of the induced change in
consumption expenditure.
18. c When autonomous expenditure decreases, firms
inventories pile up, so firms decrease production
and real GDP decreases.
The Multiplier and the Price Level

19. d An increase in the price level decreases consumption expenditure, thereby shifting the AE curve
downward and hence decreasing the equilibrium
level of expenditure.
20. c The change in the price level leads to a shift in
the AE curve and a movement along the AD curve.
21. a The rightward shift in the AD curve equals the
multiplied impact on equilibrium expenditure.
In this case it is (2.0) ($10 billion) = $20 billion, as illustrated in Figure 13.10 by the increase in the quantity of real GDP demanded
from $50 billion to $70 billion.
22. c Even though the AD curve shifts rightward by
$20 billion, the SAS curve slopes upward. So in
the short run, the increase in the equilibrium
level of real GDP is less than $20 billion. Figure
13.10 illustrates this situation, where the $20
billion rightward shift in the AD curve creates
only a $10 billion increase in equilibrium GDP.

23. d In the long run, real GDP returns to potential

GDP without any long-run effect on real GDP.
In Figure 13.10 in the long run real GDP returns to the potential GDP of $50 billion.
24. d The flatter the SAS curve, the less prices rise and
the larger is the increase in equilibrium GDP
and aggregate expenditure.
Answers to Short Answer Problems
1. Only two things can be done with a dollar change,
say an increase, in disposable income: Spend it (all
or part) or save it (all or part). The MPC, or marginal propensity to consume, indicates the fraction
of the dollar change in disposable income that is
spent on consumption, whereas the MPS, or marginal propensity to save, indicates the fraction of the
dollar that is saved. Because consumption and saving are the only two uses to which the dollar can be
put, the two fractions must sum to one.
2. Autonomous expenditure does not change when
real GDP changes, whereas induced expenditure
does change.
3. In the discussion of aggregate expenditure and equilibrium expenditure in this chapter, we assume that
individual prices are fixed so that the price level is
fixed. This thought experiment allows us to develop the economic model of the components of
aggregate expenditure without worrying about the
complication of price level changes. As a result,

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CHAPTER 13 (29)

when we discuss how firms adjust to unwanted decreases in their inventories, we assume that firms respond by raising production, without prices changing. Hence when prices are fixed, equilibrium
expenditure is attained by an increase in output.

4. a. Figure 13.11 shows the consumption line, C,

the investment line, I, and the government purchases line, G.
TABLE 13.6

Aggregate Expenditure
Real GDP
(billions of 2000 dollars)

Aggregate expenditure
(billions of 2000 dollars)

d. Figure 13.12 shows the 45 line. The equilibrium level of expenditure equals $1.5 billion because the AE line crosses the 45 line at that
point.
e. In Figure 13.12 the dotted line indicating the
equilibrium level of expenditure shows that the
equilibrium level of consumption expenditure is
$1.0 billion, the equilibrium level of investment
is $0.3 billion, and the equilibrium level of government purchases is $0.2 billion. Alternatively,
in Table 13.1, the data in row 3, the row for
which GDP is $1.5 billion, give the same answers for consumption expenditure, investment,
and government purchases.

0.5

0.7

1.0

1.1

TABLE 13.7

1.5

1.5

New Aggregate Expenditure

2.0

1.9

2.5

2.3

b. Table 13.6 shows the schedule of aggregate expenditure. Aggregate expenditure equals the sum
of consumption expenditure, investment, and
government purchases. When GDP is, say, $1.0
billion, aggregate expenditure equals $0.6 billion
+ $0.3 billion + $0.2 billion, or $1.1 billion.
c. The aggregate expenditure curve, AE, is plotted
in Figure 13.11. It is the vertical sum of the C +
I + G curves in the figure.

Real GDP
(billions of 2000 dollars)

Aggregate expenditure
(billions of 2000 dollars)

0.5

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.5

1.6

2.0

2.0

2.5

2.4

5. a. Table 13.7 shows the new schedule of aggregate

expenditure. These expenditures are obtained in
the same way as those in Table 13.6 in problem
4: At each level of real GDP, add consumption

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

expenditure, investment, and government purchases.

b. The new equilibrium expenditure is $2.0 billion
because that level of aggregate expenditure
equals real GDP. The equilibrium level of consumption is $1.4 billion; investment, $0.4 billion; and government purchases, $0.2 billion.
c. Consumption expenditure increased by $0.4
billion, from $1.0 billion to $1.4 billion. Investment increased by $0.1 billion, from $0.3
billion to $0.4 billion. But government purchases did not change.
d. The multiplier is 5.0: The $0.1 billion increase
in investment created a $0.5 billion increase in
aggregate expenditure. The $0.5 billion increase
in aggregate expenditure can be divided into a
$0.1 billion (autonomous) increase in investment and a $0.4 billion (induced) increase in
consumption expenditure.
6. Any initial increase in autonomous expenditure
generates a direct increase in equilibrium expenditure. The basic idea of the multiplier is that this initial increase in aggregate expenditure generates further increases in aggregate expenditure as increases
in consumption expenditure are induced. In each
round of the multiplier process, the increase in
spending, and thus the further increase in aggregate
expenditure, are determined by the marginal propensity to consume. Because a larger marginal propensity to consume means a larger increase in aggregate expenditure at each round, the total increase
in equilibrium expenditure is greater. So, the multiplier is larger if the marginal propensity to consume
is larger.
TABLE 13.8

The MPC, MPS, and Multiplier

MPC

MPS

Multiplier

0.9

0.1

10.0

0.8

0.2

5.0

0.7

0.3

3.3

0.6

0.4

2.5

0.5

0.5

2.0

17. a. Table 13.8 completes Table 13.5. Because MPC

+ MPS = 1.0, MPS = 1.0 MPC. For the first
row, MPS = 1.0 0.9 = 0.1. The multipliers can

203

be calculated using either of two equivalent for1

1
=
.
mulas, multiplier =
(1 MPC ) MPS
b. As Table 13.8 shows, when the MPC falls in
size, so too does the multiplier.
1
, or
18. a. The multiplier in Wet is
(1 MPC )
1
= 4.0. So the change in equilibrium
(1 0.75)
expenditure is (4.0)($20 billion), or $80 billion.
b. The aggregate demand curve shifts by an
amount equal to the change in equilibrium expenditure. Equilibrium expenditure increases by
$80 billion, so the aggregate demand curve shifts
rightward by $80 billion.
c. If the marginal propensity to consume is 0.90,
the multiplier is 10.0. Hence, in this case, equilibrium expenditure increases by (10.0)($20 billion) = $200 billion, and the aggregate demand
curve shifts rightward by $200 billion.
d. When prices start to rise, the aggregate expenditure curve shifts downward. (The higher prices
decrease consumption expenditure.) The downward shift in the aggregate expenditure curve reduces equilibrium expenditure. However, the
aggregate demand curve does not shift. Instead, a
movement occurs along the aggregate demand
curve to a lower level of equilibrium real GDP.
19. The AE curve and the AD curve are different. The
AE curve answers the question: For a given price
level, how is equilibrium expenditure determined?
When the price level rises, aggregate planned expenditure decreases so that the AE curve shifts
downward and equilibrium expenditure decreases.
Aggregate demand is different: It relates the quantity of real GDP demanded to differing values of the
price level. In other words, the AD curve uses the
results derived using the AE curve to show how
equilibrium expenditure changes when the price
level changes.
10. a. Figure 13.13 (on the next page) shows the aggregate expenditure curve for price levels of 100
(AE1) and 120 (AE2). The equilibrium points
are b and c, and the equilibrium levels of expenditure are $12 trillion and $8 trillion, respectively.

204

CHAPTER 13 (29)

Youre the Teacher

1. Wow, youre asking about a lot of stuff. Are you
sure that I owe you that much? But, what the heck,
let me go over this for you because its bound to
help me, too.
Lets tackle your questions by thinking about the
situation in which investment increases by $10 billion. Why did investment increase? I dont know;
maybe because expectations of future profits increased; maybe because the interest rate dropped.
Whatever the reason, though, it increased by $10
billion. Now, lets also say that the MPC equals
0.67.
The first thing we can do is to calculate the multiplier. We know that the multiplier equals
1
1
, so in this case we get
= 3.0.
(1 MPC )
(1 0.67 )
In other words, we know that the multiplier is 3.0
and that the $10 billion increase in investment leads
to a (3.0)($10.0 billion) = $30.0 billion increase in
equilibrium expenditure.
Now I need to draw a figure; lets call it Figure
13.15. Check it out. Before investment increased,
the economy was in equilibrium at point a. Here
the initial aggregate demand curve, AD0, crossed the
short-run aggregate supply curve, SAS0, and the
long-run aggregate supply curve, LAS. The equilibrium price level was 110 and the level of real GDP
was $60 billion.

b. Figure 13.14 shows the three points on the AD

curve. When the price level is 100, the aggregate
quantity demanded is the equilibrium expenditure of $12 trillion (point b); when the price
level is 110, the aggregate quantity demanded is
the equilibrium expenditure of $10 trillion
(point a); and when the price level is 120, the
aggregate quantity demanded is $8 trillion
(point c).

EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS: THE KEYNESIAN MODEL

Okay, now pay attention because heres where

your questions start: The increase in investment
shifts the AD curve rightward, and the size of the
shift equals the change in equilibrium expenditure.
In other words, the AD curve shifts rightward to
AD1, and the size of the shift equals $30 billion.
The shift is the difference between point b and
point a along the double headed arrow; this difference is $30 billion. So the AD curve shifts rightward
by the multiplied impact on equilibrium expenditure.
But a key point is that, in the short run, real GDP
doesnt increase by all $30 billion. It would increase
by the entire $30 billion only if prices did not
change. But, in the short run, prices are going to
start to change. And as they rise, people reduce their
consumption expenditures, and the equilibrium
amount of expenditure doesnt change by the entire
$30 billion; it changes by something less. Figure
13.15 shows that the short-run equilibrium
where AD1 crosses SAS0 is at point c. And at
point c, real GDP increases by (only) $15 billion, to
$75 billion. Why dont we go to point b? Because,
in the short run, the price level has increased, from
110 to 120.
But, look, point c cant be the end of the story. At
point c, the price level has increased, but money
wages havent changed. As more time passes, workers negotiate higher wages, which take into account
the higher prices. And as money wage rates rise, the
short-run aggregate supply curve shifts leftward.
The final part of the story is illustrated in Figure
13.16. Here the SAS curve has shifted leftward and
the new, long-run equilibrium point is d, where the
AD curve crosses the LAS curve and the SAS curve,
SAS1. Thus at point d, weve returned to the longrun equilibrium because prices and money wages
have both adjusted: Real GDP has returned to its
potential level ($60 billion) and the price level has
increased to 130.
I think Table 13.9 shows some results that can
help you tie all these changes together. In it Ive
listed the four points shown in the figures Ive
drawn. Basically, we begin at point a. Then the increase in investment starts to move us to point b. If

205

prices are sticky long enough, the multiplier process

will have time to complete itself and well get to
point b. But in the short run, prices rise and so we
move to point c, where prices but not money wages
have changed. And then, from point c, money
wages start to adjust and we eventually move from
point c to point d, where both prices and money
wages have risen. Point d is the final, long-run equilibrium.
Look, your question required a really long answer,
so how about you springing for the pizza the next
time we buy some?

TABLE 13.9

Different Points
Point

Situation

Initial equilibrium

Price level constant,

money wage constant

Price level increased,

money wage constant

Price level increased,

money wage increased