Neo-Keynesian economics and the neoclassical synthesis

Motivation

Output gaps

Phillips curve

Okun’s law

Investment Saving - Liquidity preference - Money supply (IS-LM)

The Fisher equation

The Fisher equation shows the relationship between the real and nominal interest rates.

\((1+i)=(1+r)(1+\pi )\)

For small values:

\(i\approx r+\pi\)

The Keynesian cross and the Investment Saving (IS) curve

The Keynesian cross

We have:

\(Y=C(Y-T(Y))+I(r)+G+NX(Y)\)

Where:

  • \(Y\) is output

  • \(C\) is consumption

  • \(T\) is taxes

  • \(I\) is investment

  • \(r\) is the real interest rate

  • \(G\) is government spending

  • \(NX\) is net exports

The Keynesian cross plots:

\(Y\)

Against:

\(C(Y-T(Y))+I(r)+G+NX(Y)\)

This identifies an equilibrium level of output.

The IS curve

The IS curve plots the equilibrium level of output from the Keynesian cross against the real interest rate.

As the real interest rate rises, investment and therefore output falls.

The slope of the IS curve

The slope of the IS curve depends on taxes and net exports.

The Liquidity preference - Money supply (LM) curve

Liquidity preference

Money demand is:

\(L=L(i, Y)\)

As income rises, demand for money rises.

As the nominal interest rate rises, the demand for money falls, due to the opportunity cost.

Money supply

Money supply is:

\(\dfrac{M}{P}\)

The LM curve

In equilibrium money supply and demand match. We have:

\(\dfrac{M}{P}=L(i,Y)\)

We can plot the level of output which corresponds to the nominal interest rate.

This is the LM curve.

The slope of the LM curve

The Investment Saving - Liquidity preference - Money supply (IS-LM) model

The IS curve plots output against the (real) interest rate. As (real) interest rates rise, investment and therefore output falls.

The LM curve plots output against the (nominal) interest rate. As output rises, (nominal) interest rates fall to ensure clearing.

As prices are fixed in the IS-LM model, we can use the real and nominal rates interchangably.

The IS-LM model identifies the intercepts of the two curves and the equilibrium output and interest rate.

This model takes prices, money supply, taxes and government spending to be exogenous.

Effect of monetary expansion

In the LM model a monetary expansion lowers interest rates.

In the IS-LM model this effect is lessened. The lower interest rates cause higher output, increasing money demand, and raising interest rates.

Effect of fiscal expansion

Is the IS model a fiscal expansion caused a corresponding increase in output.

In the IS-LM model this is lessened because the increase also causes more real money demand, raising interest rates, and lowering output.

Aggregate Demand - Aggregate Supply (AD-AS)

Aggregate Demand (AD)

For any given price level there is a corresponding IS-LM equilibrium, with an output level.

The Aggregate Demand curve models the relationship between the price level and equilibrium output.

As the price level rises, the real money supply falls. This means nominal interest rates rise to ensure LM equilibrium.

This rise in interest rates causes the IS curve to shift inwards, reducing output.

\(Y_d=Y_d(\dfrac{M}{P},G,T)\)

The slope of the Aggregate Demand curve

Aggregate Supply (AS)

Aggregate Supply in neoclassical models

In neoclassical models Aggregate Supply does not depend on price.

Aggregate Supply in neo-Keynesian models

The Aggregate Supply curve is informed by the Phillips curve.

As prices rise, so too does output.

Firms could increase production as nominal prices rise, as nominal contracts on wages mean that real costs have fallen.

Slope of the Aggregate Supply curve

The Aggregate Demand - Aggregate Supply (AD-AS) model

The fiscal multiplier

Extentions

The Mundell-Flemming model

The Dynamic Aggregate Demand - Surprise Aggregate Supply (DAD-SAS) model