a. What are the problems with unemployment and the way the government measures it? In real life, is the unemployment rate higher or lower than the government's rate?
b. In 1979, gas prices were $1.00; in 2016 they were $2.30. Are nominal prices or real prices higher today than in the past? How do you know? Use the CPI of 85 in 1979 and 240 in 2016. Show your work.
a) Unemployment Rate = (Number of Unemployed / Labor Force) * 100
This is the official U3 unemployment rate calculation.
Labor Force includes employed and unemployed.
Unemployed are persons who have actively looked for work in the past 4 weeks.
Unemployed does not include the marginally attached and discouraged workers. This is the major flaw in the official unemployment rate. If this category is included, then the unemployment rate will be much higher
b) Nominal prices or market basket is current price times current quantity. This does not provide for inflation. The nominal prices in 2016 is higher than in 1979.
Real prices adjusts for inflation. CPI in 1979 is 85 and in 2016 it is 240. The inflation in 2016=
(Current year CPI-Prior year CPi)/Prior year CPI= (240-85)/85=155/85=182.35%
Real prices are higher in 2016 as the inflation rate is 182.35%.
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