Question

Agricultural output is a large part of Econland's GDP. Particularly bad weather one year leads to an output that is smaller than normal, causing a shock to Econland's economy. Which of these correctly describes, from a Keynesian perspective, the impact of expansionary or contractionary monetary policy taken to address the situation?
A. Increase M1 to reduce inflation while having no impact on unemployment, or decrease M1 to reduce unemployment while having no impact on inflation.
B. Increase M1 to reduce both inflation and unemployment, or reduce M1 to increase both inflation and unemployment.
C. Increase M1 to reduce inflation while adding to unemployment, or decrease M1 to reduce unemployment while adding to inflation.
D. Increase M1 to reduce unemployment but adding to inflation, or decrease M1 to reduce the inflation while adding to unemployment.

Answer 1

Answer: D. Increase M1 to reduce unemployment but adding to inflation, or decrease M1 to reduce the inflation while adding to unemployment.

Explanation:

M1 is the money which consist of coins and physical currency, travelers checks, demand deposits, etc. M1 is the most liquid part of money supply due to the fact that it is made up of the currencies and the assets that can be changed to cash quickly.

From the question, we are told that agricultural output is a large part of Econland's GDP and that a bad weather resulted in a shock to Econland's economy. The best way to address the situation is to increase M1 to reduce unemployment but adding to inflation, or decrease M1 to reduce the inflation while adding to unemployment.

When money supply is increased, there will be more money in circulation which will bring about increase in demand and employers will employ more people due to this. It should also be noted that due to more money in circulation, there will be inflation which means rise in the prices of goods and services.

Therefore, the government has to choose between increasing M1 to reduce unemployment but adding to inflation, or decrease M1 to reduce the inflation while adding to unemployment.