2.2.2

Components of Aggregate Demand

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Components of Aggregate Demand (AD)

Aggregate Demand (AD) is defined as the total value of planned expenditure on goods and services produced in an economy in a given period of time.

Components of AD

Components of AD

  • The formula for AD is AD = C + I + G + (X-M).
    • C is Consumption.
    • I is Investment.
    • G is Government Spending.
    • X is Exports.
    • M is Imports.
Consumption

Consumption

  • A number of factors affect the level of consumption (C):
    • Wealth levels.
    • Income levels.
    • Future expectations of inflation.
    • Animal spirits (confidence).
    • Unemployment levels.
    • Job security.
Types of investment

Types of investment

  • Investment is defined as expenditure that increases the capital stock of a country.
  • Investment in physical capital would be expenditure by firms on plant and machinery.
  • Investment in human capital is expenditure by firms on the skills of its workers e.g. training programs.
Factors affecting investment

Factors affecting investment

  • A number of factors affect the level of investment:
    • Interest rates.
    • Future growth and demand.
    • Profitability.
    • Government policies e.g. corporate tax, subsidies.
    • Efficiency of financial system.
Types of government spending

Types of government spending

  • Government spending could be on current spending or capital spending:
    • Current spending is on transfer payments such as benefits, or on the day to day running of government e.g. salaries, utility bills.
    • Capital spending is on long-term spending that increases the productive capacity of the economy e.g infrastructure projects.
Government spending

Government spending

  • A number of factors affect the level of government spending:
    • Cost of borrowing.
    • Fiscal deficit or debt targets.
    • Levels of national debt.
    • State of the economy.
    • Confidence in the economy.
    • Political bias.
Exports and imports

Exports and imports

  • A number of factors affect the level of exports and imports:
    • The exchange rate determines relative prices of exports and imports.
    • The quality of goods affects international competitiveness.
    • Relative inflation rates affect domestic vs international prices.
    • Relative levels of income. The higher the domestic income, the higher the marginal propensity to import.
    • How much spare capacity there is to supply resources. The less there is, the more raw materials will need to be imported.
Jump to other topics
1

Microeconomics

2

Macroeconomics

2.1

The Level of Overall Economic Activity

2.2

Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply

2.3

Macroeconomic Objectives

2.4

Economic Growth, Poverty & Inequality

2.5

Fiscal Policy

2.6

Monetary Policy

2.7

Supply-Side Policies

3

The Global Economy

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