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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

1Microeconomics

2Macroeconomics

2.1The Level of Overall Economic Activity

2.2Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply

2.3Macroeconomic Objectives

2.4Economic Growth, Poverty & Inequality

2.5Fiscal Policy

2.6Monetary Policy

2.7Supply-Side Policies

3The Global Economy

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