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Inflationary Gaps and Unemployment
hard

How does a decrease in aggregate supply contribute to cyclical unemployment during an inflationary gap?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

It leads to higher overall prices, causing firms to reduce production and lay off workers.

B

It increases consumer demand, resulting in more hiring by firms.

C

It has no impact on employment levels.

D

It encourages businesses to invest more in technology, decreasing unemployment.

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

A decrease in aggregate supply means that the overall production of goods and services in an economy is falling. When this happens during an inflationary gap, where demand is high but supply is low, prices start to rise quickly. Businesses may struggle to keep up with demand and might need to cut back on production or lay off workers, leading to cyclical unemployment. For example, if a factory producing toys cannot get enough materials and has to reduce its output, it may have to let some workers go, even though there are still many people wanting to buy toys. This situation shows how a drop in supply during high demand can create job losses, contributing to cyclical unemployment.

Detailed Explanation

When aggregate supply goes down, it means fewer goods are made. Other options are incorrect because Some might think that higher prices mean people buy more; It's a common belief that supply changes don't affect jobs.

Key Concepts

unemployment rate
aggregate supply
cyclical unemployment
Topic

Inflationary Gaps and Unemployment

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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