Summary of
Macroeconomic
Theories

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The following table summarizes the policy effects of increases in the indicated variables for each macroeconomic theory.  The effects of a decease is just the opposite of those presented here. Long run results assume that the economy began at full employment.  The following notation is used in the table; + means an increase, - means a decrease, 0 means that there is no change, and ? means that the outcome is indeterminate.
 
 
 
Aggregate
Demand
Effect on 
Aggregate Supply
Price 
Level
Output
Keynesian
Model
Government
Spending
+
0
+
+
Government 
Taxation
-
0
- -
Autonomous
Consumption,
Investment,
or Net exports
+
0
+
+
Money Supply
+
0
+
+
Monetarist 
Model
Money Supply
Short run
Long run
+
+
0
+
+
+
+
0
Government
Borrowing
+
0
+
+
Money Demand
Short run
Long run
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
0
Rational 
Expectations
Model
Anticipated 
Increases
in Aggregate 
Demand
+
+
+
0
Unanticipated 
Increases
in Aggregate 
Demand
+
0
+
+
Government 
Borrowing
0
0
0
0
Constantly 
Changing
Government 
Policies
?
-
?
-
Real Business
Cycle Model
Technological 
Innovation
+
+
?
+
Supply Side
Economics
Changes 
in the
Marginal 
Tax Rate
0
-
+
-

Recall that output can not exceed the full capacity of the society, as determined by the production possiblities boundary.  It is assumed that in the long run the economy is at full efficiency so none of these changes can affect output in the long run unless it also moves the aggregate supply curve. Monetary policy does not affect aggregate supply but fiscal policy can.  So monetary policy effects in this table are for the short run only.

In the simple Keynesian model changes in the money supply only effects investment if it changes the interest rate.  In this table I have assumed that an increase in the money supply will decrease the interest rate which will increase investment and consequently aggregate demand.

In the simple Monetarist model more government money only affects demand if it increases interest rates.  The increase in the interest rate causes people to reduce their money holdings which increases total spending.


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