economic project

Economics 4002.01

Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

Extra Credit Assignment

Extra Credit = 10

Due Date: April 19, 2018 by 11 pm

This extra credit assignment is designed to let you demonstrate your understanding of an economic model and your ability to apply the model to real world data.

This project will be using actual data for the U.S. economy to evaluate the Quantity Theory of Money and use it to estimate future changes in the economy.

Begin by reviewing the quantity theory of money in your text. Write a one page summary of the quantity theory emphasizing key assumptions and implications of the model.

You will be using date from the FRED database maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The web site is found at:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/

At the top of the web page you will find a search box. Search for GDPDEF (GDP Deflator). You will be taken to a page with a selection of data bases. Select GDPDEF and click on the “add to graph” option. You should now be on a page with a graph of real GDP from 1959 to the most recent quarter. Take a moment and examine the graph. Placing your cursor over the graph will show the actual data represented.

Now click on the “edit graph” button found in the upper right part of the screen. This opens a table that will let you modify the data in the graph. First, change the frequency of the data to annual using the average aggregation method. Then, under units, change the data to percentage change from one year ago. Note how your graph has changed.

Repeat the process two more times for the M2 money stock (M2SL) and real GDP (GDPC1). Be sure to click Add Line at the top of the page for each new series. The data will automatically be converted to a percentage change, but you will have to manually put the data into annual numbers. Now click on the X in the upper right-hand portion of the editing table to close the table. Using the date range selector chose January 1960 as the beginning date for your selected data. Take a moment to examine your graph and how the three data sets relate to each other. Then click on the download button and download the data to an EXCEL spreadsheet. Open the EXCEL file and save it.

In your EXCEL file, create a column for estimated inflation. To calculate this column, use the percentage change version of the equation of exchange. Next, create a column labeled deviation from true. To calculate this column, subtract the estimated rate of inflation from the actual rate of inflation shown in your GDPDEF column.

At this point you can compare the prediction of the model to the actual data. Write a one page analysis describing how well you think the model performed in estimating the rate of inflation. If you believe it did not perform well, offer an explanation for why you think the model’s predictions were off. What criticisms of this experiment might a monetarist offer? Be sure to include a copy of your EXCEL table with your paper.

This assignment is worth 20 points. You will be graded on the basis of your ability to follow directions (10%), you grammar (20%), the clarity of your style and presentation (30%), and your demonstrated understanding of the model and ability to use it to analyze real world data (40%).

Criterion	100%	80%	60%	40%	20%
Instructions	Followed all instructions	Followed almost all instructions	Followed most instructions	Followed some instructions	Did not follow instructions
Grammar	0-2 errors	3-4 errors	5-6 errors	7-8 errors	9 or more errors
Clarity	Clearly written and on topic	Mostly clear and on topic	Somewhat clear or tendencies to get off topic	Not clear, but mostly on topic	Not clear and off topic
Critical Thinking	Demonstrates a clear understanding of the concepts	Demonstrates a good understanding of the concepts	Demonstrates a moderate understanding of the concepts	Demonstrates a familiarity with the concepts	Does not demonstrate an understanding of the concepts