Class Discussion
Other
(1a) Economists tend to fall into two distinct camps where government intervention in the economy is concerned.
“Keynesian” economists favor active policymaking based on the Phillips Curve and NAIRU theories. These theories purport a possible trade-off between unemployment and inflation and suggest that appropriate policy can be enacted to guide us back to a soft landing when business cycles create havoc within the economy.
Economists who align more with the “Classical” school would have a “leave it alone” (Laissez Faire) attitude and would oppose active policymaking. “Rational Expectations Theory” (a “new classical approach”) suggests that people figure out what will happen based on past policy changes, therefore rendering active intervention ineffective.
In this week’s Discussion area, examine the following:
- In your opinion, which theory is better? Why?
