the economic development of the global main economies us, eu, japan, and china together account for...
TRANSCRIPT
The Economic Development of the Global Main
Economies
US, EU, Japan, and China Together Account for 70% of the Global
Economy
The Importance of Productivity and National Saving
Lecture #1
All Economic Activity is Devoted
to Two Things --
This is in fact what we mean by
standard of living
Government Can Sometimes be Useful in Helping Us Accomplish
These Goals
Government Can Sometimes be Useful in Helping Us Accomplish
These Goals
as well as
Government Can Sometimes be Useful in Helping Us Accomplish
These Goals
Helping to Control Externalities, Provide a System of Justice and Enforcement of Contracts, Supply Goods and Services which the Private Market Fails to Provide, Ensure a Reasonable Distribution of Income and Wealth, and Moderate the Business Cycle
U = utility C = consumption L = leisure
Both C and L ultimately depend on y = output per population
We Must Increase y Steadily Over the Long
Run
How Can We Increase (r1) (r2) and (r3) ?
Suppose we just want to increase (r1) which is
Child Labor – Not Really
Elderly Workers – Limited at Best
Foreign Workers – Maybe, but Problems, Problems
Robot Workers – Not for Many Years
< 1
No Matter What, (r1) has an Upper Limit
Okay …..suppose we try instead to increase (r2) which is
No Sleeping ----
No Eating ---
Just Work, Work, Work ---
< 24 Hours/Day
No Matter What, (r2) has an Upper Limit
In Fact…the Trend is for Less Hours Not More Hours of Work !
US Data
How Can We Increase y?
The Only Reliable, Long Run Way is to Increase
(r3) = Average Labor Productivity
How Do We Get High Long Run Growth in Labor Productivity?
Saving Necessary for Productivity Growth
How Do We Get High Long Run Growth in Labor Productivity?
Saving Necessary for Productivity Growth
1. Creation of Physical Capital – Tools, Machines, Plant, Equipment
2. Creation and Improvement of Human Capital and Skills
3. Creation and Improvement in Technology and Production Advances
4. Creation and Expansion of New Markets for Goods and Services
5. Development of New and Better Industries
6. Development of Financial and Capital Markets
7. Creation of Inventions, New products, and Innovations
We can also Increase Output per person with More Land and
Raw Materials
Terracing Can Give Us More Land – But Ultimately Limited
Parts of the Zuider Zee in the
Netherlands as Reclaimed Land from the Ocean – Really Difficult and Costly
Noordoostpolder, Netherlands
Hong Kong Airport – Land Reclaimed from the Ocean
Not Land, but Space, Coupled with Physical Capital
Recycling Can Help Us Reduce Some Resource Problems
Renewable Energy Can Help a Little in Our Search for Energy
Ultimately, all our efforts will require saving as a temporary sacrifice -- in order to grow the economy. This is what we must prepare for and why the challenges in the future are so daunting to the world economy.
1. How Can We Encourage Capital Formation and Capital Usage?
2. Why Does the US Save Very Little?
3. What Factors Determine the Successful Growth of an Economy?
4. Why is Productivity Growth So Difficult to Understand?
5. How Can We Encourage an Increase in National Saving?
6. Does Sustained Growth in Productivity Need Freedom and Democracy?
Basic Questions to be Discussed in Afternoon
Video of Robert Barro in South Korea Discussing Economic Growth
Does Education Really Matter for Growth…..?