Let’s consider the effects of inflation in an economy= composed only of two people: Bob, a bean farmer, and Rita, a rice farmer. Bob and Rita both always consume equal amounts of rice and beans. In 2000, the price of beans was $1, and the price of rice was $3.a. Suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $6. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the  changes in prices? What about Rita?b. Now suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $4. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the changes in prices? What about Rita?c. Finally, suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $1.50. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the changes in prices? What about Rita?d. What matters more to Bob and Rita—the overall  inflation rate or the relative price of rice and beans?

Brief Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Course List)
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ISBN:9781337091985
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
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Chapter12: Money Growth And Intlation
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Let’s consider the effects of inflation in an economy= composed only of two people: Bob, a bean farmer, and Rita, a rice farmer. Bob and Rita both always consume equal amounts of rice and beans. In 2000, the price of beans was $1, and the price of rice was $3.

a. Suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $6. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the  changes in prices? What about Rita?

b. Now suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $4. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the changes in prices? What about Rita?

c. Finally, suppose that in 2001 the price of beans was $2 and the price of rice was $1.50. What was inflation? Was Bob better off, worse off, or unaffected by the changes in prices? What about Rita?

d. What matters more to Bob and Rita—the overall  inflation rate or the relative price of rice and beans?

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