Abstract
An examination of inflation from ancient time to the modern era, and how American economic policy-makers attempt to control it.

From the Paper
"Conflict between the Interests of Debtors and Creditors causes inflation. The history of money is one of unceasing conflict between the interests of debtors, who seek to enlarge the quantity of money and who seek busily to find acceptable substitutes, and the interests of creditors, who seek to maintain or increase the value of money by limiting its supply, by refusing substitutes or accepting them with great reluctance, and generally trying in all sorts of ways to safeguard the quality of money."

Tags:banking, markets, money

Abstract
To understand the implication of inflation and deflation, the author outlines the functions of money and of the price system. He defines terms such as Price Stability and Consumer Price Index. The paper discusses the history of business cycles and the associated problems. He concludes with a discussion methods to control the economy.

Graphs
ISLM
Target Inflation
Pricing

From the Paper
"Price stability exists when prices overall are stable, which is the same as the permanent value of money. This does not mean that prices are fixed, but rather that taken on the whole they are stable when measured relatively. Indeed, in an environment of price stability, one would expect some prices to be rising but other to be falling. The main function of the price system consists in guiding the productive structure and the market system requires the enforcement of private property because the price becomes the expressions of those interactions of individual valuations through the use and disposal of what is owned. These interactions of the individuals participating are the market modifies the relative price structure according to the changes that take place in their individual valuations. By contrast when the general prices level of goods and services have persistent and relatively large increase we have inflation and when prices move predominantly down we have deflation."

Tags:money, price, stability, consumer, gold, dollar

Abstract
This paper explains American monetary policies, how they are set by the Federal Reserve bank, and how they impact the American economy. Also examined is how the Federal Reserve Bank keeps the American economy stable.

From the Paper
"The Monetary and Fiscal Policies, although controlled by two different organizations, are the ways that our economy is kept under control. Both policies have their strengths and weaknesses, some situations favoring use of both policies, but most of the time, only one is necessary."

Tags:america, us

Abstract
An analysis of the current budget deficit and its causes--a slow economy, tremendous spending on the Iraq war and tax cuts. The paper also addresses the economic effect of a deficit on the economy and the desirable and adverse effects caused by a deficit. This essay concludes that spending would be more productive if directed to structural elements of the economy.

From the Paper
"Budget deficits occur when government expenditure is greater than revenue, forcing the government to borrow to meet its requirements. There are many potential economic effects of a deficit; the most apparent is an expansionary effect on the economy caused by injections of money being greater than withdrawals. Fiscal policy, among many other mechanisms is used to manipulate the economy. However, budget deficits should be used as to not adversely affect the economy. The federal budget deficit set the new record of $374 billion in 2003, doubling last year's efforts (Fram). The record deficit has been caused by the slow economy, tremendous spending on the Iraq war and tax cuts for the rich. This indicates that the great America does not know how to balance the checkbook, and certainly does not know how to spend wisely."

Tags:bush, debt, fiscal, iraq, monetary, spending, surplus, tax, tax, trade, war

Abstract
The paper discusses the theories of John Maynard Keynes who is known as the "father of modern economics". He was the first economist who precisely described some of the causes and cures for recessions and depressions. The paper explores some of the effects his theories had on the Great Depression such as the Employment Act and the Council of Economic Advisors. It also shows the effects of his theories on World War II and provides a time-line for the Great Depression.

From the Paper
"Thus, according to Keynes, the solution that he bought through his theory was for the government to goose up its spending in any way it can either by printing money, cutting taxes, or increasing spending itself. He believed in supply and demand, which was an indirect way to let the economy balance itself. In his theory he not only convinced that in order to work for this system to work people needed money, which could only be done by creating jobs. He further believed that in order to reduce unemployment the government needed to increase the total demand, which is the total amount of goods being demanded. "

Tags:United, States, Federal, Reserve, Gold, Standard

Abstract
This paper answers the following questions: How does the movement of interest rates impact the economy? How do interest rates impact inflation, foreign exchange rates, stock markets, bond markets and corporate growth? What role does the Federal Reserve play in the ecomy and how can changing the interest rates improve or hurt the economy? What rates does the Federal Reserve set?

From the Paper
"1.1] Introduction Interest rates are an important macroeconomic tool, used by the Federal Reserve Board to exercise monetary policy decisions. Although there is a widespread debate on how such a policy should be complimented with fiscal policies which are used by the government there is a large consensus that it does help to prevent excessive overheating of the economy and also help prevent long term recessions. Fiscal policy on the other hand may not offer a similar support mechanism to markets and its effects on the economy may take place over several years."

Tags:fed, interest, policy, FOMC, consumer, Central, Bank

Abstract
This paper defines and describes the term macroeconomics and illustrates the principal parts or variables included in the study of this subject. In his conclusion, the author argues that globalization as well as the complexity of businesses, combined with a dynamic and sharply changing environment, has made it far more difficult to predict future trends of the principle macroeconomic variables, let alone manage them.

Outline:
Introduction
Macroeconomic Variables and Objectives
Changes of Variables over Business Cycle
Tools of Macroeconomic Management
Policies of macroeconomic management
Conclusion

From the Paper
"National Output and economic growth: National output can be defined as "the money value of goods and services produced during the time period concerned". (Jewell, 2000, p. 135) Since national output is purchased by various agents in an economy, and therefore, earns some income we can conclude that national output = national expenditure = national income. What the national output essentially measures is an economy's rate of growth. The measure used is known as gross domestic product (GDP). This must not be confused with gross national product (GNP) as there is a significant distinction between the two. While GDP represents the value of goods produced within a country, part of GNP is earned abroad. (Dornbusch & Fischer, 1990) What every government aims for in terms of national output is smooth but high growth, and, ideally, sustainable growth!
"Rate of unemployment: Unemployment can be defined as "the percentage of people in the labour force who are not working but are actively looking for work." (Dolan, 1986, p. 7) The first of the two official measures of unemployment is called claimant unemployment and, as implied by the term, is a measure of the people in receipt of unemployment-related benefits. Standardized unemployment rate is the other official measure of unemployment used by the International Labour Office (ILO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and is the number of people without work who are available and actively seeking for work. (Sloman, 1998) Governments, in general, strive for low unemployment."

Tags:inflation, fluctuations, recession, fiscal

Abstract
The paper presents an argument for raising minimum wage increases in higher increments so that inflation does not erode living standards. The paper gives a background and history of the minimum wage explaining the original objective of the minimum wage compared to its current objective. A graph is provided showing the increase in minimum wage since its inception. Arguments are given for and against minimum wage laws. The paper also compares minimum wages in the United States with those in Canada showing how the law affects women and workers in the two countries. The paper discusses whether the minimum wage is appropriate for the future economy.

From the Paper
"Minimum wage is the lowest hourly salary that an employer is allowed to pay an employee for services rendered. The Federal Labor board sets the minimum hourly labor rates. The lowest hourly rates are decided by a *collective bargaining, an arbitration and a board action legislation. Minimum wage laws were passed to ensure that employees are reasonably compensated."

Tags:Economy, workers, living, standards, cost, living

From the Paper
"A central bank serves as the banker to both the banking community and the government; it also issues the national currency, conducts monetary policy, and plays a major role in the supervision and regulation of banks and bank holding companies. In the U.S. these functions are the responsibilities of key officials of the Federal Reserve System: the Board of Governors, located in Washington, D.C., and the top officers of the 12 district Federal Reserve banks, located throughout the nation."

Tags:banking, Federal, Reserve, money, monetary, policy

Abstract
This paper looks at the issues of unemployment and inflation and discusses them in detail, to understand their causes, and see the relation between the two. The author provides a literature review and describes different types of inflation, its relation to unemployment, and ways to counter it.

Outline:
Literature review
Different types of unemployment
Empirical work
Analysis of inflation (Demand-Pull/Cost-Pull)

From the Paper
""Until the 1960's countries with high inflation tended to have relatively full employment and countries with high unemployment tended to have relatively stable prices. Policy conflicts were common, as most of the policies for dealing with inflation led to an increase in unemployment and, conversely, most of the policies for dealing with unemployment led to an increase in inflation. In 1970's and early 1980's these difficulties were compounded as most of the countries, including UK, faced both high unemployment and high inflation". (Hardwick, 1987).
"Over the last two decades, inflation has varied considerably. It tends to follow a cyclical pattern: increasing at boom periods of the trade cycle, and falling when economic growth slows down" (Bized 2005). As unemployment and inflation tend to go hand in hand, unemployment tends to go down during the boom periods as inflation rises, and increases when an economy slows down."

Tags:economics, policies, market, demand-pull