Theory 1 – Demand-pull inflation – is inflation demanding?

The Keynesian view of Demand Pull inflation: Notice the large horizontal section of the AS curve. This represents the wage inflexibility and the elasticity of supply at high levels of unemployment. In a recession, large number of workers are unemployed, so any increase in price will result in a large increase in output, since firms can easily attract new workers without increasing wages. So what about the upward sloping and vertical sections? These of course represent the full-employment level (upsloping) and beyond full employment to full-capacity production, when any increase in aggregate demand is “absorbed” by price level increases with no further increase in output, since all resources are being used to their full-capacity, and even further increases in wages will not increase national output.

Classical view of Demand-pull inflation and the “self-correction” that occurs: In the classical model, the LRAS is perfectly inelastic at the full-employment level of output. This is because classical economists believe in perfect wage and price flexibility. The outward shift of AD will result in no increase in output since the higher price level will quickly result in higher wages, which since wages are a resource cost, shifts AS leftward resorting full-employment output at a new, higher price level.

Theory 2 – Cost-push inflation – is inflation pushy?

Cost-push inflation: Due to an increase in resource costs, AS shifts inward, “pushing” prices up with it.

Talk to a Classical economist, and they will advise

‘Don’t just do something, sit there!’

while a Keynesian will advise

‘Don’t just sit there, do something!’

Can you explain this saying? If so, you’ve probably got Keynesian and Classical views pretty well figured out.

About the author:  Jason Welker teaches International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Economics at Zurich International School in Switzerland. In addition to publishing various online resources for economics students and teachers, Jason developed the online version of the Economics course for the IB and is has authored two Economics textbooks: Pearson Baccalaureate’s Economics for the IB Diploma and REA’s AP Macroeconomics Crash Course. Jason is a native of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and is a passionate adventurer, who considers himself a skier / mountain biker who teaches Economics in his free time. He and his wife keep a ski chalet in the mountains of Northern Idaho, which now that they live in the Swiss Alps gets far too little use. Read more posts by this author

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