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Problems

Problems

29.

Last year, a small nation with abundant forests cut down $200 worth of trees. $100 worth of trees were then turned into $150 worth of lumber. $100 worth of that lumber was used to produce $250 worth of bookshelves. Assuming the country produces no other outputs, and there are no other inputs used in the production of trees, lumber, and bookshelves, what is this nation's GDP? In other words, what is the value of the final goods produced, including trees, lumber, and bookshelves?

30.

The prime interest rate is the rate that banks charge their best customers. Based on the nominal interest rates and inflation rates given in Table 5.10, in which of the years given would it have been best to be a lender? Based on the nominal interest rates and inflation rates given in Table 5.10, in which of the years given would it have been best to be a borrower?

Year Prime Interest Rate Inflation Rate
1970 7.9% 5.7%
1974 10.8% 11.0%
1978 9.1% 7.6%
1981 18.9% 10.3%
Table 5.10
31.

A mortgage loan is a loan that a person makes to purchase a house. Table 5.11 provides a list of the mortgage interest rate being charged for several different years and the rate of inflation for each of those years. In which years would it have been better to be a person borrowing money from a bank to buy a home? In which years would it have been better to be a bank lending money?

Year Mortgage Interest Rate Inflation Rate
1984 12.4% 4.3%
1990 10% 5.4%
2001 7% 2.8%
Table 5.11
32.

Ethiopia has a GDP of $8 billion (measured in U.S. dollars) and a population of 55 million. Costa Rica has a GDP of $9 billion (measured in U.S. dollars) and a population of 4 million. Calculate the per capita GDP for each country and identify which one is higher.

33.

In 1980, Denmark had a GDP of $70 billion (measured in U.S. dollars) and a population of 5.1 million. In 2000, Denmark had a GDP of $160 billion (measured in U.S. dollars) and a population of 5.3 million. By what percentage did Denmark’s GDP per capita rise between 1980 and 2000?

34.

The Czech Republic has a GDP of 1,800 billion koruny. The exchange rate is 20 koruny/U.S. dollar. The Czech population is 20 million. What is the GDP per capita of the Czech Republic expressed in U.S. dollars?