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Q82·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2014

Causes of Rising Price Levels

EconomyInflation and Monetary EconomicsStatement-basedMediumStatic

Question

A rise in general level of prices may be caused by

1an increase in the money supply
2a decrease in the aggregate level of output
3an increase in the effective demand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  1. 1.

    an increase in the money supply

  2. 2.

    a decrease in the aggregate level of output

  3. 3.

    an increase in the effective demand

Options

a

1 only

b

1 and 2 only

c

2 and 3 only

d

1, 2 and 3

Answer

Explanation

All three factors can cause a general rise in price levels. (1) An increase in money supply without corresponding increase in goods/services leads to inflation (demand-pull inflation). (2) A decrease in aggregate output with same money supply means fewer goods chasing the same amount of money, causing prices to rise (cost-push inflation). (3) An increase in effective demand leads to higher prices if supply cannot match the increased demand (demand-pull inflation). All three mechanisms are established causes of inflation in economic theory. The comprehensive nature of inflation suggests multiple causative factors work together.

Inflation causes: More Money + Less Output + More Demand = All three valid

Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2014

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q82

Subject

Economy

Sub-topic

Inflation and Monetary Economics

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

Economics - Inflation & Monetary Theory

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