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If all the people in the economy increase the proportion of income they save (i.e. is the MPS of the economy increases) then the total value of savings in the economy will not increase, it will either decline or remain unchanged. This result is known as Paradox of Thrift, which states that as people become more thrifty, they end up saving less or same as before. When there is an information about some impending disaster or imminent war, people suddenly become thrifty and MPS of the economy increases, which leads to a decrease in MPC This sudden decrease in MPC will imply a decrease in aggregate consumption and hence in aggregate demand. This can be regarded as autonomous reduction in consumption expenditure. As aggregate demand decreases stocks are piling up in warehouses and producers decide to cut value of production.

If all the people in economy increase savings, what will happen in the economy ?

Solution

Correct Option: 1

From the passage: when everyone in the economy increases savings, the total value of savings does not increase - it will either decline or remain unchanged. This is the core message of the Paradox of Thrift. The reason is that higher savings reduces consumption, which reduces aggregate demand and hence income.

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