In year 1 and year 2, there are two products produced in a given economy, computers and bread. Suppose that there are no intermediate goods. In year 1, 20 computers are produced and sold at $1,000 each, and in year 2, 25 computers are sold at $1,500 each. In year 1, 10,000 loaves of bread are sold for $1.00 each, and in year 2, 12,000 loaves of bread are sold for $1.10 each.
(a) Calculate nominal GDP in each year.
(b) Calculate real GDP in each year, and the percentage increase in real GDP from year1 to year 2 using year 1 as the base year. Next, do the same calculations using the chain-weighting method.
(c) Calculate the implicit GDP price deflator and the percentage inflation rate from year 1 to year 2 using year 1 as the base year. Next, do the same calculations using the chain-weighting method.
(d) Suppose that computers in year 2 are twiceas productive as computers in year 1. That is, computers are of higher quality in year 2 in the sense that one computer in year 2 is equivalent to two computers in year 1. How does this change your calculations in parts (a) to (c)? Explain any differences.