Web Links

Marginal URLs:

• p. 189: Go to http://www.bea.gov/ for the most up-to-date U.S. economic data at the Web site of the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
• p. 195: Go to http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/ to examine recent trends in U.S. GDP and its components.

• For a detailed economic analysis of the effects of counting intangible forms of investment within business fixed investment, go to http://www.bsos.umd.edu/econ/hulten/IntCapital.pdf.
• To review issues associated with the current exclusion of intangible investment from business fixed investment, go http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/145279/Rise_of_US_IC.pdf.

• For a look at Rogoff and Reinhart’s study of the relationship between financial crises and economic performance, go to http://www.cfr.org/publication/18156/reinhart_rogoff.html.
• To read a summary by Robert Barro of estimated probabilities of a major economic downturn resulting from a financial crisis, go to http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123612575524423967.html.

Tracking the Components of Gross Domestic Product

One way to keep tabs on the components of GDP is via the FRED database at the Web site of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Title: Gross Domestic Product and Components

Navigation: Use http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/ to visit the home page of the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis. Click on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Components.

Application:

1. Click on GDP/GNP and then click a checkmark next to GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Write down nominal GDP data for the past 10 quarters.

2. Back up to GDPCA (Real Gross Domestic Product) Dollars. Write down the amounts for the past 10 quarters. Use the formula on page 200 to calculate the price level for each quarter. Has the price level decreased or increased in recent quarters?