Short Answer
The answer explains the concepts of aggregate supply and demand, highlighting how increased household income shifts the aggregate demand curve upward, leading to higher price levels and real output. This increase in output reduces unemployment and is supported by automatic stabilizers in the economy.
Step 1: Understand Aggregate Supply and Demand
In the long run, the aggregate supply (AS) will be vertical, indicating the potential GDP level where full employment is achieved. The short-run aggregate supply (SRAS) curve has an upward slope, demonstrating the relationship between the price level and the quantity of output supplied. Meanwhile, the aggregate demand (AD) curve reflects total spending on goods and services at varying price levels.
Step 2: Impact of Increased Household Income
An increase in household income leads to an upward shift in the AD curve, which subsequently raises both the price level and real output within the economy. The result is a new equilibrium that features a higher price level (PL2) and increased real output (Y2), signifying growth in economic activity.
Step 3: Effects on Unemployment and Automatic Stabilizers
The rise in real output from increased household income causes a decrease in unemployment in Country X, as more workers are needed to meet the economic demand. In addition, this change is further magnified by the presence of automatic stabilizers such as unemployment benefits and progressive income taxes, which enhance the economy’s responsiveness to fluctuations in aggregate demand.