海南大学2006-07学年度第2学期试卷《宏观经济学》答案(4卷) Please answer the Questions（每题10分，共同100分) 1.What do you think are the defining characteristics of a science?Does the study of the economy have these characteristics?Do you think macroeconomics should be called a science?Why or why not? 1.Many philosophers of science believe that the defining characteristic of a science is the use of the scientific method of inquiry to establish stable relationships.Scientists examine data,often provided by controlled experiments,to disprove a ists are more limited in their use of experiments.They canno conduct controlled experiments on the economy;they must rely on the natural course of developments in the economy to collect data.To the extent that economists use the scientific method of inquiry,that is,developing hypotheses and testing them,economics has the characteristics of a science. 2.Consider how each of the following events is likely to affect real GDP.Do you think the change in real GDP reflects a similar change in economic well-being? a.A hurricane in Florida forces Disney World to shut down for a month. b.The discovery of a new easy-to-grow strain of wheat increases farm harvests stility between unions and manag ment sparks a rash of strikes rubout the rcomomy experience fain demand.cuing them to lay off workers. e.Congress passes new environmental laws that prohibit firms from using production methods that emit large quantities of pollution. f.More high-school students dr g.Fathers around the country reduce t of school to take jobs mowing lawns their workweeks to spend more tim with their children. 2.a.Real GDP falls because Disney does not produce any services while it is closed. This corresponds in eonm well-being because the income of workers ad shareholders of Disney falls(the side of the national accounts),and people's consumption of Disney falls(the expenditure side of the national accounts). b.Real GDP rises because the original capital and labor in farm production now produce more wheat.This corresponds to an increase in the economic well-being ofsociety,since pe ople can n sume more wheat(people do not want to consume more wheat,then farmers and farmland can be shifted to producing other goods that society values.) c.Real GDP falls because with fewer workers on the job,firms produce less.This accurately reflects a fall in economic well-being. d.Real GDP falls because the firms that lay off workers produce less.This海南大学 2006-07 学年度第 2 学期试卷《宏观经济学》答案(A 卷) Please answer the Questions（每题 10 分，共同 100 分） 1.What do you think are the defining characteristics of a science? Does the study of the economy have these characteristics? Do you think macroeconomics should be called a science? Why or why not? 1.Many philosophers of science believe that the defining characteristic of a science is the use of the scientific method of inquiry to establish stable relationships.Scientists examine data,often provided by controlled experiments,to support or disprove a hypothesis. Economists are more limited in their use of experiments. They cannot conduct controlled experiments on the economy;they must rely on the natural course of developments in the economy to collect data.To the extent that economists use the scientific method of inquiry,that is,developing hypotheses and testing them,economics has the characteristics of a science. 2. Consider how each of the following events is likely to affect real GDP.Do you think the change in real GDP reflects a similar change in economic well-being? a.A hurricane in Florida forces Disney World to shut down for a month. b.The discovery of a new,easy-to-grow strain of wheat increases farm harvests. c.Increased hostility between unions and management sparks a rash of strikes. d. Firms throughout the economy experience falling demand,causing them to lay off workers. e. Congress passes new environmental laws that prohibit firms from using production methods that emit large quantities of pollution. f. More high-school students drop out of school to take jobs mowing lawns. g. Fathers around the country reduce their workweeks to spend more time with their children. 2.a.Real GDP falls because Disney does not produce any services while it is closed. This corresponds to a decrease in economic well-being because the income of workers and shareholders of Disney falls(the income side of the national accounts), and people’s consumption of Disney falls(the expenditure side of the national accounts). b.Real GDP rises because the original capital and labor in farm production now produce more wheat.This corresponds to an increase in the economic well-being ofsociety,since people can now consume more wheat.(If people do not want to consume more wheat,then farmers and farmland can be shifted to producing other goods that society values.) c.Real GDP falls because with fewer workers on the job,firms produce less.This accurately reflects a fall in economic well-being. d.Real GDP falls because the firms that lay off workers produce less.This