Keynes Psychological Law of Consumption
A key part of Keynes’ Psychological Law of Consumption theory is the relationship between income and consumption. This law is also called the consumption function. It is related to short-run consumption and it depends on the economic situation in the short-run. In addition to consumption, Keynes’ theory also deals with quantity adjustment and investment.
Keynes’s theory of consumption
The Keynes’s theory of consumption is a central part of Keynesian macroeconomic theory. It is based on the idea that consumption is a stable function in the short run and is different from the volatility of investment. This idea has important implications for macroeconomics because it is important to understand the consumption function in order to formulate a proper macroeconomic policy.
In Keynes’s theory, two factors affect consumption: subjective and objective. The former includes the variables that are directly observable and measurable; the latter are the fundamental values, attitudes, and states of mind. As a result, Keynes discusses the different motives for saving and consumption, such as generosity, ostentation, and miscalculation.
Keynes’s critique of excessive saving
Keynes’s critique of excessive saving was based on his belief that saving during a recession will only further throw the country into economic darkness. He believed that saving during a recession undermines the economy by preventing consumers from spending. This is because spending is the driving force of the economy, and if consumers stop spending, manufacturers will have less money to produce goods. As a result, there will be less aggregate demand and less economic power.
Keynes argued that the monetary wage would have to fall in order to maintain the level of prices. He argued that a small reduction in money wages would not affect consumer confidence, while a large reduction would reduce it. A depressed consumer’s confidence would increase the precautionary demand for money, while a higher speculative demand would lead to more saving.
Keynes’s theory of quantity adjustment
The fundamental concept of Keynes’s theory of quantity adjustment was to adjust the prices of goods to their corresponding changes in demand. While the theory is still widely adopted today, its implications are not completely understood. Indeed, many economists, including Keynes, argue that it is a mistake to assume that price changes are independent of demand.
In order to understand the concept of price changes, we must understand the role of money supply. If the money supply is constant, then prices, wages, and employment will also be constant. Then, the economy will move to the right along the flat marginal cost curve. This will result in stable prices and profits. The excess money will be absorbed by the increase in employment and wages.
Keynes’s theory of investment
Keynes’s theory of investment and the psychology of consumption addresses many important aspects of economic activity, including the role of savings. The economist argued that excessive saving, which discourages investment, contributes to depression and recession. Specifically, excessive saving can be caused by falling consumer demand or over-investment in earlier years. It also may result from pessimistic business expectations. Regardless of the cause, excessive saving is counterproductive to the growth of the economy.
While many people still believe that Keynes’s theory of investment and the psychology of consumption are mutually exclusive, there is a connection between them. Keynes argued that effective demand is based on actual production income, rather than purely on income. This concept distinguishes Keynesian economics from classical economics.