FOUR-SECTOR KEYNESIAN MODEL: A Keynesian model of the macroeconomy that includes all four macroeconomic sectors, the household sector, the business sector, the government sector, and the foreign sector. This Keynesian model variation adds the foreign to the three domestic sectors (household, business, and government) in the three-sector model. This model provides the complete Keynesian representation of the macroeconomy, including the export-import interaction between the domestic economy and the foreign sector. Equilibrium is identified as the intersection between the C + I + G + (X - M) line and the 45-degree line. Two related variations are the two-sector Keynesian model and the three-sector Keynesian model.The four-sector Keynesian model is the complete Keynesian model, containing all four macroeconomic sectors--household, business, government, and foreign. It adds the foreign sector to the three domestic sectors, thus including the role of foreign trade, or net exports, in the analysis of equilibrium. Including the foreign sector is a simple matter of adding another layer--net exports--onto the aggregate expenditures stack of the three-sector Keynesian model. The Foreign SectorThe four-sector Keynesian model adds the foreign sector to the three-sector model containing the household, business, and government sectors. The foreign sector is responsible for all economic activity beyond the boundaries of an economy. The boundaries in question are usually political boundaries.The foreign sector includes households, businesses, and governments that reside in other countries. The domestic economy trades goods with the foreign sector through exports and imports. This foreign trade is an extension of regular market activity, except the buyers and sellers reside in different countries.
Aggregate Expenditures: The C + I + G + (X - M) Line
By way of contrast, net exports do not highlight any comparable aspects of the macroeconomy. As such, the foreign sector and net exports are not needed for most of analyses of the macroeconomy. An Equilibrium Guide: The 45-Degree Line
The most important feature of the 45-degree line is that is contains every point in the diagram in which aggregate production is equal to aggregate expenditures. In other words, if you pick an aggregate production value, such as $5 trillion, move vertically to the 45-degree line, then take a right turn to the vertical axis, you reach an equal $5 trillion value for aggregate expenditures. Because this 45-degree line contains EVERY potential equilibrium value for the four-sector Keynesian model, equilibrium MUST take place somewhere ON this line. Exactly where equilibrium occurs, however, depends on the aggregate expenditures line. We often find it convenient to give this guide line the label of Y = AE, where Y is the common designation for aggregate production and AE is the abbreviation for aggregate expenditures. Such a label descriptively indicates that this is, in fact, the equilibrium guide line for the Keynesian model. The Equilibrium Intersection
Equilibrium is achieved at the intersection of the 45-degree line and the aggregate expenditures line. Click the [Equilibrium] button to identify this point and corresponding aggregate production.
Two Other VariationsThe four-sector Keynesian model Keynesian model is one of three common variations. The other two are simpler models that rely on fewer macroeconomic sectors.
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