Dalum Papir A/S is almost halfway through its second century as a Danish paper manufacturer. Years ago, the firm was one of many paper companies, but now it constitutes one- half of Denmark's two-firm paper industry. The company utilizes highly energy-efficient techniques to manufacture glossy paper from recycled materials for magazines. Dalum Papir has had little choice but to conserve energy. Government taxation has boosted energy prices more than 45 percent above the U.S. level. Also, like other Danish firms, Dalum Papir must meet government-mandated standards for energy conservation.
Ever since the 1970s, when a worldwide spike in oil prices set off a prolonged recession, Denmark's government has sought to shield the nation's economy from future aggregate supply shocks induced by jumps in energy prices. Toward that end, it has enacted high energy taxes and tough regulatory conservation measures. A consequence is that Danish oil consumption per $1 million of real GDP has declined by more than 30 percent - to 120 tons o oil per $1 million of real GDP - over the last 30 years. Indeed, Denmark's total oil consumption has remained unchanged since the late 1970s. Thus, consistent with the government's intent, whenever oil prices suddenly shoot up, Denmark's economy tends to experience smaller aggregate supply shocks than it did in years past.
As the experience of Dalum Papir and the dwindling Danish paper, industry illustrates, however, the government's quest for aggregate supply stability has come at the cost of growth in the production of goods and services. Since the late 1970s, Denmark's real GDP has doubled, whereas U.S. real GDP has quadrupled. During that period, total U.S. oil consumption has increased by more than 40 percent, yet because U.S. real GDP has increased fourfold, U.S. oil consumption per $1 million of real GDP has fallen by more than 25 percent - almost as much as the percentage decline in Danish oil consumption per $1 million in real GDP. Thus, although the Danish economy is less susceptible than the U.S. economy to aggregate supply shocks, Denmark's aggregate supply is growing at about half the pace at which the U.S. aggregate supply is expanding.
1. Why do unexpected variations in energy prices generate aggregate supply shocks, which sudden changes in total planned expenditures do not?
2. Other things being equal, why might we expect the Danish price level to be more stable over time than the U.S. price level?
Dalum Papir A/S is almost halfway through its second century as a Danish paper manufacturer. Years ago, the firm was one of many paper companies, but now it constitutes one- half of Denmark's two-firm paper industry. The company utilizes highly energy-efficient techniques to manufacture glossy paper from recycled materials for magazines. Dalum Papir has had little choice but to conserve energy. Government taxation has boosted energy prices more than 45 percent above the U.S. level. Also, like other Danish firms, Dalum Papir must meet government-mandated standards for energy conservation.
Ever since the 1970s, when a worldwide spike in oil prices set off a prolonged recession, Denmark's government has sought to shield the nation's economy from future aggregate supply shocks induced by jumps in energy prices. Toward that end, it has enacted high energy taxes and tough regulatory conservation measures. A consequence is that Danish oil consumption per $1 million of real GDP has declined by more than 30 percent - to 120 tons o oil per $1 million of real GDP - over the last 30 years. Indeed, Denmark's total oil consumption has remained unchanged since the late 1970s. Thus, consistent with the government's intent, whenever oil prices suddenly shoot up, Denmark's economy tends to experience smaller aggregate supply shocks than it did in years past.
As the experience of Dalum Papir and the dwindling Danish paper, industry illustrates, however, the government's quest for aggregate supply stability has come at the cost of growth in the production of goods and services. Since the late 1970s, Denmark's real GDP has doubled, whereas U.S. real GDP has quadrupled. During that period, total U.S. oil consumption has increased by more than 40 percent, yet because U.S. real GDP has increased fourfold, U.S. oil consumption per $1 million of real GDP has fallen by more than 25 percent - almost as much as the percentage decline in Danish oil consumption per $1 million in real GDP. Thus, although the Danish economy is less susceptible than the U.S. economy to aggregate supply shocks, Denmark's aggregate supply is growing at about half the pace at which the U.S. aggregate supply is expanding.
1. Why do unexpected variations in energy prices generate aggregate supply shocks, which sudden changes in total planned expenditures do not?
2. Other things being equal, why might we expect the Danish price level to be more stable over time than the U.S. price level?
