Macroeconomics is a branch of economics that studies the economy of a nation form a broad point of view through the application of macroeconomic factors. This is in contrast to microeconomics, which studies the economy through the application of more immediate economic principles. The factors of macroeconomic include aspects like inflation rates, unemployment levels, interest rates, rate of consumer consumption, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), national income and price levels.
The study of macroeconomic factors allows economists to make deductions regarding the state of the economy as well as economic trends based on the signals from the these factors. For instance, a rise in the GDP could be a trigger for inflation and other related economic effects. In order to understand macroeconomic factors, it may be necessary to look at them individually and in relation to their bearing on the economy.
Inflation is one of the major macroeconomic factors that economists monitor due to its role or importance as a precursor of unwanted economic factors. These factors might include unemployment levels, reduction in the value of currency, reduction in the amount of goods a currency can purchase, and the a rise in the GDP. One of the effects of inflation is that it reduces the value of money, making it necessary for more money to be applied toward the purchase of a constant quantity of goods.
Macroeconomics encompasses the study of the rate of consumption of goods and services by consumers with a view to studying the effects. When the demand for goods exceeds the supply, it may lead to unwanted macroeconomic factors like inflation and unsustainable periods of economic activities. This sort of intense period of economic activity is known as a period of economic boom. The reason it is undesirable is because it is not sustainable and often leads to a period of downturn, also known as a depression.
Economists and various governments usually study the economy in predetermined cycles, which may be annual, quarterly or every four years. The purpose of studying the behavior of the economy in cycles is to give the economists a yardstick for measuring the behavior of the economy. For instance, they measure the aggregate or median prices of goods within each cycle and compare them to previous cycles in order to determine if the prices are constant, or if they are moving upward or downward. Results of this study allow various governments to apply various measures toward redressing any perceived imbalances.