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NATURAL MONOPOLY: A special type of monopoly that's able to lower its price when it produces and sells a larger quantity. This somewhat remarkable ability results because a natural monopoly uses a great deal of capital. In that capital carries an up front cost that must be paid regardless of production, a natural monopoly can spread these costs over larger quantity--if it produces more. The larger the quantity sold, the lower the cost for each unit. A single natural monopoly is thus able to produce and supply a good at a lower cost, and price, than two or more firms. In other words, if two or more firms try to supply the same good, the market will "naturally" end up with just one.

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GOVERNMENT PURCHASES LINE:

A graphical depiction of the relation between government purchases by the government sector and the economy's aggregate level of income or production. This relation plays a key role in the study of Keynesian economics. A government purchases line is characterized by vertical intercept, which indicates autonomous government purchases, and slope, which is the marginal propensity for government purchases and indicates induced government purchases. The aggregate expenditures line used in Keynesian economics is derived by adding or stacking the government purchases line onto the consumption line, as well as investment expenditures and net exports.
The government purchases line shows the relation between government purchases by the government sector and aggregate income or production. The income and production measures most commonly used are national income and gross domestic product. The purpose of the government purchases line is to graphically illustrate the government purchases-income relation for the government sector, which is then integrated into the aggregate expenditures line used in Keynesian economics.

The government purchases line is commonly presented in one of two forms reflecting autonomous government purchases and induced government purchases. The simplest is a horizontal government purchases line, one with a zero slope, that illustrates autonomous government purchases. With a horizontal line, government purchases are constant for all levels of aggregate income or production, hence autonomous and unaffected by income. A more realistic government purchases line is positively sloped, indicating a degree of induced government purchases. In this case, the vertical intercept, or Y-intercept, of the government purchases line marks autonomous government purchases and the slope represents induced government purchases. Of no small importance, the slope of the government purchases line is also the marginal propensity for government purchases (MPG).

Government Purchases Line
Government Purchases Line

The horizontal red line, labeled G in the exhibit to the right, indicates government purchases that are completely autonomous. There are no induced government purchases indicated by this line. The slope of the government purchases line is zero (MPG = 0). The intercept of this horizontal line indicates autonomous government purchases, which is $2 trillion in this case.

An alternative government purchases line, one with induced government purchases, can be illustrated in the exhibit with a simple click of the [An Induced Line] button. The new red line, labeled G' in the exhibit, is positively sloped, indicating that a change in the level of income or production induces a change in government purchases.

This new government purchases line actually indicates both induced government purchases and autonomous government purchases. The slope is induced government purchases and the intercept is autonomous government purchases.

  • Slope: The slope of this new government purchases line is positive, but less than one. In this case the slope is equal to 0.05, a $1 change in aggregate income or production induces a $0.05 change in government purchases. This positive slope indicates induced government purchases. Moreover, the slope of the line is also the marginal propensity for government purchases (MPG).

  • Intercept: This new government purchases line, like the original line, intersects the vertical axis at a positive value of $2 trillion. And once again this indicates autonomous government purchases.

<= GOVERNMENT PURCHASES DETERMINANTSGOVERNMENT SECTOR =>


Recommended Citation:

GOVERNMENT PURCHASES LINE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: July 16, 2025].


Check Out These Related Terms...

     | induced government purchases | autonomous government purchases | marginal propensity for government purchases | slope, government purchases line | intercept, government purchases line | consumption line | saving line | government purchases line | net exports line |


Or For A Little Background...

     | government purchases | government expenditures | Keynesian economics | macroeconomics | government sector | national income | gross domestic product |


And For Further Study...

     | induced expenditures | autonomous expenditures | aggregate expenditures | aggregate expenditures line | derivation, consumption line | government purchases determinants | Keynesian model | Keynesian equilibrium | injections-leakages model | aggregate demand | paradox of thrift | fiscal policy | multiplier | government functions |


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