Blog

If two theories both fit the same set of stylized facts, then those theories are observationally equivalent.  

Which of the following are key elements of the Solow model? 

To a macroeconomist, a key cost of education is the labor input of students. 

In the Augmented Solow Model, a nation given a one-time massive gift of capital will have a higher capital-output (K/Y) ratio in steady state.

Rates of firm entry and firm exit have increased over the last few decades. 

What is observational equivalence? 

Circumstances when external rewards can undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior. What is this referring to?  Ex: you’ve always loved to clean your room, it’s intrinsically rewarding for you. Your parents notice what a great job you’re doing and decide to reward you for cleaning your room. Now you never really feel like doing it anymore, it seems like a chore. 

Every morning, you smell your coffee brewing, you drink your coffee and then you feel more awake. Over time, your brain links the smell of coffee with the energizing effect of caffeine, so that when you smell your brewing coffee your brain naturally becomes slightly more alert- before you even drink it! Which is the conditioned stimulus?

Memory fades more slowly at first and then very quickly over time. 

Positive reinforcement can feel pleasurable because of the “pleasure centers” in our brain that respond to it. What neurotransmitter is associated with feelings of pleasure?