Economic

Difference Between SRAS and LRAS

Essentially, the SRAS assumes that the level of capital is fixed. (i.e. in the short run you can’t build a new factory). However,  in the short run you can increase the utilisation of existing factors of production, e.g. workers doing overtime.

In the short run an increase in the price of goods, encourages firms to take on more workers, pay slightly higher wages and produce more.

Thus the SRAS suggests an increase in prices leads to a temporary increase in output as firms employ more workers.

The short run aggregate supply is affected by costs of production. If there is an increase in raw material prices (e.g. higher oil prices), the SRAS will shift to the left. If there is an increase in wages, the SRAS will also shift to the left.

The Long Run Aggregate Supply curve is determined by all factors of production – size of workforce, size of capital stock, levels of education and labour productivity.

If there was an increase in investment or growth in size of labour force this would shift the LRAS curve to the right.

How to Know which ones to use?

If showing a change in wage costs or oil prices, I would use a SRAS.

For showing Long run economic growth, and an increase in capital stock and investment I would show a shift in LRAS.

For A Level you don’t need to worry too much about the distinction.

Keynesian view of LRAS

A further complication is that there are different views of the LRAS. The Classical view is an inelastic LRAS. The Keynesian view suggests it is elastic at a point up to inelastic. In a sense the Keynesian view is a combination of the short run aggregate supply and long run. The Keynesian LRAS shows that there is a point in the economy of spare capacity where firms can use more. There also comes a point where full capacity is reached.

Keynesian AS