One of the concerns for policymakers in The Bahamas and the region is the inflationary pressures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has created disruptions in the supply chain. Exacerbating the inflationary pressure brought about by the supply chain disruptions is the likely or rather pending interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, which undoubtedly will impact a number of macroeconomic aggregates, including possibly labor markets in the United States and The Bahamas.
As the lecturer for the course, Labor Economics, it is my job to challenge you to see relationships across macroeconomic variables. This is an advanced economics class and as such you are endowed for the challenge.
Your Position Paper should address the following, inter alia:
- Discuss how the pandemic, COVID-19 has impacted labor markets in the United States. In your discussion, you should outline the impact on wage rate, labor demand/supply and inflation.
- Discuss how the disruptions created by the pandemic have impact, if at all, labor markets in The Bahamas. Note, the use of the word labor markets, suggesting that within the economy, there are several sectors, each comprising a market for the demand and supply of labor and each being impacted differently, potentially.
- What impact, if any, would a potential rise in interest rate resulting from a Federal Reserve interest rate hike have on the labor markets in the United States?
- What impact, if any, would a potential interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve have on labor markets in The Bahamas?
- What if, anything, The Bahamas can do to mitigate inflationary pressures resulting from the impact of supply chain disruptions and a potential interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in the United States?
- In addition to the impact on labor markets, discuss the impact of the supply chain disruptions and pending interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve on other macroeconomic variables, i.e. The Bahamas government debt, import bill, etc.
This paper should be a minimum of five (5) full pages.
Structure of a Position Paper
A Position Paper takes the form of an argumentative essay. Typically, you are required to present the Position Paper as a memorandum addressed to the Minister of Labor, outlining your argument in support of a given position. In the case of this assignment, your Position Paper is expected to address the questions outlined. It is a Position Paper and as such you are expected to provide a Position on the topic. To the extent that it takes the form of an argumentative essay, you are expected to cite opposing views in presenting your point.
You are also expected to cite various references in preparing your Paper.