4. Why do we call mechanisms such as proportional income taxes and the welfare system auto-
matic stabilizers ? Choose one of these mechanisms and explain carefully how and why it
affects fluctuations in output.
2.1. Suppose there are 180 million employed people and 20 million unemployed people.
a) What is the unemployment rate? (5 marks)
b) Suppose that 5 million unemployed people give up their search for jobs and become discouraged workers. What is the new official unemployment rate?