Okun's Law

Okun’s Law refers to the observation on how the unemployment rate and losses influence the economic growth of a nation. According to this law, for every 1% fall in unemployment in an economy, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will rise by 2% and Gross National Product (GNP) will rise by 3%.

Okun’s Law helps an economy to be aware of the pace of growth it should maintain to ensure it never lags behind its global counterparts in terms of economic growth. The nations try their best to keep the rate of unemployment and other losses under control so that no negative impact is seen on the GDP.

• Okun's law is named after Arthur Okun. He was an economist who published his research on the relationship between two critical macroeconomic variables: unemployment and production. 
• It states that "for every 1% reduction in unemployment in an economy, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may increase by 2% and Gross National Product (GNP) boosts by 3%." 
• This law is familiar for its simplicity and accuracy. However, many doubts are raised as it is appropriate in some states for some economies. Furthermore, in an industrialized economy with strong labor markets, the percentage change in GDP less influences the unemployment rate.

Okun’s law is named after Arthur Okun, an economist who published his research on the relationship between two major macroeconomic variables, unemployment, and production. It means that unemployment is inversely proportional to the GDP and GNP.

This law is known for its simplicity and accuracy. However, many doubts have been raised on this law as it does not hold fit in every state for every economy. To make it clear, in an industrialized economy with strong labor markets, the percentage change in GDP will have less effect on the unemployment rate.

The following formula gives Okun's law:

Where:

• y = Actual GDP
• y^* = Potential GDP
• β = Okun Coefficient
• u = Unemployment rate of the current year
• u^* = Unemployment rate of the previous year
• y-y^* = Output Gap

So, the output gap (the difference between Actual GDP and Potential GDP) divided by Potential GDP is equal to the negative Okun coefficient (negative represents the inverse relationship between unemployment and GDP) multiplied by the change in Unemployment.

If we go by the traditional Okun’s law, the Okun coefficient would be 2 in all cases. However, this coefficient will not always be two in today's scenario and may vary according to economic situations.

Let us consider the following examples to see how the calculation is done:

Example #1

Let us take a hypothetical example where we have the following components given below and we have to calculate Okun Coefficient using the same.

Solution

From the information below, we have to calculate the Okun Coefficient.

To calculate Okun's coefficient, we need first calculate the output gap

The calculation of Output Gap is as follows,

• = 8.00-5.30
• Output Gap = 2.7

Calculation of Okun's Coefficient can be done as follows:

• β =-2.7/(5.30*(8.50-10.00))

Okun's Coefficient will be -

• β = 0.34
• Okun Coefficient (β) = 0.34

Example #2

Next, let us take a practical industry example of the US Economy, and we have been provided with the following data from the Research Team. From the data provided below, we have to calculate the Okun Coefficient.

Solution

From the information below, we have to calculate the Okun Coefficient.

To calculate Okun’s coefficient, we need first to calculate the output gap

Calculation of Output Gap is as follows,

• =2.1-3.21
• Output Gap = -1.1

Calculation of Okun's Coefficient can be done as follows:

• β = -(-1.1)/(3.21*(3.8-3.2))

Okun's Coefficient will be -

• β = 0.58

Okun Coefficient is 0.58

Example #3

Let us take a practical industry example of the UK Economy, and we have been provided with the following data from the Research Team. From the data provided below, we have to calculate the Okun Coefficient.

Solution

From the below information, we have to calculate the Okun Coefficient

To calculate Okun's coefficient, we need first to calculate the output gap

Calculation of Output Gap is as follows,

• =5-2
• Output Gap = 3

Calculation of Okun's Coefficient can be done as follows:

• β = -3/(2*(1-2.2))

Okun's Coefficient will be -

• β = 1.25
• Okun Coefficient = 1.25

The circle of the economy starts with investment. When people invest in any business, the relevant industry gets boosted. Investment results in an increase in production levels which requires the labor force, and again it results in growth in the employment rate. So, a decrease in the unemployment rate eventually enhances the country's GDP. Various industries and sectors (goods and service sector) contribute to the country's GDP.

Okun’s formula runs on this logic. Arthur Okun’s Law says that for every 1% decrease in unemployment, GDP will increase by 2%. However, this theory doesn’t hold good for every economy in today's scenario. Okun’s law acts in the same manner, i.e., when the rate of unemployment decreases, the GDP of the country increases and vice versa but the Okun Coefficient may vary from country to country depending on the varying economic situations.

This has been a guide to Okun’s Law and its definition. Here, we explain the formula that helps calculate Okun’s coefficient along with calculation examples. You can learn more from the following articles –

• Command Economy
• GDP vs GNP
• Calculate GDP using Expenditure Approach