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Economic models you can actually see move. Every curve is computed and every shift is verified. Built for students who want intuition, not just diagrams.

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Educational purposes only, not financial advice. Graphl teaches which economic framework applies and how its mechanism works; it does not solve assessment problems for you.

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  3. Keynesian Cross
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  5. Scenario

Macro Foundations · intermediate

The paradox of thrift

What moves on the Keynesian Cross diagram

  • PEshifts down (small)

Higher desired saving cuts autonomous spending; the multipliermultiplierThe amount total output changes per dollar of initial spending change, powered by respending: 1/(1−MPC) in the simplest case. amplifies the fall in output, the paradox of thrift.

Watch it animateQuiz yourself on Keynesian Cross

Step by step

  1. 1

    Households get nervous and decide to save more, spending drops at every income.

  2. 2

    The multipliermultiplierThe amount total output changes per dollar of initial spending change, powered by respending: 1/(1−MPC) in the simplest case. runs in REVERSE: less spending, less income, less spending again.

  3. 3

    Output falls by a multiple of the initial thrift. Individually prudent, collectively contractionary.

Where this shows up

Examiners ask this as: paradox of thrift, saving more recession, consumption falls.

Other scenarios on Keynesian Cross

Stimulus meets the multiplier →Consumers spend a bigger share →An infrastructure program multiplies through →Austerity contracts income by a multiple →Fear makes households save each extra dollar →An export boom injects demand from abroad →