(two points) the us unemployment rate (actual unemployment, u) is 3.6 percent, while the natural rate of unemployment (nru) is 4.6 percent.

a. (i) is the economy in an expansion, a contraction, or neither? (ii) where is potential
(full-employment) output (qf) compared to the "trend line"—on it, above it, or below it? (iii) where is actual output (q) compared to the trend line—on it, above it, or below it? (iv) therefore: is q equal to, greater than, or less than qf? explain your answer.
[reminder: output = real gdp]

b. (i) how much of the (actual) unemployment is frictional and structural together? (ii) how much is cyclical? explain your answer.

c. (i) define the percentage gdp gap in general. (ii) state mathematically the "okun formula" (okun’s law) for estimating the percentage gdp gap. (iii) state okun’s law in words.

d. (i) using okun's law, compute the us current percentage gdp gap. show your computation. (ii) state your answer in words, comparing actual to potential output. (iii) is the us gdp gap positive or negative—and why?