Download or read book How Useful Is Okun's Law? written by Edward S. Knotek and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-05 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the beginning of 2003 through the first quarter of 2006, real gross domestic product in the U.S. grew at an average annual rate of 3.4% As expected, unemployment during the period fell. Over the course of the next year, average growth slowed to less than half its earlier rate -- but unemployment continued to drift downward. This situation presented a puzzle, who expected the unemployment rate to increase as the economy slowed. This negative correlation between GDP growth & unemployment has been named ¿Okun¿s law.¿ This article considers the usefulness of Okun¿s law for policymakers & economists. Okun¿s relationship can be useful as a forecasting tool -- provided that one takes its instability into account. Charts & tables.