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Question

Fiscal deficit was 4% of the GDP in 2015 and that increased to 5% in 2016. If the GDP increased by 10% from 2015 to 2016, the percentage increase in the actual fiscal deficit is ___.

The correct answer is

37.50

Fiscal Deficit Percentage Increase Explained

Understanding how changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fiscal deficit percentages affect the actual fiscal deficit is crucial in economic analysis. This problem requires us to calculate the percentage increase in the actual fiscal deficit when both the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP and the GDP itself have increased over a period.

Understanding the Given Fiscal Deficit Data

Let's first break down the information provided for the years 2015 and 2016.

Year Fiscal Deficit as % of GDP GDP Growth from 2015
2015 4% -
2016 5% 10% increase

Our goal is to find the percentage increase in the actual fiscal deficit from 2015 to 2016. To do this, we can assume a base value for the GDP in 2015 to make the calculations straightforward.

Step-by-Step Fiscal Deficit Analysis

Fiscal Deficit in 2015

Let's assume the GDP in 2015 to be \( \text{Rs. } 100x \). We use \(100x\) to simplify calculations involving percentages.

  • GDP in 2015 \( (G_{2015}) = 100x \)
  • The fiscal deficit in 2015 was 4% of the GDP.
  • So, Actual Fiscal Deficit in 2015 \( (FD_{2015}) = 4\% \text{ of } 100x \)

    \( FD_{2015} = \frac{4}{100} \times 100x = 4x \)

GDP and Fiscal Deficit in 2016

Next, we calculate the GDP for 2016 and then the corresponding fiscal deficit for 2016.

  • The GDP increased by 10% from 2015 to 2016.
  • GDP in 2016 \( (G_{2016}) = G_{2015} + 10\% \text{ of } G_{2015} \)

    \( G_{2016} = 100x + \frac{10}{100} \times 100x = 100x + 10x = 110x \)

  • The fiscal deficit in 2016 was 5% of the 2016 GDP.
  • So, Actual Fiscal Deficit in 2016 \( (FD_{2016}) = 5\% \text{ of } 110x \)

    \( FD_{2016} = \frac{5}{100} \times 110x = 0.05 \times 110x = 5.5x \)

Calculating Percentage Increase in Fiscal Deficit

Now we have the actual fiscal deficit values for both years:

  • Actual Fiscal Deficit in 2015 \( = 4x \)
  • Actual Fiscal Deficit in 2016 \( = 5.5x \)

To find the percentage increase, we use the formula:

\( \text{Percentage Increase} = \left( \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Old Value}}{\text{Old Value}} \right) \times 100 \)

Substituting our values:

\( \text{Percentage Increase in Fiscal Deficit} = \left( \frac{FD_{2016} - FD_{2015}}{FD_{2015}} \right) \times 100 \)

\( = \left( \frac{5.5x - 4x}{4x} \right) \times 100 \)

\( = \left( \frac{1.5x}{4x} \right) \times 100 \)

The \(x\) terms cancel out, leaving:

\( = \left( \frac{1.5}{4} \right) \times 100 \)

\( = 0.375 \times 100 \)

\( = 37.5\% \)

Final Result and Conclusion

The percentage increase in the actual fiscal deficit from 2015 to 2016 is 37.50%. This shows that even a small increase in the fiscal deficit percentage coupled with GDP growth can lead to a significant increase in the absolute fiscal deficit amount.

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Important Questions from Data Interpretation

  1. The table given below shows the earnings of two persons on five different days.

    Earnings
    Days PQ
    Monday105150
    Tuesday96110
    Wednesday65122
    Thursday115106
    Friday13068
    What is the ratio of total earnings of P to the total earnings of Q? 
  2. The table below shows the number of toys of 6 different colours sold from a shop during a given period. The table also shows the percentage of toys of each colour which are cars.

    ColourTotal toysPercentage of cars
    C150012
    C260015
    C340012.5
    C455010
    C565020
    C645010

    What is the total number of car toys of C2 and C3 taken together?

  3. Study the given graph carefully and answer the question that follows. The graph shows the demand and production of different companies.

    The ratio between the companies having more production than demand and more demand than production is:

  4. Study the given table and answer the question that follows. The given table shows the number of new employees added to different categories of employees in a company for four years and the number of employees from these categories who left the company every year.

     

    During the period between 2001 and 2004, the total number of Technicians who left the Company is what percentage (rounded off to the nearest integer) of the total number of Technicians who joined the Company?

  5. The given pie-chart shows the percentage distribution of 20,000 employees in a company. Study the given chart and answer the question that follows. If 30% of the employees in department D are females, then how many male employees are there in that department?

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