Draw the graph

Shift what should shift. Leave the rest alone.

Most points lost on graph questions are not the wrong idea but the wrong curve. Each prompt below gives you a scenario and a live graph. Move the curves the scenario calls for, and the checker compares every curve’s position before and after: you are marked correct only when each curve that should shift has shifted the right way and every other curve stays put, which is how a reader scores a drawn graph. 99 prompts, no account needed.

Supply and demand25 prompts · Micro

Watch this diagram move first →
  1. 01Frost hits the coffee cropEasyThe world market for coffee beans is in equilibrium. A severe frost in Brazil, the largest grower, destroys a third of this year's crop. Growers can bring fewer beans to market at any price. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02Electric cars and gasolineEasyThe gasoline market in a large city is in equilibrium. Over three years, a quarter of the city's drivers switch to electric cars. Refineries and gas stations have not changed how they operate. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03Incomes rise, diners eat outEasyThe market for restaurant meals in a college town is in equilibrium. A new tech campus opens and average household income in the town rises by 15 percent. Restaurant meals are a normal good, one people buy more of when income rises. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04Cheaper chips, cheaper laptopsEasyThe laptop market is in equilibrium. A new fabrication process cuts the cost of memory chips, a major input, by 40 percent. Laptop makers pass nothing on to buyers directly. They simply find every unit cheaper to build. Show the effect on the graph.
  5. 05Avocado trend meets droughtHardThe avocado market is in equilibrium. In the same season, a wave of health articles makes avocados fashionable, and a drought in the main growing region cuts the harvest. Show the effect of both events on the graph.
  6. 06Rent control on apartmentsMediumThe rental apartment market in a city is in equilibrium at 1,800 dollars a month. The city council passes a rent control law that caps rents at 1,400 dollars a month. Nothing else about landlords or tenants changes. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07Buyers expect a price hikeMediumThe market for smartphones is in equilibrium. A credible news report says a new tariff will raise phone prices sharply next month. Buyers believe it. Nothing has changed yet for the firms that sell phones. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08A per-unit tax on sodaEasyThe soda market is in equilibrium. The government imposes a tax of 50 cents per can, collected from sellers. Buyers' tastes and incomes are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09A subsidy for solar panelsEasyThe market for rooftop solar panels is in equilibrium. The government begins paying installers 200 dollars for every panel they sell. Households' interest in solar has not changed. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10Cheaper printers, more inkMediumThe market for printer ink cartridges is in equilibrium. A price war among printer makers cuts the price of home printers in half. Ink makers have changed nothing about how they produce. Show the effect on the ink market.
  11. 11Bus fares rise, taxis fill upMediumThe taxi ride market in a city is in equilibrium. The transit authority raises bus fares by 60 percent. Taxi companies have the same cars, drivers, and fuel costs as before. Show the effect on the taxi market.
  12. 12Recession and instant noodlesMediumThe market for instant noodles is in equilibrium. A recession cuts household incomes across the country. Instant noodles are an inferior good, one people buy more of when income falls. Noodle factories operate as before. Show the effect on the graph.
  13. 13Recession and new carsEasyThe new-car market is in equilibrium. A recession cuts household incomes and many families put off big purchases. New cars are a normal good. Carmakers' costs are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  14. 14New food trucks arriveEasyThe lunch market near a business district is in equilibrium. The city eases permit rules and twelve new food trucks start operating in the area. Office workers' appetites and incomes are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  15. 15Higher wages at restaurantsEasyThe market for restaurant meals is in equilibrium. A new state minimum wage raises restaurant labor costs by 20 percent. Diners' tastes and incomes have not changed. Show the effect on the graph.
  16. 16A toy goes viralEasyThe market for a particular fidget toy is in equilibrium. A video of the toy spreads across social media and it becomes the thing every teenager wants. The factories that make it have not changed. Show the effect on the graph.
  17. 17A store cuts its own priceMediumThe market for running shoes is in equilibrium. A big retailer launches a weekend sale, selling one popular model for 30 percent below the usual price. Nothing about buyers' incomes, tastes, or the price of other goods has changed, and the shoemaker's costs are the same. Show the effect on the graph.
  18. 18Sellers expect higher pricesMediumThe wheat market is in equilibrium at harvest time. Forecasts say wheat prices will be much higher in six months. Farmers can store grain cheaply. Buyers' plans have not changed. Show the effect on the graph today.
  19. 19A city's population growsEasyThe housing market in a mid-sized city is in equilibrium. Over five years, the population grows by 20 percent as people move in for jobs. Builders' costs and the rules for building are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  20. 20Better seeds raise yieldsEasyThe corn market is in equilibrium. A new seed variety raises yields per acre by 25 percent at no extra cost to farmers. Buyers' demand for corn is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  21. 21A health warning on cigarettesEasyThe cigarette market is in equilibrium. A major public health campaign convinces many smokers to quit and stops others from starting. Tobacco companies' costs are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  22. 22Phone hype and cheaper partsHardThe smartphone market is in equilibrium. A new model generates enormous excitement among buyers. In the same year, the cost of screens and chips falls sharply. Show the effect of both changes on the graph.
  23. 23A pandemic hits restaurantsHardThe restaurant meal market is in equilibrium. A pandemic keeps many diners at home, and new safety rules raise restaurants' operating costs. Show the effect of both changes on the graph.
  24. 24Drought and a diet shiftHardThe beef market is in equilibrium. A drought shrinks cattle herds, and at the same time a popular diet trend leads many households to eat less red meat. Show the effect of both changes on the graph.
  25. 25A rival app launchesMediumThe market for subscriptions to a food delivery app is in equilibrium. A well-funded competitor launches a similar app with a free trial, and many users try it. The original app's costs are unchanged. Show the effect on the original app's market.

Labor market10 prompts · Micro

Watch this diagram move first →
  1. 01A minimum wage is setMediumThe market for fast-food workers in a city is in equilibrium at 11 dollars an hour. The city sets a minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour. Employers' technology and workers' willingness to work at each wage are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02Robots enter the warehouseEasyThe market for warehouse pickers in a region is in equilibrium. Retailers install picking robots that do the work of several people. Workers' willingness to take warehouse jobs at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03Immigration adds workersEasyThe market for construction laborers in a state is in equilibrium. A change in visa rules brings a large number of new workers into the state's construction trade. Builders' demand for labor at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04Higher prices, more hiringMediumThe market for oil-field workers is in equilibrium. The world price of crude oil doubles. Each worker produces the same number of barrels as before. Workers' willingness to take oil-field jobs at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  5. 05A wave of retirementsEasyThe market for experienced electricians is in equilibrium. A large cohort of electricians reaches retirement age in the same few years and leaves the trade. Contractors' demand for electricians at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  6. 06Training raises productivityMediumThe market for machine operators at a region's factories is in equilibrium. A new training program raises the output each operator produces per hour by 30 percent. The price of the factories' output is unchanged, and so is workers' willingness to work at each wage. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07Remote work widens the poolEasyThe market for software support staff at a company town's firms is in equilibrium. The firms begin hiring fully remote workers, so people anywhere in the country can now apply. The firms' demand for staff at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08A payroll tax on employersMediumThe market for retail workers is in equilibrium. The government imposes a new payroll tax that employers must pay for every worker on staff. Workers' willingness to work at each take-home wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09A child care subsidyMediumThe market for part-time retail workers in a city is in equilibrium. The city begins paying most of the cost of child care for working parents. Retailers' demand for workers at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10Product sales collapseMediumThe market for workers at a region's coal mines is in equilibrium. Power plants switch to natural gas and the demand for coal drops sharply, cutting the price of coal. Miners' willingness to work at each wage is unchanged. Show the effect on the labor market.

Aggregate demand and aggregate supply20 prompts · Macro

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  1. 01Consumer confidence collapsesEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A wave of bad news makes households fearful about their jobs, and consumer confidence drops to a ten-year low. Households cut back on spending at every price level. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02Government sends stimulus checksEasyThe economy is in a recessionary gap, with real GDP below potential. The government mails a stimulus check to every household, and households spend most of it. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03An oil price spikeEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A conflict abroad doubles the world price of oil, raising energy costs for nearly every firm. The economy's long-run capacity to produce is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04A housing boomEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. Easy credit sets off a housing boom. Construction spending surges and rising home values make homeowners feel wealthier, so they spend more. Show the effect on the graph.
  5. 05The central bank raises ratesEasyThe economy is in an inflationary gap, with real GDP above potential. The central bank raises its policy interest rate sharply. Borrowing for homes, cars, and factories becomes more expensive. Show the effect on the graph.
  6. 06A productivity boomMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A wave of new technology lets firms produce more output from the same workers and machines. The gains are permanent. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07Exports surgeEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A boom in a major trading partner raises foreign demand for this country's goods, and exports rise sharply. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08Workers expect higher inflationMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. Workers come to expect much higher inflation and win large wage increases in new contracts. Spending plans have not changed. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09Government spending is cutEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. To reduce its debt, the government cuts spending on roads, schools, and salaries by a large amount. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10The stock market crashesEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. The stock market falls by 40 percent in a month. Households that hold stocks feel much poorer and cut their spending. Show the effect on the graph.
  11. 11An income tax cutEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. The government cuts income tax rates for all households, and take-home pay rises. Show the effect on the graph.
  12. 12The central bank cuts ratesEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. The central bank cuts its policy interest rate, and banks lower the rates they charge on mortgages and business loans. Show the effect on the graph.
  13. 13A harvest failsMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. Drought ruins the year's grain harvest, and food prices rise for every business that uses grain. The economy's long-run capacity is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  14. 14Energy prices fallEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. New drilling technology cuts the price of natural gas and electricity for firms across the economy. Spending plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  15. 15Immigration raises the workforceMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A change in immigration policy permanently raises the size of the labor force by 5 percent. Show the effect on the graph.
  16. 16An earthquake destroys factoriesMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A major earthquake destroys a large share of the country's factories and ports, and rebuilding will take many years. Show the effect on the graph.
  17. 17The currency appreciatesMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. The country's currency rises sharply against its trading partners' currencies. Its exports become more expensive abroad and imports become cheaper at home. Show the effect on the graph.
  18. 18A trading partner enters recessionEasyThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. Its largest trading partner falls into a deep recession and buys far fewer of this country's goods. Show the effect on the graph.
  19. 19Businesses turn optimisticMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. A surge of optimism about future profits leads firms to buy new machines and build new plants. Show the effect on the graph.
  20. 20Nationwide wage agreementsMediumThe economy is in long-run equilibrium. New nationwide labor contracts raise nominal wages by 10 percent across most industries. Workers' productivity is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.

Money market12 prompts · Macro

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  1. 01The Fed buys bondsEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. The Federal Reserve buys government bonds from banks, paying with newly created reserves. Banks lend those reserves out. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02The Fed sells bondsEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. The Federal Reserve sells government bonds to banks and takes reserves out of the banking system in payment. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03Incomes rise, more transactionsEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. Real income across the economy rises during a strong expansion, and people make more purchases every week. The central bank leaves the money supply unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04The price level risesEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. The price level rises by 10 percent, so every purchase takes more dollars than before. Real income is unchanged, and the central bank holds the money supply fixed. Show the effect on the graph.
  5. 05The reserve requirement is cutEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. The central bank lowers the fraction of deposits that banks must hold as reserves. Banks lend out the reserves they no longer need to hold. Show the effect on the graph.
  6. 06The reserve requirement is raisedEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. The central bank raises the fraction of deposits that banks must hold as reserves. Banks call in loans to meet the new rule. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07The discount rate is raisedMediumThe money market is in equilibrium. The central bank raises the discount rate, the interest it charges banks that borrow reserves from it. Banks borrow fewer reserves and make fewer loans. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08A recession cuts spendingEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. A recession lowers real income and people make fewer purchases each week. The central bank holds the money supply fixed. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09Digital payments spreadMediumThe money market is in equilibrium. New payment apps let people move funds instantly from savings into checking only when they need to pay. People hold less cash and smaller checking balances for the same spending. The money supply is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10Interest on reserves is raisedMediumThe money market is in equilibrium. The central bank raises the interest it pays banks on the reserves they keep at the central bank. Banks find it more attractive to park reserves than to lend them. Show the effect on the graph.
  11. 11The price level fallsEasyThe money market is in equilibrium. A period of deflation lowers the price level by 5 percent, so every purchase takes fewer dollars. Real income is unchanged, and the central bank holds the money supply fixed. Show the effect on the graph.
  12. 12The interest rate itself risesMediumThe money market is in equilibrium. You are told only that the nominal interest rate has risen. Neither the central bank's money supply nor the factors behind money demand, real income and the price level, have been named as changing. Show the effect on the graph.

Loanable funds market12 prompts · Macro

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  1. 01The government runs a deficitEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. The government cuts taxes without cutting spending and borrows to cover the gap. Households' saving at each interest rate is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02Households save moreEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. Worried about the future, households across the country raise the share of income they save. Firms' investment plans at each interest rate are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03An investment tax creditEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. The government offers firms a tax credit for every dollar spent on new equipment. Firms borrow to buy more equipment. Household saving at each interest rate is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04Foreign savers lend hereMediumThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. Savers abroad decide this country is a safe place to invest, and foreign funds flow into its banks and bond market. Domestic borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  5. 05The government runs a surplusMediumThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. Tax revenue exceeds government spending, and the government uses the surplus to pay down debt, returning funds to the market. Private borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  6. 06Firms turn pessimisticEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. A gloomy outlook leads firms to shelve expansion plans and cancel orders for new equipment. Household saving at each interest rate is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07A consumption boom cuts savingEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. A surge of consumer confidence leads households to spend a larger share of their income and save less. Firms' borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08Capital flightMediumThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. Political turmoil leads savers, both domestic and foreign, to pull their funds out of the country's banks and bonds and move them abroad. Borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09A tax on interest incomeMediumThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. The government introduces a tax on the interest households earn from savings accounts and bonds. Firms' borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10New technology spurs investmentEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. A breakthrough technology creates many profitable new projects, and firms borrow to build them. Household saving at each interest rate is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  11. 11Tax-free retirement accountsEasyThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. The government creates tax-free retirement accounts, and households put more of their income into saving to use them. Firms' borrowing plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  12. 12The interest rate itself fallsMediumThe loanable funds market is in equilibrium. You are told only that the real interest rate has fallen. No change in saving behavior, government borrowing, or firms' investment plans has been named. Show the effect on the graph.

Foreign exchange market12 prompts · Macro

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  1. 01US interest rates riseEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. The Federal Reserve raises interest rates while the European Central Bank holds still. European investors want to move funds into US bonds. Show the effect on the graph.
  2. 02Americans holiday in EuropeEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A record number of Americans spend the summer in Europe, exchanging dollars for euros to pay for hotels and meals. European demand for dollars is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  3. 03Europeans buy more US goodsEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A surge in European demand for American aircraft and software raises US exports. Americans' purchases of European goods are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  4. 04US inflation outpaces EuropeHardThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. Inflation in the United States runs well above inflation in Europe for several years. American goods become pricier for Europeans, and European goods become relatively cheaper for Americans. Show the effect of both changes on the graph.
  5. 05Traders expect the dollar to fallHardThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A widely believed forecast says the dollar will lose value against the euro within months. Traders on both sides act on it now. Show the effect on the graph.
  6. 06Europeans buy US stocksEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A rally on Wall Street draws European investors, who buy large amounts of American stocks. Americans' purchases abroad are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  7. 07Americans buy more importsEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A strong US economy leads Americans to buy far more European cars, wine, and machinery. European purchases of US goods are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  8. 08European interest rates riseMediumThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. The European Central Bank raises interest rates while the Federal Reserve holds still. American savers sell dollars to buy euro-denominated bonds. European demand for dollars is unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  9. 09A US recession cuts importsMediumThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A recession in the United States lowers incomes, and Americans buy far fewer European goods. European purchases of US goods are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  10. 10A European recession cuts exportsEasyThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A recession in Europe lowers European incomes, and Europeans buy far fewer American goods. Americans' purchases from Europe are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  11. 11The Fed buys dollarsMediumThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. To prop up the dollar, the Federal Reserve uses its euro reserves to buy dollars in the foreign exchange market. Private traders' plans are unchanged. Show the effect on the graph.
  12. 12Traders expect the dollar to riseHardThe market for US dollars, priced in euros per dollar, is in equilibrium. A widely believed forecast says the dollar will gain value against the euro within months. Traders on both sides act on it now. Show the effect on the graph.

Phillips curve8 prompts · Macro

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  1. 01A demand boom hitsMediumThe economy sits on its short-run Phillips curve at the natural rate of unemployment. A surge in spending raises aggregate demand and firms hire aggressively. Expected inflation has not changed. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  2. 02Expected inflation risesEasyThe economy is at the natural rate of unemployment. After a period of high inflation, workers and firms come to expect that inflation will stay high, and they build that expectation into wage and price setting. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  3. 03An oil shock hitsEasyThe economy is at the natural rate of unemployment. A sudden jump in world oil prices raises costs for firms across the economy. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  4. 04A credible disinflationMediumThe economy is at the natural rate of unemployment with high inflation. A new central bank chair announces a firm low-inflation target, and the public believes it. Workers and firms lower the inflation they expect. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  5. 05Better job matchingMediumThe economy is at its natural rate of unemployment. New online job platforms cut the time workers spend between jobs, lowering frictional unemployment for good. Expected inflation is unchanged. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  6. 06A recession hitsMediumThe economy sits on its short-run Phillips curve at the natural rate of unemployment. A collapse in spending pushes the economy into recession. Expected inflation has not yet changed. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  7. 07A productivity boomMediumThe economy is at the natural rate of unemployment. A wave of new technology lowers firms' costs per unit across the economy. Expected inflation is unchanged. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.
  8. 08Unemployment benefits are extendedMediumThe economy is at its natural rate of unemployment. The government permanently extends how long workers can collect unemployment benefits, and job searches lengthen. Expected inflation is unchanged. Show the effect on the Phillips curve graph.

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