Economists do not put much stock in the misery index because Multiple Choice both the index can disguise the extent of hardship during a recession and they do not view the national discomfort associated with a 1 percent change in inflation and a 1 percent change in unemployment as equivalent percent change in inflation causes a much greater loss of national output and income than a 1 percent change in the unemployment rate the index can disguise the extent of hardship during a recession they do not view the national discomfort associated with a 1 percent change in and a 1 percent change unemployment as equivalent