A good thing about studying economics is that new issues crop up. A year ago, few people would have heard of quantitative easing, but, now it is has become an important part of UK monetary policy. Because it is relatively untried, there is a degree of uncertainty how it will work and whether it will …
Heroin is a classic example of a demerit good: People ignore or underestimate the costs of consuming heroin. In other words people make bad choices about deciding to consume this very addictive good. Heroin consumption also has negative externalities for the rest of society. Heroin addicts become less productive, often unable to hold down a …
Readers Question: What is Sensex and impact on economy? The Sensex is the leading measure for the Indian Stock Market. It is based on the 30 Largest trading companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange BSE (India’s primary financial market) Like other indexes, the Sensex is recalculated at various times to change the 30 largest trading …
Readers Question: Why is Inflation negative when prices are rising? In 2009, there was a brief period of negative inflation (RPI measure of inflation was negative) Often people ask, how come the inflation rate is negative when I notice prices rising? Firstly, if prices in the basket of goods used to measure inflation are rising, …
Many argue that on simple purchasing power parity, the Chinese currency the Renminbi is undervalued by approximately 30%. This is a source of friction in the US, with firms claiming they lose out to a cheap Chinese currency which can undercut US goods. The Chinese government wish to keep the currency undervalued because: A weaker …
Readers Comment What is so infuriating is that Gordon Brown chose to give the banks huge sums of money to help lubricate the economy, only to forget to put in a clause compelling them to lend it! (from: Why are banks not lending?) It is a difficult issue. Part of the problem in the run …
Definition of Efficient Market Hypothesis It is the idea that the price of stocks and financial securities reflects all available information about them. If new information about a company becomes available, the price will quickly change to reflect this. Three Types of Efficient market hypothesis Weak EMH. This states all past market prices and data …
Why do people gamble on the lottery but insure their car? When you gamble, in the long run, you lose money. Let us say, the payouts are 50% of the amount you pay in. Therefore, gambling in the long term makes no rational economic sense. Over time, the odds will even out and you will …