Inflation and Exchange Rates

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Readers Question: Why is it that the value of the exchange rate falls when there is higher inflation? How inflation affects the exchange rate A higher inflation rate in the UK compared to other countries will tend to reduce the value of the Pound Sterling because: High inflation in the UK means that UK goods …

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Pros and Cons of Inflation

Readers Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of inflation? The Government have an inflation target of CPI 2%. This suggests they would rather have moderate inflation than no inflation at all. Advantages of Inflation Deflation is potentially very damaging to the economy and can lead to lower consumer spending and lower growth. For example, …

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What is the difference between inflation and tax?

Readers question: What is the difference between tax and inflation? Tax is a way for the government to raise revenue. It includes charges placed by the government on goods/income. For example, VAT is a tax which means consumers have to pay an additional 20% of the price in the form of tax which goes to …

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Causes of Boom and Bust Cycles

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Boom and bust economic cycles involve: Rapid economic growth and inflation (a boom), followed by: A period of economic contraction / recession (falling GDP, rising unemployment) Causes of boom and bust cycles 1. Loose Monetary Policy If monetary policy is too loose, it means real interest rates are too low given the state of the …

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Should low inflation be the primary objective of economic policy?

The UK government has given the Bank of England an inflation target of CPI 2 % +/-1. The Bank of England is responsible for using monetary policy (e.g. interest rates)  to achieve this goal of low inflation. But, as well as targeting inflation, the Bank of England also has a wider remit of considering objectives …

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Is Inflation Harmful?

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Should the government be concerned if the CPI rises to 5%? Costs of Inflation The Government set the MPC a target for CPI of 2.% +/-1. It believes inflation higher than 3.0% is potentially damaging to the economy. Decline in relative competitiveness. If inflation in the UK is higher than elsewhere, then UK goods will …

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