Despite the urgency of climate change and the rapid fall in the price of renewable energy sources, the world still relies on nearly 80% of its energy source from fossil fuels. Accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels will have large environmental and economic benefits, yet progress is much slower than we need. The problem …
Reader’s Question: Why Does Inflation Make it Easier for Governments to pay back the debt? The big fall in national debt as % of GDP occurred during relatively high inflation periods of 50s, 60s, and 70s. The 1920s and 30s were a period of deflation and high debt. There are a few reasons inflation …
Higher wheat prices will have a significant impact on raising food prices and reducing living standards; it is feared it could cause widespread poverty and social unrest. The impact of higher wheat prices will be felt disproportionately by low-income consumers and major wheat importing countries, such as Egypt and Nigeria. This is because consumers on …
Readers’s question: What is the difference between depreciation and inflation? Depreciation refers to a fall in the value of an asset. A depreciation of the exchange rate means a currency becomes worth less than others. For example, the Pound sterling falls in value against the dollar/euro/Yen. This graphs shows that the value of the Pound …
Wheat is the fifth most commonly traded commodity after oil, coffee, gas and gold. It accounts for approximately 21% of the world’s food and the gross world trade in wheat is greater than all other crops combined. Wheat is a key ingredient of bread, flour, and pasta, and is also used in the production of …
Readers Question: would you please explain to me how we can have no inflation, or low inflation if the government injects two or three trillion dollars in the US economy and output falls? This is an interesting question. Although printing more money tends to cause inflation, there are circumstances where you can increase the money …
A summary for understanding exchange rates. Factors that affect exchange rates and the impact of exchange rates on the economy. Terminology Depreciation/devaluation – fall in value of exchange rate – exchange rate becomes weaker (see also: definition of devaluation and depreciation) Appreciation – increase in the value of exchange rate – exchange rate becomes stronger. …
The output gap is a measure of the difference between actual output (Y) and potential output (Yf). Output gap = Y- Yf A Negative Output Gap occurs when actual output is less than potential output gap. In a recession, a fall in Real GDP causes a negative output gap. However, it can become difficult to …