Letter of 365 economists – did they really get it wrong?

economic growth 1981

The March 1981 UK budget was controversial. In a period of rising unemployment, recession and high inflation. The government pursued deflationary fiscal policy trying to reduce inflation. The chancellor increased taxes by a total of £4 billion, with the aim of reducing inflation and reducing the budget deficit. Tax measures included A new 20% tax …

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Structural unemployment

Definition: Structural unemployment is caused by a mismatch of skills between the unemployed and available jobs. Structural unemployed is caused by changes in the economy, such as deindustrialisation, which leaves some unemployed workers unable to find work in new industries with different skill requirements. Structural unemployment occurs even during periods of strong economic growth. It …

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Effect of lower interest rates

effect-low-interest-rates

A look at the economic effects of a cut in interest rates. Summary Lower interest rates make it cheaper to borrow. This tends to encourage spending and investment. This leads to higher aggregate demand (AD) and economic growth. This increase in AD may also cause inflationary pressures. In theory, lower interest rates will: Reduce the …

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What are the economic functions of a government?

functions-of-a-government

Readers question: What are the functions of government in a capitalist economy? In summary, the economic functions of a government include: Protection of private property and maintaining law and order / national defence. Raising taxes. Providing public services not provided in a free market (e.g. health care, education, street lighting) Limit market failure through the …

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Basic questions of economics

The fundamental economic problem is one of scarcity. The basic questions of economics become: What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce? You could also add When to produce?   What to produce? Given limited resources of labour, raw materials and time, economic agents have to decide what to produce. Most primitive economies …

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Benefits of free trade

free-trade-winners-losers

Free trade means that countries can import and export goods without any tariff barriers or other non-tariff barriers to trade. Essentially, free trade enables lower prices for consumers, increased exports, benefits from economies of scale and a greater choice of goods. In more detail, the benefits of free trade include: 1. The theory of comparative …

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Tax on Negative Externality

tax-negative-externality-pigovian-tax

Taxes on negative externalities are intended to make consumers/producers pay the full social cost of the good. This reduces consumption and creates a more socially efficient outcome. If a good has a negative externality, without a tax, there will be over-consumption (Q1 where D=S)  because people ignore the external costs. 1. Diagram – Taxes on …

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Price Discrimination

price-discrimination-pros-cons

Definition – Price discrimination involves charging a different price to different groups of people for the same good. For example – student discounts, off peak fares cheaper than peak fares. Different Types of Price Discrimination 1. First Degree Price Discrimination This involves charging consumers the maximum price that they are willing to pay. There will …

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