Are Coffee Prices Fair?

coffee-retail-price-production

If coffee beans cost 4 pence per cup, how can big retailers like Starbucks or Costa Coffee sell a small cappuccino for £3.00? Comment from: Is the Price of Starbucks a rip off? Is the price of Starbucks coffee a rip off you ask… I have seen on this website you have written some article …

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Money Multiplier and Reserve Ratio

money-multiplier-formula

The Money Multiplier refers to how an initial deposit can lead to a bigger final increase in the total money supply. For example, if the commercial banks gain deposits of £1 million and this leads to a final money supply of £10 million. The money multiplier is 10. The money multiplier is a key element …

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Who are the winners and losers from free trade?

free-trade-winners-losers

Readers question: Who are the winners and losers from free trade? Free trade means that firms can export and import goods without tariff barriers. Free trade leads to lower prices and increased exports and imports. Economists are generally agreed that free trade leads to a net gain in economic welfare; as a result, economists generally …

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Indirect taxes

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An indirect tax is charged on producers of goods and services and is paid by the consumer indirectly. Examples of indirect taxes include VAT,  excise duties (cigarette, alcohol tax) and import levies. Example of VAT as an indirect tax VAT rates may be set at 20%. This percentage tax is known as an ad Valorem …

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Government intervention in the labour market

Government intervention in the labour market to reduce inequality and market failure can take various forms. Minimum wages/living wages Maximum wages (rarely used) Legislation to prevent discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, religion. Legislation to support or regulate trade unions. Maximum working week Legislation on health and safety Behavioural nudges (e.g. encouraging workers to …

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Long Run Trend Rate of Growth

The long-run trend rate of growth is the average sustainable rate of economic growth over a period of time. It could also be termed as the ‘underlying trend rate of economic growth’ The long-run trend rate is determined by growth in productive capacity (AS). It is the rate of growth which is consistent with low …

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Pigovian Tax

tax-negative-externality-pigovian-tax

A Pigovian tax is a tax placed on any good which creates negative externalities. The aim of a Pigovian tax is to make the price of the good equal to the social marginal cost and create a more socially efficient allocation of resources. It is named after the economist Arthur Pigou who developed the concept …

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The invisible hand

maximum-price

The invisible hand is a concept that – even without any observable intervention – free markets will determine an equilibrium in the supply and demand for goods. The invisible hand means that by following their self-interest – consumers and firms can create an efficient allocation of resources for the whole of society. How does the …

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