Tax competition occurs when different countries seek to attract investment and multi-national companies, by offering lower tax rates. Usually tax competition refers to corporation tax, but can also include competition on income tax on labour. Tax competition has become more important in recent decades as multi-national companies find it easier to locate in different countries. …
Arbitrage occurs when an investor can make a profit from simultaneously buying and selling a commodity in two different markets. For example, gold may be traded on both New York and Tokyo stock exchanges. If the market price temporarily diverges and gold becomes cheaper on Japanese markets, then an arbitrageur could buy in Tokyo and …
Comparative advantage occurs when one country can produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another. This means a country can produce a good relatively cheaper than other countries The theory of comparative advantage states that if countries specialise in producing goods where they have a lower opportunity cost – then there …
Readers Question: The Labour party, among others, protests about the effects of government austerity policies on ordinary people but does government spending, even so-called ‘investment in infrastructure’, not automatically increase national debt which means punishing future generations? Firstly, if a government increases spending without any corresponding increase in taxes, then this change in the government’s …
Absorbed costs involve including all the variable and fixed costs in producing a unit of output. For example, in producing a motor car, the absorbed costs include the variable raw material costs and the associated fixed manufacturing costs, such as the factory, safety inspections and maintenance of machines. Absorbed costs would not include general administration …
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 …
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 …
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 …