Definition: Gross fixed capital formation is essentially net investment. It is a component of the Expenditure method of calculating GDP. To be more precise Gross fixed capital formation measures the net increase in fixed capital. Gross fixed capital formation includes spending on land improvements, (fences, ditches, drains, and so on) plant, machinery, and equipment purchases; …
The resource curse is the observation that countries endowed with a rich source of natural resources can struggle to make effective use of these and often end up with low levels of economic development than countries with low levels of natural resources. There are various reasons put forward to explain this resource curse, such as …
Nudge theory suggests consumer behaviour can be influenced by small suggestions and positive reinforcements. Proponents of nudge theory suggest that well-placed ‘nudges’ can reduce market failure, save the government money, encourage desirable actions and help increase the efficiency of resource use. Critics argue nudges can be misused and become a form of social engineering or …
A few years ago, I wrote several posts about the need for a government to borrow in a recession. One thing I would have said is that when the economy recovers, tax receipts will automatically rise and the deficit will fall. You could almost say ‘solve unemployment and the deficit will take care of itself.’ …
I’ve been studying economics for 13 years and I can still get confused at the bewildering array of interest rates. Basically, interest rates can range from anywhere between 0% and 2,316% The most important rate is the base rate (sometimes referred to as the repo rate). This is the rate set by the Bank of …
Readers Question: I’m currently reading ‘Crisis Economics’ (by N.Roubini) at the moment and I don’t get some stuff in the book. When it was talking about the current account balance, the book referred to it as a balance between national savings and national investment, but I don’t quite understand this. The Current account on the …
This privatization was left to the last for a number of reasons Loss-making nature of British Rail Heavy dependence on external subsidies for rural and provincial services The need to see safety as an overriding priority Positive externalities of railways, – taking traffic off congested roads BR was an integrated national network with a complex …
To overcome market failure, the government may place laws and regulations which prohibit certain behaviour and actions. Regulations can limit or prevent: Demerit goods (alcohol, drugs, smoking) Goods with negative externalities (burning of coal) Abuse of monopoly power. Exploitation of labour. Examples of laws and regulation Legal age for smoking (18) Prohibition on certain classes …