Readers Question: “As for the argument that China can always use its foreign exchange (forex) reserves to provide further stimulus to prop up the economy, the people who purport this have little knowledge of basic economics. If China were to use substantial forex reserves in this way, it would become a large net-seller of U.S. …
A look at the pros and cons of Scottish independence from an economic perspective. It is said you can’t put a price on freedom and cultural identity. But, when it comes to independence, economics seems to be one of the biggest factors to sway voters in Scotland. When asked in a poll, only 21% favour …
Readers question. Recent data suggests an increase in the current account deficit – is the depreciation of the UK pound ineffective or is it just a blip in exports that will resolve itself next quarter? The UK has experienced a persistent current account deficit since the mid 1980s (see: UK current account for more graphs) …
Definition – A transaction cost is any cost involved in making an economic transaction. For example, when buying a good or buying foreign exchange, there will be some transaction costs (in addition to the price of the good.) The transaction cost could be financial, extra time or inconvenience. Transaction costs could involve. Paying a margin to …
Readers Question: I have recently read an article stating that “a country has only four options for getting out of a financial crisis: devalue, inflate, default, or deflate”… Would you be so kind to explain what these options comprehend?? Firstly, when people refer to a financial crisis they could refer to different economic problems. Recession …
Internal Devaluation – where a country seeks to regain competitiveness through lowering wage costs and increasing productivity and not reducing the value of the exchange rate. A devaluation of the currency is a decision to allow a currency, in a fixed or semi-fixed exchange rate, to decrease in value. Devaluing the currency means that the …
After enduring a deep economic crisis, Latvia are poised to be ‘rewarded’ with membership of the Euro in 2014. The Latvian miracle story It seems a strange that countries are so keen to join the Euro, when membership of the Euro has been a major factor in creating a real depression amongst many Euro countries. …
Readers Question: my question is If the UK. had joined the Euro back when it first started would the UK. have benefited like Germany or would we be in the same situation as Greece, Italy, and Spain? If the UK had joined the Euro from the start in 1999, the UK economy would definitely have …