Readers Question: Can you please discuss the nature of the current account deficit and the exchange rate in the UK along with the theory that would suggest there is a relationship between the exchange rate and the current account. A current account deficit implies the value of imports of (goods/services/investment incomes) is greater than the …
Is deflation good or bad? Mostly experiences of deflation in western economies have been damaging – deflation has been associated with falling rates of economic growth and higher unemployment. However, it is possible to have a different type of deflation – from rapidly improving productivity; then deflation can be consistent with higher rates of economic …
There are two main classifications of poverty: Absolute poverty – income below certain income necessary for basic living standards Relative poverty – household income 60% below median wages. See: Measuring poverty Absolute poverty was much more of an issue before the introduction of the Welfare State in 1945. Since 1945, rising living standards and a …
Readers Question: What influences consumer spending Consumption is financed primarily out of our income. Therefore real wages will be an important determinant, but consumer spending is also influenced by other factors, such as interest rates, inflation, confidence, saving rates and availability of finance. Interest Rates – Interest Rates influence the cost of borrowing and mortgage …
What causes price fluctuations for the supplier in an agricultural market such as coffee/tea? Coffee and tea are agricultural products, and therefore supply can be variable depending on several factors behind the control of producers (weather, disease). Furthermore, because demand and supply are inelastic, any change in supply can cause a significant change in price. …
The 1930s economy was marked by the effects of the great depression. After experiencing a decade of economic stagnation in the 1920s, the UK economy was further hit by the sharp global economic downturn in 1930-31. This lead to higher unemployment and widespread poverty. However, although the great depression caused significant levels of poverty and …
Readers Question: Could you comment on This BBC programme on Q.E. The programme highlights several criticisms of Quantitative Easing, especially the Q.E. adopted by the Bank of England. Since 2009, the Bank of England’s balance sheet has quadrupled, and now a third of all government bonds are now held by Bank of England. The programme …
UK interest rates were last raised over a decade ago – July 2007, but it is widely expected that this week the MPC will vote to raise base interest rates from their current low of 0.25%. The logic for an interest rate rise is that – inflation (3%) is above the 2% target, fall in …