Is a strong currency a good thing?

Readers Comment from post: Should the UK join the Eurozone So now it is 2013. Britain has spent a number of years with its interest rate set at just about zero, has entered a triple recession, has lost it’s AAA credit rating and Sterling is only worth €1.15 a drop of over 30% against the …

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The wrong and right kind of inflation

I like this article about the wrong kind of inflation by Roger Bootle Or as his cleaner said: “It’s not the inflation they need to sort out, Mr Bootle, it’s the rising prices!” Essentially, the wrong kind of inflation is  cost-push inflation. This inflation is due to rising costs of production, such as rising energy …

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UK Economy in 2013

Summary of UK Economy at the Start of 2013 The UK economy starts 2013 after one of the longest periods of economic stagnation on record. GDP has been flat for the past two years, and real GDP is still way below the 2008 peak. Despite the depressing picture of economic growth, unemployment (7.9%) is much …

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Importance of Bank Lending to UK Economy

Readers Question: What is the importance of bank lending to the UK economy? Bank lending plays an important role in influencing levels of consumer spending, investment and economic growth. When bank lending reduced at the start of the credit crunch in 2008 – this decline in bank lending was a significant factor in causing the …

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Causes of US Budget Deficit

This graph illustrates some of the different causes of the US budget deficit. Source: CBO estimates 2012 | via Krugman This shows how the deficit has been affected by certain issues. Cyclical factors Cyclical spending and lost tax revenues due to recession. Expansionary fiscal policy (economic recovery measures) Financial intervention to bailout banks and financial …

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Improvements in Eurozone Competitiveness

In the lead up to the Euro debt crisis, there was a marked divergence in competitiveness within the Eurozone. In fact, some economists suggested that the currency imbalances were the root cause of the Eurozone fiscal crisis. (VOX article) However, recent evidence suggests some restoration of competitiveness within the Eurozone. We can examine competitiveness in …

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