An examination of consumer and producer sovereignty. Also, an evaluation of which is stronger – who drives markets – is it, consumers or producers? Definition consumer sovereignty The ability and freedom of consumers to choose from a range of different goods and services. It means that ultimately it is consumers who will decide what is …
Definition of creative destruction This refers to the process of how capitalism leads to a constantly changing structure of the economy. Old industries and firms, which are no longer profitable, close down enabling the resources (capital and labour) to move into more productive processes. Creative destruction means that the company closures and job losses are good …
Herding behaviour refers to how individual decisions are influenced by group behaviour. It stems from the observation that if a herd of animals starts moving in one direction, all the animals want to follow the herd. Why herding behaviour occurs Following the crowd. In economics, we can see a similar behaviour. For example, if individuals …
Readers Question: Has Japanese government debt always been so high, or is this a recent phenomenon, caused by the high public spending during the country’s ‘lost decade’? No, Japan’s national debt has definitely increased since the bubble burst in the late 1980s. Debt as a % of GDP has increased because of various spending increases …
Profit satisficing is a situation where there is a separation of ownership and control. As a result, the owners are likely to have different objectives to the managers and workers. In short, owners wish to maximise profits, but workers and managers may not. It is an example of the principal-agent problem. The shareholder is the principal. …
A look at some problems and limitations of quantitative easing. Readers Question: I was wondering if anyone could help me with how Quantitative easing can possibly reduce a budget deficit? and what are the downsides of quantitative easing? The Bank of England has pursued a policy of quantitative easing. This has involved creating £275bn of …
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.’ …
If countries specialize in the production of certain goods and then trade with other countries there will be an increase in economic welfare. Countries will specialize in those goods where they have a comparative advantage. Absolute Advantage This occurs when one country can produce a good with fewer resources than another. E.G. if USA can …