Which Measure of Inflation to Use?

UK Inflation Since 2000 Readers Question: How can we have both inflation and deflation in the economy at the same time? (the RPI falling to 0% and CPI rising to 3.2%) Deflation requires a fall in prices. We would need a negative inflation rate (e.g -0.3%)  to have deflation Note if the inflation rate fell …

Read more

What is a Keynesian Stimulus?

increase-ad-inflation-growth-for-PC

Readers Question: Explain why Keynesians would argue that demand management policies are the most effective way of increasing the equilibrium level of output. Keynesian fiscal stimulus is a decision by the government to increase government spending financed by government borrowing. Keynes advocated fiscal stimulus when the economy was stuck in a recession. In this situation, …

Read more

Inflation Trends in Short and Long Term

Readers Question: I have been learning about inflation for AS at the moment. I would like to know about whether inflation would be a short-term phenomenon as we were told inflation takes place when there is excess demand and price will rise, it will also encourage the company to produce more. Therefore, shouldn’t it be …

Read more

Blame for 2009 Recession

Readers Question: Actually, I would like to know if the current UK’s recession is caused whether economic policies which have been practised or the UK has been affected from outside the country? The recession is caused by a mixture of domestic and international factors. For more detailed explanation see: Economic crisis explained Who is to …

Read more

Mistakes of the Banks in 2009

Banks are getting a lot of criticism at the moment and most of it is justified. What mistakes did the banks make? Bonuses which encouraged Risky Short Termism If managers gained short term profit for the bank, they would be in line for large bonuses. If they lost money, they didn’t get a pay cut. …

Read more

Flexible Labour Markets and Immigration

There is an interesting article in the Economist about immigration and the impact on the Irish economy. Immigration tends to encourage a range of emotive responses, but, its impact on the flexibility of labour markets is worth considering. In the boom years, Ireland was growing by up to 5% a year or more. Growth was …

Read more

Dealing With High Oil Prices

The Cardboard bike needs no oil. What is the best way to deal with high oil prices? As both a motorist and cyclist, high oil prices are a mixed blessing. It now costs £6o to fill a tank of petrol; I have seen the proportion of my income spent on petrol rise considerably. However, rising …

Read more

New Zealand Interest Rates and Inflation 2008

Readers Question:  What is the relationship/theory between the OCR (Official Cash Rate) and Inflation? The Official Cash Rate is the interest rate the New Zealand Reserve Bank use to control inflation. It is very similar to the base rate used by the MPC, Bank of England. Graph Interest Rates New Zealand Because New Zealand commercial …

Read more

Item added to cart.
0 items - £0.00