Definition of capital mobility – easy for physical assets and finance to move across geographical boundaries. Capital immobility – when capital faces restrictions on the free movement. What is capital? Capital principally refers to physical capital – durable goods used in the production process – machines, factories. This physical capital is determined by levels of …
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 …
Definition – An external benefit occurs when producing or consuming a good causes a benefit to a third party. The existence of external benefits (positive externalities) means that social benefit will be greater than private benefit. Example of external benefit In this example, of cycling to work, there is Private benefit We save on a …
Consumer confidence is the outlook that consumers have towards the economy and their own personal financial situation. This outlook can be optimistic (high consumer confidence) or pessimistic (low consumer confidence) The level of consumer confidence will be an important factor that determines the willingness of consumers to spend, borrow and save. A high level of …
Readers Question: Could you please explain how positive externality (external benefit) lead to market failure in property industry? A positive externality occurs when a third party benefits from the production or consumption of a good. In many cases, building the right kind of housing can have benefits to the rest of society. Therefore, the social …
Readers Question: Identify and explain economic variables that may be affected negatively by the economic slowdown. Some of the problems of a recession include Falling Output. Less will be produced leading to lower real GDP and lower average incomes. Wages tend to rise much more slowly or not at all. Unemployment. The biggest problem of …
After the UK’s decision to leave the EU, what economic problems will it face? Summary of problems Devaluation of Pound Sterling, increasing price of imported goods, such as food, oil, manufacturers and domestic inflation. This cost-push inflation is again putting pressure on real wages. WIth low nominal wage growth – inflation has led to falls …
Readers Question: How does an increase in imports cause inflation in the economy? If the quantity of imports increases, this should reduce domestic demand-pull inflation (AD = C+I+G+X-M). Therefore if consumers spend more on imports it will, ceteris paribus, reduce domestic demand. Therefore, we get lower growth of AD and lower inflation. Suppose there is an …