Readers’s question: What is the difference between depreciation and inflation? Depreciation refers to a fall in the value of an asset. A depreciation of the exchange rate means a currency becomes worth less than others. For example, the Pound sterling falls in value against the dollar/euro/Yen. This graphs shows that the value of the Pound …
War has always had substantial economic costs, but war is becoming increasingly costly for both belligerents and bystanders. This is due to both the monetary costs of fighting and the economic fallout of sanctions. During the cold war, there was a theory that nuclear war would ensure a mutual self-destruction – and this assured mutual …
Recessions (a fall in real GDP) are primarily caused by a fall in aggregate demand (AD). A demand-side shock could occur due to several factors, such as A financial crisis. If banks have a shortage of liquidity, they reduce lending and this reduces investment. A rise in interest rates – increases the cost of borrowing …
Economic sanctions are policies designed to hurt the economy of a target country. Sanctions can involve trade embargoes, seizure of assets, travel bans and limits on capital flows. The aim of sanctions is usually to provide a political signal of disapproval which stop short of military action. They can be imposed by one country unilaterally, …
Inflation is a sustained rise in prices and increase in the cost of living. The general costs of higher inflation will be reduced purchasing power of money, fall in the value of savings, a depreciation in the exchange rate, less certainty for firms and the inconvenience of dealing with changing prices. In addition, developing economies …
Readers Question: What will happen to the value of a currency during times of deep recession and high inflation? There is no hard and fast rule about what will happen to the value of a currency during a deep recession – though, a currency is likely to fall because country becomes a less attractive place to …
The Balance of Payments is a record of a country’s transactions with the rest of the world. It shows the receipts from trade. It consists of the current and financial account. UK current account 1955-2018 1. Current account This is a record of all payments for trade in goods and services plus income flow it …
The Dutch disease refers to the problems associated with a rapid increase in the production of raw materials (like oil and gas) causing a decline in other sectors of the economy. When the raw materials run out, the economy can be in a worse position than before. – Can the discovery of substantial raw materials …