Readers Question: Where is the US economy headed? Is it inflation or depression? Recently, Goldman Sachs predicted a rough year ahead for the US Dollar. They forecast the dollar may fall against Pound Sterling to $1.85 in 12 months. Against the Euro, they forsee it to fall to $1.55 in a year’s time. Exchange rates …
A good thing about studying economics is that new issues crop up. A year ago, few people would have heard of quantitative easing, but, now it is has become an important part of UK monetary policy. Because it is relatively untried, there is a degree of uncertainty how it will work and whether it will …
Readers Questions: do you agree with bank bailouts why? or why not? I wrote here: Why we need to bailout the banks The Great Depression was so severe because of the scale of banks who went bankrupt. Banks may not deserve to be bailed out, but, it was a necessity. However, bailing out banks has …
The price of oil reached another record high yesterday – $125 Brent Crude oil reached $126 US light crude oil reached $128 before setting back to $127 This means that, even adjusted for inflation, oil is now close to the all time high, last reached in the 1970s. What are the reasons behind the Recent …
Readers Question. Explain the benefits of increasing the rate of unemployment benefit for 1. the unemployed, 2. society. Identify and costs that may result from such a policy. Benefits of increasing unemployment benefits Provides more income, reducing relative poverty and improving living standards. Gives them support in finding the best job. If benefits are low, …
Readers Question: If long term Interest rates in the US do not fall, how will this impact the US economy? Short Term Interest rates are governed by the Fed’s Current monetary Policy. These have fallen sharply in recent months from 4.25% to 2.25%. This reflects the Feds desire to avoid an economic downturn. The sharp …
The pound reached the symbolic value of $2 = £1 yesterday. This is the highest level since New Year’s Eve and is partly in response to the Bank of England’s caution in cutting interest rates. (Yesterday, the Bank left rates unchanged at 5.25%) Despite the slowdown in the housing sector the Bank still appear worried …
Readers Question: Interest rates are determined by the markets and not by the Bank of England-where’s the truth? An interesting question. Firstly, it is worth bearing in mind that there are different interest rates in an economy. Bank of England Base Rate. This is the most important interest rate because it is the rate at …