Readers Question: How can a larger government fiscal deficit case a larger international trade deficit Firstly, it is important not to confuse the two deficits. Government fiscal deficit occurs when government spending is greater than tax revenues. The deficit is the annual government borrowing requirement, measured by Public Sector Net Borrowing. International Trade deficit implies …
Readers Question: Why do the Fed choose to prefer the PCE that leads to a lower inflation rate than the CPI? This refers to US inflation rates, UK readers may get more from RPI vs CPI Difference Between PCE Deflation and CPI The CPI measures the out-of-pocket expenditures of urban households. It is based primarily …
We tend to assume education is a merit good. – A beneficial good that has external benefits for society. However, another approach to education considers how education acts as a signal of ability. Signalling in education suggests productivity is independent of education, but education acts as a credential for greater ability. In other words, if …
Readers Question: Using data and your economic knowledge assess the case for and against a government completely banning the sale and consumption of cigarettes. AQA (15) 1. Cigarettes are a demerit good. People underestimate the costs of smoking, e.g. lower life expectancy. It has been suggested that the true cost of a packet of cigarettes …
For many goods we expect the price to be determined by market forces – by supply and demand. For example, computers, cars, holidays, food e.t.c. However, there is another class of good where society dislikes the idea of prices being set by market forces. The best example is football tickets or Concert tickets. . In …
Readers Question: Is the economic demand for a particular product determined solely by its usefulness? Traditional economic theory suggests we buy goods depending on whether we feel it gives a utility sufficiently high to justify the price. As the price rises, we tend to buy less. Last week, I wrote about my experience of buying …
It’s the time of the year when many students are getting to start economics for the first time. It can be a little confusing with so many new concepts and words. But, if we had just one lesson, what could we teach about economics? Society wishes to optimise the distribution of resources. Economics considers how …
Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are two of the richest men in the world. Does the concept of scarcity apply to them? Wealth of Bill Gates In 2011, the wealth of Bill Gates is estimated at $56 billion. This comes from a variety of sources, but his 6% share in Microsoft provides the bulk of …