Readers Question: with economic scare, do you advise to invest? how do you predict inflation and interest rates will affect business? In the UK, interest rates have only fallen slightly since the start of the global credit crisis. The Bank of England has reduced rates from 5.75% to 5.25%. The Bank is still worried about …
Readers Question: What credit can the adoption of central bank independence take for the relative stability of the UK business cycle since 1997? The MPC, Bank of England, are responsible for setting interest rates and determining UK monetary policy. They seek to keep inflation close to the government’s target of CPI 2% +/-1 % Between …
Readers Question: Will an extra $20 billion per year spent on housing have the same impact on the economy as an extra $20 billion spent on interstate highways? It depends on the state of the economy. At the moment, 2008, one of the biggest threats to the US economy is falling house prices. Data released …
Readers Question: Use the ideas and theories you have encountered in your study of the macroeconomic business environment to assess the possible impacts on China of holding the Olympic games in Beijing in 2008. The Olympic Games will effect the Chinese economy in the following way. Increase in Tourism. This is a short term effect …
1) You say depreciation causes inflation for the three reasons you mention, but later, that in the long run, a higher rate of inflation will cause depreciation. So my first question is how are these two phenomena linked? Is ‘long run’ the key; i.e. it takes a prolonged high inflation to cause a devaluation, but …
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 …
How do we avoid environmental damage in an expanding economy? It is not easy because a lot of environmental damage occurs as a result of negative externalities. In other words, the environmental damage from producing a good, driving a car primarily affects other people. Therefore, free markets are not efficient at dealing with environmental externalities. …
On March 12th, Alistair Darling will deliver his first budget. With the economy slowing down, he is not left with much room for manoeuvre. Tax Revenues are less than the government hoped and the National debt is likely to soon exceed the government’s self imposed ceiling of 40% of GDP. In 2008-09 Mr Darling will …