Over the course of history, the world has seen rapid population growth. It has enabled a rich diversity of culture, technology and improved living standards. However, population growth is increasingly coming at a cost – in particular to the environment. High population levels are contributing to the depletion of natural resources and causing widespread pollution. …
GDP measures gross domestic product. It is a measure of a nations economic output/income/expenditure. GDP is an excellent guide to the total number of marketable goods and services produced and consumed in an economy. It is a useful economic statistic – especially for managing the economic cycle, but has often become a short-hand for economic …
Readers Question: Where does the UK government get its money from? UK tax revenues come from a variety of sources. The main sources of tax revenue include: Income tax (main tax rate is 20%) National Insurance (NI) – a form of income tax VAT (20% on most goods and services) Corporation tax Council Tax (local …
It is argued cutting corporation tax rates can increase total tax revenue. This is because: Lower corporation tax will encourage more multinationals to invest in that country Lower tax rates enable firms to invest more – this leads to higher growth and therefore, higher tax revenues. Lower tax rates reduce the incentive for firms to …
Across the globe we are seeing a dramatic fall in the birth rate, with countries like Italy forecast to see their population decline from 61 million to 28 million by 2100. There are several reasons for falling birth rates – traditional factors include economic growth, improved education and access to contraception. But, in recent years, …
Technological unemployment occurs when the adoption of new technology causes job losses. Automation is a process of using robots, AI and machines to take the place of workers – not just in manufacturing, but increasingly new avenues – even in the service sector. The pace of automation is causing job disruption – with workers – …
Since the 1970s, we have seen a fall in average global inflation rates. There have been periods of inflation (often due to rise in oil prices), but the overall trend has seen much lower inflation rates. In the 1970s, inflation was seen as one of the main macro-economic challenges, but now many feel the challenge …
Readers Question: What is the difference between growth and development? Can a country experience economic growth without development? In summary Economic growth means an increase in real national income / national output. Economic development means an improvement in the quality of life and living standards, e.g. measures of literacy, life-expectancy and health care. Ceteris paribus, …