Inflation measures how much the price of goods and services have increased over a period of time; and will have a significant impact on changes in the cost of living. An inflation rate of 5% means that on average the typical household basket of goods (e.g. food, TVs) and services (haircut, restaurant meal) is 5% …
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 …
Readers Question: Why is the cost of living in the UK so expensive? The cost of living depends on: The price of basic necessities – food, fuel, heating, transport, housing/rent, entertainment. The effective cost of living also depends on real wages. It is expensive to live in Nordic countries, but real wages tend to be …
Definition of stagflation Stagflation is a period of rising inflation but falling output and rising unemployment. Stagflaton is often a period of falling real incomes as wages struggle to keep up with rising prices. Stagflation is often caused by a rise in the price of commodities, such as oil. Stagflation occurred in the 1970s following …
The output gap is a measure of the difference between actual output (Y) and potential output (Yf). A positive output gap means growth is above the trend rate and is inflationary. A negative output gap means an economic downturn with unemployment and spare capacity The output gap = Y- Yf Diagram for Output Gap The …
Since the financial crisis, we have seen an unprecedented stagnation/decline in real wages. This decline has been most noticeable for low-income workers, with growing levels of inequality. The decline/stagnation in real wages is a global phenomenon – though some countries have been more affected than others. Reasons suggested for falling/stagnant wages since 2008 include: Recession …
Inflation means there is a sustained increase in the price level. The main causes of inflation are either excess aggregate demand (AD) (economic growth too fast) or cost-push factors (supply-side factors). Summary of the main causes of inflation Demand-pull inflation – aggregate demand growing faster than aggregate supply (growth too rapid) Cost-push inflation – For …
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 …