Readers Question. Lastly, what effect would a poor unemployment figure (e.g. lower than expected nonfarm payroll numbers) have on a country’s currency? Is it likely to strengthen (due to lower expectations of inflation) or weaken (due to less domestic productivity and higher imports? Poor unemployment figures would probably weaken the currency. If unemployment figures are …
Readers Question: On Jan 2009 I asked a question on the greek current account deficit, the fixed EUR rate, the lack of competitiveness and the debt load and you expanded brilliantly on the dangers of the twin deficits and the deteriorating Greek credit quality. Now I just need to make a comment that all the …
In times of uncertainty, people seek to find a safe investment. But, what are safe investments? Gold is currently over $1,500 May 2011 Gold / Silver. These are typically seen as a good investment and safeguard against inflation. Inflation decreases the value of money, but gold retains its value. With experiments in quantitative easing, there …
Q. Why does Japanese Yen appreciate after Earthquake and Tsunami? Japan has suffered a tragic natural disaster. Aside from the very real human tragedies, it will have an adverse economic impact. Yet, since the crisis, the Japanese Yen has appreciated in value. Why has the Yen appreciated when perhaps you may have expected the opposite? …
In 1980, Mrs Thatcher made a memorable speech. “To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning!”(BBC Link) Background – The economy was struggling under the deflationary fiscal and monetary policy. Mrs Thatcher …
In economics, there is often a trade off between macro economic variables. A simple trade off could be – increase interest rates; this leads to lower inflation, but also lower output. Cut interest rates, and you help boost growth, but increase inflation. In an ideal world, we would have low inflation, high growth and full …
Readers Question: From the current economic crises government has been slashing its base interest rates to now 2%. However, how would deflation which is currently being experienced in several countries mainly due to decreasing fuel prices affect the attempted recovery from this crisis? Deflation makes monetary policy much less effective. In fact, deflation can cause …
Readers Question: I thought your explanation about whether to worry or not about the National Debt was pellucid but I would like to know, from an economics perspective, why governments (and people) were not worried about the debt after World War 2 given that it was far higher for many years than the UK debt …