Leveraged Buyout

A leveraged buyout occurs when a firm is bought by a group of investors who borrow a large proportion of the money needed to buy a target firm. Often the investors will use the assets of the target firm as collateral for borrowing money. Leveraged Buyouts are often highly aggressive methods of taking over an …

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Criticisms of IMF

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Over time, the IMF has been subject to a range of criticisms, generally focused on the conditions of its loans. The IMF has also been criticised for its lack of accountability and willingness to lend to countries with bad human rights records. Criticisms of the IMF include 1. Conditions of loans On giving loans to …

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Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

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Purchasing Power Parity PPP is a theory which suggests that exchange rates are in equilibrium when they have the same purchasing power in different countries. Purchasing power parity will involve looking at a basket of goods to determine effective living costs. The purchasing power parity is determined by dividing a basket of goods in one …

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J-Curve Effect

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The J Curve effect a depreciation in the exchange rate can cause a deterioration of the current account in the short-term (because demand is inelastic). However, in the long-term, demand becomes more price elastic and therefore, the current account begins to improve. The J-Curve is related to the Marshall-Lerner condition, which states: If (PED x …

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Real business cycle

technological change in RBC

 Summary Real business cycle models state that macroeconomic fluctuations in the economy can be largely explained by technological shocks and changes in productivity. These changes in technological growth affect the decisions of firms on investment and workers (labour supply). Hence changes in output can be traced to microeconomic and supply-side factors. Real business cycle models …

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Asian Financial Crisis 1997

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The Asian financial crisis of 1997 refers to a macroeconomic shock experienced by several Asian economies  – including Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia. Typically countries experienced rapid devaluation and capital outflows as investor confidence turned from over-exuberance to contagious pessimism as the structural imbalances in the economy became more apparent. The crisis of ’97-99 …

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Do workers on the minimum wage have any market power?

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Readers Question: In the U.S. I have noticed that most restaurants and fast food places have window signs advertising for workers. Would these minimum wage workers, as a collective, be considered a monopsony or a monopoly? To answer your question, these minimum wage workers would be considered neither a monopoly or monopsony. The fact that …

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Is it a good idea to invest in gold during a recession?

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There was a global recession in 1974, 1980-81, 1991-92 and 2007. Readers Question: In this period of recession, is gold a safe investment? Gold is traditionally seen as a safe investment, especially during a time of financial uncertainty, high inflation, depreciating exchange rates and economic recession. The main reason is that gold has an intrinsic …

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