Behavioural economics is a branch of economics that seeks to understand the motivations and reasons behind individual decisions. Rational choice In traditional economics, there is a very basic assumption that individuals are rational utility maximisers. i.e. firms seek to maximise profits; workers seek to maximise income and levels of consumption. (see – rational economic man) …
Readers Question: Hello can you please tell me what the disadvantages of using interest rates would be for the economy? Interest rates are used to try and achieve low inflation and stable, sustainable economic growth. However, interest rates are limited, they can’t always achieve all the governments’ macroeconomic objectives at once. Interest Rates and Inflation …
ex ante is Latin for before the event. ex ante means we look at future events based on possible predictions. ex post is Latin for after the event. ex post means we look at results and events after they have occurred. Example of ex ante and ex post There is an example of ex ante …
The economic trade cycle shows how economic growth can fluctuate within different phases, for example: Boom (which is a period of high economic growth possibly causing inflation) Peak (top of trade cycle, where growth rates may start to fall) Economic downturn/Recession ( where the growth rate falls and may become negative – leading to a fall in …
The natural rate of interest is the interest rate consistent with maintaining economic growth at its trend rate and stable inflation. Another definition of the natural rate of interest is: “the real interest rate consistent with real GDP equalling its potential level (potential GDP) in the absence of transitory shocks to demand. (FR) In other …
Interest rates have been cut to a record low of 0.25% – essentially due to grim economic news from the short-run demand side shock of Brexit. Economic theory states that in normal circumstances, lower interest rates should boost aggregate demand (AD). To give a quick recap, lower interest rates should in theory: Reduce the incentive …
George Osborne has recently stated that leaving the EU could leave a black hole in public finances of £30bn and this would lead to sharp budget cuts – tax rises and spending cuts. This raises the interesting question of whether you can talk yourself into a recession. Do predictions of recession become self-fulfilling? How can …
There have been numerous economic predictions springing from a possible Brexit including recession, unemployment, falling Pound, falling stock markets, collapsing house prices, inflation and the end of civilisation as we know it (I’ll leave predictions of world wars e.t.c. for someone else to grapple with). But, what is the economic theory behind these economic predictions? …