Readers Question: Given the current environment, is it a valid argument of companies that increasing workers salaries will cause a loss of competitiveness? For example, cutting entry-level and middle-level workers salary while increasing management salaries will not change the profit levels of a company much. Wages are a part of a firm’s costs. If wages …
Readers Questions: I want to know the economic reason behind: Summer/Winter vacations in school? or: Why we have summer/winter vacations in school. This is an interesting question, especially as I have just finished teaching for the year and begun the long summer holidays myself. Possible economic reasons Non-monetary benefit for teachers. Generally, teachers pay is …
A look at the effects of how an over-valuation of the exchange rate can cause deflation. Readers Question: does an appreciation in the exchange rate cause deflation? An appreciation does tend to reduce inflationary pressures. This is because after after an appreciation in the exchange rate: Price of imports will fall, causing a fall in …
A look behind the causes and consequences of the economic crisis, and why it has been difficult to solve. Background to Economic Crisis The 1990s and early 2000s was a period of economic prosperity – Low inflation and high economic growth gave an impression of economic stability, but in other areas of the economy there …
When I was young (let say the 1980s) a Pound shop was a bit of a novelty. Visiting Morecambe, a seaside resort, there would be one or two Pound shops. I only remember being struck how low quality everything was, they were a bit tacky, mainly some useless novelty items and a stick of Blackpool …
Readers question “If a firm does not have access to the supply of a good then the market will not be contestable. E.g. Oil firms could restrict the supply of petrol to petrol stations, making it difficult for new firms to enter. E.g. for airlines a big issue is whether you can get a landing …
Readers Question What if the underground money parked in Swiss bank is recovered. Will it destabilize the current economy? ‘Underground money’ I assume you mean money gained by illegal methods and money that will be frozen until someone can prove they legally own it. Recovering frozen money One scenario – If there is a large …
Readers Question: would you be able to comment on what the Labour party’s latest proposal to break up the banks to create competition? I can see some reasons that relate to safe guarding possible failures of large banks which can prove costly if the government are needed to bail them out. However, in terms of …