Definition: Economic inactivity means that people (aged 16-64) are not involved in the labour market – they are neither working or actively seeking employment. Economic inactivity includes students, early retirees and the long-term sick. There are 8.5 million counted as economically inactive in the UK. The unemployed who are seeking working and willing and able …
The gift economy refers to economic activity characterised by offering services and goods to other members of the community without the expectation of monetary reward. Giving things to other people may be based on pure altruism, a wish to gain status in society, the hope of reciprocal gifts in the future or out of a …
A carbon tax aims to make individuals and firms pay the full social cost of carbon pollution. In theory, the tax will reduce pollution and encourage more environmentally friendly alternatives. However, critics argue a tax on carbon will increase costs for business and reduce levels of investment and economic growth. The purpose of a carbon …
Readers Question: What does the Government spend its money on? The government spends money for a variety of reasons: Reduce inequality (welfare payments like unemployment benefit). Provide public goods (fire, police, national defence) Provide important public services like education and health (merit goods) Debt interest payments. Transport Military spending UK public sector spending 2023-24 …
The fundamental economic problem is the issue of scarcity but unlimited wants. Scarcity implies there is only a limited quantity of resources, e.g. finite fossil fuels. Because of scarcity, there is a constant opportunity cost – if you use resources to consume one good, you cannot consume another. Therefore, an underlying feature of economics is …
In 2013, 11.2% of the world population had a daily income of less than $1.90 (WB) In 2013, 48.7% of the world population had a daily income of less than $5.50 (WB) In 2015, 736 million people lived on less than $1.90 a day, down from 1.85 billion in 1990 (WB) According to UN report …
A look at factors that determine bond yields. Firstly, bond yields have an inverse relationship with the price of bonds. If demand for bonds rises (and therefore price of a bond goes up), the yield goes down. A £1,000 bond that has an interest rate of 5% – means the government will pay £50 interest payment …
The wage-price spiral refers to the strong mutual link and between wage growth and inflation. Rising wages invariably put upward pressure on prices and inflation. High inflation creates upward pressure on wages as workers seek to gain an increase in wages to meet the rising prices and maintain living standards. Thus a wage-price spiral can …