Readers Question: Is it a good idea for the Baltic states to adopt the Euro before they have met the convergence criteria? Latvia and Lithuania have a target date of 2013 for joining the Euro. Estonia by Jan 1 2011. The four main convergence criteria for the joining the Euro are: Low inflation Low Government …
Readers Question: However I was intrigued by something I read on the internet regarding Conservative plans to include housing costs in the Bank of England’s inflation target. Mortgage interest payments are included in the RPI measure of inflation. However, the official measure of inflation is currently the CPI. The CPI excludes mortgage interest payments. It …
Readers Question How do you explain the long boom in house prices from the late 1990s? There were several reasons for the long boom in house prices between 1994 and 2007. Low Interest rates. In the early 1990s, UK interest rates reached 15% and were in double figures for several months. After the 1991 recession …
The Chancellor used the Budget speech to cut his growth forecasts. The economy is now expected to contract by 3.5pc this year, but grow 1.25pc in 2010. This would mean growth starting towards the end of this year. The IMF are more pessimistic forecasting negative growth in 2010 of -0.4% (see – slow economic recovery) …
Readers Question: If British industry was to become uncompetitive it would have the following adverse effects on the economy: one of them is a higher level of inflation. How to explain that? If British industry becomes uncompetitive it means that basically, the UK’s cost of production is rising faster than our international competitors. For example, …
Readers Question: During 1995 – 1997 in the UK, mortgage equity withdrawal was negative. What does a negative mew value show? and why was there a negative value during this period in the UK? Mortgage equity withdrawal occurs when people borrow money against the value of their house. A common way to withdraw equity is …
Readers Question: Does mortgage equity withdrawal enhance economic growth? There is good evidence that mortgage equity withdrawal can lead to higher levels of consumer spending and economic growth Definition of Mortgage equity withdrawal – Mortgage equity withdrawal occurs when homeowners remortgage taking out bigger loans to take advantage of rising property values. Suppose you bought …
In economics, the definition of investment is quite strict. Investment means an increase in the capital stock – Gross fixed capital formation. Investment can involve The purchase of a larger factory The purchase of new automated machines to take part in the productive process. The purchase of new computers in a bank. The building of …