Definition: The natural rate of unemployment is the rate of unemployment when the labour market is in equilibrium. It is unemployment caused by structural (supply-side) factors. (e.g. mismatched skills) Diagram showing the natural rate of unemployment The natural rate of unemployment is the difference between those who would like a job at the current wage …
Readers Question: What are the effects of the exchange rate on UK businesses? The exchange rate will play an important role for firms who export goods and import raw materials. Essentially: A depreciation (devaluation) will make exports cheaper and exporting firms will benefit. However, firms importing raw materials will face higher costs of imports. An …
The NAIRU and Natural rate of unemployment are similar concepts – they both reflect the level of structural unemployment when the economy is close to full employment. However, they have different compositions and can vary in the short term. NAIRU – Non-accelerating Inflation rate of Unemployment. This is the level of unemployment that is consistent …
A fixed exchange rate occurs when a country keeps the value of its currency at a certain level against another currency. Often countries join a semi-fixed exchange rate, where the currency can fluctuate within a small target level. For example, the European Exchange Rate Mechanism ERM was a semi-fixed exchange rate system. Summary The idea …
How does the minimum wage affect aggregate demand/aggregate supply and macroeconomic factors such as inflation, unemployment and economic growth? A minimum wage is the statutory minimum wage that employers can pay per hour. In 2019, the UK minimum wage was set at £8.21 an hour for workers over 25. In the US, the federal min …
Readers Question: Given the widely varying fiscal policies of countries, both left and right, how come their growth rates over the long term are so close? source: World Bank To some extent growth rates are close; though it also depends which data and countries you use. However, from a very broad perspective, growth rates do …
Readers Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of inflation? The Government have an inflation target of CPI 2%. This suggests they would rather have moderate inflation than no inflation at all. Advantages of Inflation Deflation is potentially very damaging to the economy and can lead to lower consumer spending and lower growth. For example, …
Interest rates determine the amount of interest payments that savers will receive on their deposits. An increase in interest rates will make saving more attractive and should encourage saving. A cut in interest rates will reduce the rewards of saving and will tend to discourage saving. However, in the real world, it is more complicated. …