Readers Question: In a non-recession situation, if a government reduces it’s borrowing and thus it’s spending, how can that have a depressing effect on the economy? Wouldn’t that money be either be loaned to someone else or spent to on goods and services by the people who have it? Yes. If an economy is growing …
Background to the EU 1957 Treaty Of Rome established the EEC between 6 original members 1960 EFTA between UK, Aus, Den, Nor, Port, Swiss and Swe 1973 UK, Ireland and Denmark join EC 1999 Creating of Euro single currency. Community Institutions European Commission, this is the civil service of the EU Council of Ministers from …
The Euro started Jan 1999 EMU involves Replacement of National currencies by the EURO Same Monetary Policy – Since “One Money” implies uniform interest rates Exchange Rates within the Euro area will cease to exist By mid 2002 national currencies will cease to be legal tender Pre Launch Blues Expectations about Inflation helped reduce actual …
In 2009, US and EU unemployment rates both stood at 10% – but since then EU unemployment has increased to 12% and US unemployment fallen to 7.9%. (see: US v EU unemployment) These contrasting fortunes in unemployment are a reflection of diverging rates of economic growth. Whilst, Europe has entered a double dip recession, the …
Readers Question: The task of MPC is to stabilise inflation at 2%. Current inflation is around 5% and the Bank of England has to tighten the Monetary policy to control the inflation. If the Government revises the inflation target and set it to 5%, then what would be the effect on the economy and what …
Italy has struggled to reduce national debt as a % of GDP since government debt has risen to over 100% of GDP in the late 1980s National Debt Italy Italy has the second highest public sector debt in Europe, after Greece. The IMF predict public sector debt of 123.4 % of GDP in 2012. By …
Readers Question: I am wondering why the 75 billion of quantitative easing that the Bank of England announced today to be “injected into the economy” isn’t spent on infrastructural projects? Why spend those funds on government bonds? This doesn’t seem to be the best way of using these funds. Many thanks. It’s a good question. …
Ireland has faced tremendous economic turmoil in recent years. Government debt has soared after the banking bailout and effect of a deep recession. The economy has faced a combination of Falling house prices bank losses and decline in bank lending Fiscal austerity (government spending cuts) to try and solve budget deficit. All these factors have …