Inflation means there is a sustained increase in the price level. The main causes of inflation are either excess aggregate demand (AD) (economic growth too fast) or cost-push factors (supply-side factors). Summary of the main causes of inflation Demand-pull inflation – aggregate demand growing faster than aggregate supply (growth too rapid) Cost-push inflation – For …
Definition Wage-push inflation is the increase in general price level resulting from higher wages in an economy. Explanation of wage-push inflation If firms increase nominal wages by 5%, they experience higher costs of production. This is likely to cause firms to pass the cost increases onto consumers in the form of higher prices. Firms increase …
By different measures, US corporate profit has increased significantly in the past two decades. It stands at 10.5% of GDP. What is behind the large rises in profit? Source St Louis Fed CP (not this is for nominal profit) In 2021, US corporate profit after tax stands at 2,700 billion (or $2.7 trillion) This is …
Across the globe we are seeing a dramatic fall in the birth rate, with countries like Italy forecast to see their population decline from 61 million to 28 million by 2100. There are several reasons for falling birth rates – traditional factors include economic growth, improved education and access to contraception. But, in recent years, …
Technological unemployment occurs when the adoption of new technology causes job losses. Automation is a process of using robots, AI and machines to take the place of workers – not just in manufacturing, but increasingly new avenues – even in the service sector. The pace of automation is causing job disruption – with workers – …
Since the 1970s, we have seen a fall in average global inflation rates. There have been periods of inflation (often due to rise in oil prices), but the overall trend has seen much lower inflation rates. In the 1970s, inflation was seen as one of the main macro-economic challenges, but now many feel the challenge …
In the past two decades, we have had a remarkable period of low inflation. Inflation has been so low, some economists have suggested a new paradigm – the end of inflation as a primary economic concern. Since 2009, any predictions of imminent inflation have proved to be wide of the mark. There have been warnings …
Historical US Unemployment since 1900 Sources 1890-1920 data are from Christina Romer (1986). “Spurious Volatility in Historical Unemployment Data”, The Journal of Political Economy, 94(1): 1920-1930 Robert M. Coen (1973). “Labor Force and Unemployment in the 1920’s and 1930” 1930- 1948 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Thanks to User Peace Generally, the US economy was …