A look at the economic impact of a fall in the exchange rate (termed depreciation or devaluation) A fall in the exchange rate is known as a depreciation in the exchange rate (or devaluation in a fixed exchange rate system). It means the currency is worth less compared to other countries. When there is a …
A look at the economic effects of a cut in interest rates. Summary Lower interest rates make it cheaper to borrow. This tends to encourage spending and investment. This leads to higher aggregate demand (AD) and economic growth. This increase in AD may also cause inflationary pressures. In theory, lower interest rates will: Reduce the …
Readers Question: what are the advantages and disadvantages of inflation? Inflation occurs when there is a sustained increase in the general price level. Traditionally high inflation rates are considered to be damaging to an economy. High inflation creates uncertainty and can wipe away the value of savings. However, most Central Banks target an inflation rate …
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: Why is it that the value of the exchange rate falls when there is higher inflation? How inflation affects the exchange rate A higher inflation rate in the UK compared to other countries will tend to reduce the value of the Pound Sterling because: High inflation in the UK means that UK goods …
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 …
A current account deficit occurs when the value of imports (of goods, services and investment income) is greater than the value of exports. There are various factors which could cause a current account deficit: 1. Overvalued exchange rate If the currency is overvalued, imports will be cheaper, and therefore there will be a higher quantity …
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 …