4: International Trade & Globalisation, Financial Markets & Institutions, Financial Context of Business Flashcards
What is the balance of payments? & 3 parts?
A statement of the value of transactions with other countries. (Double Entry)
Current account, Capital Account & Financial Account
What falls under the Current Account?
Trade in goods, services, investment income, money transfers.
What falls under the Capital Account?
Government loans to/from other countries.
What falls under the financial account?
Foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and flows of currency.
If imports > Exports what does this mean?
Current Account Deficit
What causes current account deficits? (Import side)
Increased import penetration:
Lower production costs abroad mean cheaper overseas goods.
High exchange rates makes imports cheaper than domestic goods.
Inflationary gaps increase demand for imports.
What causes current account deficits? (Export side)
Poor export performance:
Exports are not competitively prices so demand from foreign consumers will fall.
High exchange rates make exports more expensive.
Low economic growth in foreign countries reduces demand for exports.
What are the policies to eliminate current account deficits?
Devalue currency, protectionism & deflating domestic demand.
What is an exchange rate determined by?
Demand / Supply of the currency on a foreign exchange market.
What creates demand for a currency? & Impact of price fall?
Sale of exports and investments into the local economy by foreign investors.
A lower price of a currency will increase demand for the currency.
What creates supply for a currency? & Impact of price rise?
Supply is created by the purchase of imported goods, sale of exports and also by foreign investments made by local investors.
The supply for a currency will rise as it’s price rises.
How do interest rates influence exchange rates?
Lower interest rates lead to a reduction in demand from foreign investors. So, a reduction in interest rates will lead to a fall in exchange rates.
How does inflation impact exchange rates?
High inflation means products become more expensive (Less Competitive)
High inflation would be expected to lead to a fall in demand for exports.
A fall in demand for exports will lead to a fall in demand for currency and a fall for demand in exchange rates.
What is a free floating vs Fixed exchange rate?
Free floating: Exchange rate determined by market forces. This will be volatile and may cause reluctance to trade internationally.
Managed Float: Where a government will buy and sell currency to stabilise swings in exchange rate.
Fixed exchange rate: Government needs to buy and sell currency reserves. Creates more certainty and therefore encourages international trade. Far more intensive to manage.
What are the advantages of free trade?
Specialisation: in most productive activities (Climate/Natural Resources)
Product Range: Countries can obtain goods they cannot produce themselves.
Greater global efficiency: Driven through increased competition.
Economies of scale: larger markets for a firm’s output.
What are the disadvantages of free trade?
Dumping: Imported products sold below domestic production costs.
Infant industries: New domestic firms need time before they are able to compete with larger foreign rivals.
Structural unemployment: Important domestic firms driven out by foreign rivals.
Social responsibility: Low-cost producers neglecting social factors of production.
What are examples of protectionist measures?
Outright ban on imports.
Tariffs: Imported goods more expensive.
Subsidies to domestic producers.
Quotas: Restrictions on volumes of a product
These all conflict with principles of free trade
What is a free trade area?
No restrictions on supply of goods/services between member countries.
What is a customs union?
A free trade area + common external tariffs on imports from non-member countries.
What is a common/single market?
A customs union + free movement of factors of production and standardised market regulations.
What is an economic union?
Common/single market + common central bank, common interest rate & single currency. (Eurozone)