6.2 - The Global Economy Flashcards
What does ‘economy’ refer to?
All of the economic activity that takes place between the people living in a particular region or country
Why are financial providers affected by what goes on in their local economy as well as the global economy?
- Countries rely a lot on eachother in terms of imports and exports
- Banks may find themselves in competition with businesses based in overseas economies meaning strategic decisions will have to take account of what is going on in other countries
What would happen if the euro were to become weak against the pound?
UK goods would become expensive to European buyers even though the pound price had not changed
What would UK manufacturers have to do if the euro were to become weak against the pound?
- Cut their pound prices
- Try to boost sales in other ways
- Lose sales
What is the MPC responsible for?
Setting Bank rate in the UK
What is Bank rate used to influence?
The demand for and supply of the pound sterling.
What is the goal of the MPC?
To have a stable rate of inflation
What is the result of changes in the sterling’s purchasing power against other countries?
The goods and services that the UK imports from other countries have been more expensive, whilst exports have been cheaper.
Protectionism definition
Policies designed to protect a country’s own economy and labour force
What can protectionism involve?
- A government giving money to one of its industries to preserve jobs
- Imposing import taxes on the goods and services that it purchases from abroad
Why are protectionist policies unpopular with those countries who do not practice them?
They counteract the advantages of free trade
What do the World Trade Organisation (WTO) promote?
Co-operation and trade between its members
What is the main function of the WTO?
To ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible
Regional economic union examples:
- The European Union - 28 members
- The Association of South Eastern Asian Nations (ASEAN) - 10 members
- The Caribbean Community (Caricom) - 15 full members and five associate members
How do you measure the performance of an economy?
Gross Domestic Product
GDP definition
A country’s economic activity in terms of its total output of goods and sercices
Why is rising GDP growth seen as a good thing?
It reflects a higher standard of living of the people with higher employment and production
What is a way to express the standard of living of the people of a country?
Find the GDP per capita
GDP per capita formula
GDP per capita = total GDP / total number of people
Negative consequences of too much growth:
- Economy becomes overheated
- Environmental impacts e.g. increase in the burning of fossil fuels
What does it mean if an economy becomes overheated?
There is more demand than supply so businesses push up prices leading to higher inflation
Why must the rate of inflation be taken into account when measuring economic growth?
Some of the apparent increase in GDP may be the result of a general increase in prices rather than because more goods and services are being produced.