Ch 27 government objectives and policies

Question 1

4 macroeconomic objectives of govt

Answer 1

» low inflation
» low unemployment
» economic growth
» balance of payments between imports and exports.

Question 2

What are the consequences of inflation

Answer 2

Lower purchasing power of money, real income falls

Exports are less internationally competitive (bad for export businesses)

Imports are more competitive (bad for local businesses)

Inflation causing inflation - employees want a raise to deal with higher costs. This increases the cost of the business which in turn will again increase price. Viscous cycle.

Question 3

Problems of unemployment

Answer 3

» Unemployed people do not produce any goods or services. The total level of output in the country will be lower than it could be.

» Opportunity cost: The government pays unemployment benefit to those without jobs. A high level of unemployment will cost the government a great deal of money. This cannot be spent on other things such as schools and hospitals.

Question 4

Repercussions if there is negative economic growth

Answer 4

» As output is falling, fewer workers are needed and unemployment will occur.
» The average standard of living of the population – the number of goods and services they can afford to buy in one year – will decline. In effect, most people will become poorer.
» Business owners will not expand their business as people will have less money to spend on the products they make.

Question 5

What happens if imports > exports

What happens if exports > imports

Answer 5

BoP deficit

BoP surplus

Question 6

Why is a BoP deficit bad

Answer 6

» The country could ‘run out’ of foreign currencies and it may have to borrow from abroad.

» Exchange rate deprecation (ch 29 deck)

Question 7

3 policies that a govt uses to achieve economic objectivies

What does each deal with

Answer 7

» fiscal policy – taxes and government spending
» monetary policy – interest rates
» supply side policies.

Question 8

Why does changing income tax affect spending

Answer 8

Influences disposable income

Question 9

Explain what happens if income tax is increased

what happens if taxes reduce

Answer 9

Less disposable income
Less money to spend
Less demand
Less sales for businesses
Businesses produce fewer goods
Unemployment

vice versa if taxes reduce
except after creating employment there could also be inflation since demand > supply.

Question 10

Why are higher profit taxes bad for business

another name

Answer 10

Cooperation tax - Lower profits after tax. Profit is a interest free debt free source of finance. Less money to reinvest in the business. Business may find it harder to expand

Also bad for the owners since their reward is reducing. Reduces the motivation to start own business.

Question 11

Negative impact of raising indirect taxes

Answer 11

make goods and services more expensive for consumers.

Since price is rising, consumers may buy fewer as a result. Reduces demand of product(s)

May lead to wage spiral since costs of goods and services are going up, real income is decreasing.

Question 12

Effects on businesses on increasing import tarrifs

Answer 12

» Businesses will benefit if they are competing with imported goods. These will now become more expensive, leading to an increase in sales of home-produced
goods.

» Businesses will have higher production costs if they have to import raw materials. These will now be more expensive.

» Retaliation from other countries

Question 13

What is retaliation (import tarrifs)
How does it affect businesses

Answer 13

Countries may now take the same action and introduce import tariffs too.

A business trying to export to these countries will probably sell fewer goods than before since their goods are more expensive there.

Question 14

When are quotas used

Answer 14

Quotas can be used selectively to protect certain industries from foreign competition that may be seen as unfair or damaging to jobs.

Question 15

What do higher interest rates do

Answer 15

More expensive to borrow money - businesses will have to delay taking loans for expansion. If they t take loans profit will reduce since they have to pay higher interest

More expensive to borrow for consumers - eg will not buy cars and homes and all.

Saving becomes more attractive (banks are giving more interest on savings) and consumer expenditure starts to fall.
Business have less demand
reduce output
Less sales and profits
Unemployment occurs

Question 16

How does increasing interest rates affect exchange rate

Answer 16

Appreciates the exchange rate (more in deck for ch 29)

Question 17

3 supply side policies

Answer 17

Privatisation
Improving training and education
Increasing competition in all industries

Question 18

Why do governments use privatization?

Answer 18

The main object of private sector firms is profit, compared to the main objective of public sector firms which is social welfare

This leads to private sector firms being more efficient, delivering goods at a lower cost and better quality. This is better for society.

Question 19

How do govts increase competition in industries

Answer 19

deregulation (removal of govt rules) + trade liberalisation (remove tarrifs and quoatas)

Question 20

Why would govts want to increase comp in industries

Answer 20

Increase efficiency of businesses
Increase quality of products
Reduce prices of products

Question 21

Why is spending on education and training a supply side policy

Answer 21

Increasing government spending on education & retraining raises the quality of the workforce.

this means that

People are more occupationally mobile - easier to get jobs. Reduces unemployment and increases productivity

Question 22

If govts increase income tax

what is a possible business decision
what are the problems with this deicison

Answer 22

Decision:
Reduce prices of products to increase demand
problem:
reduced profit. Reduces GPM

decision:
Produce cheaper products to lower prices
problem:
Brand image may take a hit

Question 23

If govts increase tariffs on imports

what is a possible business decision
what are the problems with this deicison

Answer 23

decision:
Shift focus on selling products more to the domestic market as locally produced goods now seem cheaper
problem:
Still might be profitable to export (opportunity cost)

decision:
Switch from buying imported materials and components to locally produced ones
problem:
Foreign parts may be of a higher quality compared to local.

Question 24

If govts increase interest rates

what is a possible business decision
what are the problems with this deicison

Answer 24

decision:
reduce/delay investments. Growth reduces
problem:
Other companies may continue to grow so market share could reduce

decision:
Develop cheaper products that consumers will be better able to afford
problem:
customer may think that qual is bad. Neg impact on brand image

decision:
Sell existing assets for cash to reduce loans/pay higher interest rates
problem:
Assets may be imp for future expansion but they would have sold it

Question 25

If govts increase spending

what is a possible business decision
what are the problems with this deicison

Answer 25

decision:
Switch marketing strategy to gain more public-sector contracts

problem:
May be great competition if other businesses take same action