Theme 4 definitions Flashcards
Absolute advantage
When a country can produce a good more cheaply in absolute terms than another country.
Absolute poverty
When people are unable to afford sufficient necessities to maintain life; those on less than $1.90 a day.
Aid
When a country voluntarily transfers resources to another or gives loans on a concessionary basis.
Appreciation
An increase in the value of the currency using floating exchange rates.
Asymmetric information
When one party has more knowledge than another; this causes market failure in the financial sector.
Automatic stabilisers
Mechanisms which reduce the impact of changes in the economy on national income.
Balance of payments
A record of all financial dealings over a period of time between economic agents of one country and another.
Buffer stock systems
When a maximum and minimum price are imposed together in order to bring about price stability.
Capital account
A part of the balance of payments; records debt forgiveness, inheritance taxes, transfers of financial assets and sales of assets.
Capital expenditure
Government spending on investment goods such as new roads, schools and hospitals, which will be consumed in over a year.
Capital flight
When large amounts of money are taken out of the country, rather than being left there for people to borrow and invest.
Common market
Members trade freely in all economic resources and impose a common external tariff.
Comparative advantage
When a country is able to produce a good more cheaply relative to other goods produced; it has a lower opportunity cost.
Current account
A part of the balance of payments; records payments for the purchase and sale of goods and services, as well as incomes and transfers.
Customs union
The removal of all tariff barriers between members and the introduction of a common external tariff.
Current expenditure
General government final consumption plus transfer payments plus interest payments.
Central banks
A financial institution that has direct responsibility to control the money supply and monetary policy, to manage gold reserves and foreign currency and to issue government debt.
Cyclical deficit
The part of the deficit that occurs because government spending fluctuates around the trade cycle.
Depreciation
A fall in the value of the currency using floating exchange rates.
Devaluation
When the currency is decreased against another under a fixed system.
Developed country
Countries with a high GDP per capita and a high standard of living.
Developing country
Countries with a low GDP per capita and a low standard of living.
Discretionary fiscal policy
Deliberate manipulation of government expenditure and taxes to influence the economy; expansionary and deflationary fiscal policy.
Economic development
Improvements in living standards.