Economists usually define general disequilibrium as the state in which contrasting market forces of supply and demand fail to reach a balance and there exist an intrinsic inclination for change. The main indicator of market disequilibrium is the continuation of shortages either in the demand or supply side of the economy. There are two main models that hold divergent views concerning disequilibrium namely the Keynesian and Classical Economists models. Generally, the major causes for disequilibrium in the markets if the deficiencies created either in the aggregate demand or aggregate supply side of the economy. This means that in such circumstances the market does not clear. Main causes of disequilibrium are understood in the light of the economic model s followed by scholars. For instance, the Keynesian theory’s causes differ from that of classical economists. For instance, following Keynesian’s view, disequilibrium arises when there are disparities between leakages and injections where Continue reading
Economics Concepts
Factors Influencing Foreign Exchange Rates
Foreign exchange rates are extremely volatile and it is incumbent on those involved with foreign exchange – either as a purchaser, seller, speculator or institution – to know what causes rates to move. Actually, there are a variety of factors – market sentiment, the state of the economy, government policy, demand and supply and a host of others. The more important factors that influence foreign exchange rates are discussed below: Strength of the Economy :The strength of the economy affects the demand and supply of foreign currency. If an economy is growing fast and is strong it will attract foreign currency thereby strengthening its own. On the other hand, weaknesses result in an outflow of foreign exchange. If a country is a net exporter (as were Japan and Germany), the inflow of foreign currency far outstrips the outflow of their own currency. The result is usually a strengthening in its value. Continue reading
Supply-Side Economics – Definition and Influencing Factors
The early 1980s saw the emergence of a new school of thought that emphasized the impact of aggregate supply on the economic growth of nations. This new school of thought was called supply-side economics. Supply-side economists argued that creating an economic environment that provided incentives for people to work and save money, and also an environment that is conducive for firms to invest and create employment would cause an increase in aggregate supply. The supply-side economists assumed that the aggregate demand of the nation was always adequate and that it would absorb the aggregate supply, thus indicating their acceptance of Say’s law. Supply-side economics, thus, laid emphasis on reduction in tax-rates and social spending, promotion of free labor markets and liberalization of economy. The supply-side economists believed that incentives and tax-rates influence the economy’s aggregate supply to a great extent. According to them, the tax-rates induce people either to produce Continue reading
Price Discrimination – Meaning and Definition
Often do we come across situations when we find that a single producer sells his product at different prices to different buyers or in different markets. This practice of charging different prices to different buyers or in different markets for the same product is called Price discrimination. According to British economist Joan Robinson, “the act of selling the same article, produced under a single control, at different prices to different buyers is called Price discrimination.” Price discrimination is a practice firms employ when they charge consumers different prices for the same good in order to earn higher profits. Price discrimination is made possible because of varying utility derived from the consumption of the same good and varying price elasticity of demand. There are 3 types of price discrimination, namely: first-degree price discrimination (perfect price discrimination), second-degree price discrimination and third-degree price discrimination. A firm is said to have practiced first-degree Continue reading
Theory of Absolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage
Theory of Absolute Advantage If one region can produce a commodity with less expense than another, and they exchange, then both should benefit. In a nutshell, this is the law of comparative advantage. It is used as the justification for WTO trade regulations. Some land grows corn better than other land. This economical insight into farming in early 18th Century was the cornerstone of the law of absolute advantage. Some farmland will yield more corn per acre than another, therefore the good land confers an absolute advantage over other regions. The conclusion drawn from this argument is that the farmer of the poor land should change products that it can produce to its absolute advantage, such as grazing sheep. The law of absolute advantage is based on the assumption that competition is the best paradigm within which to build an economy, it assumes that competition will improve production. The Continue reading
Profit Maximization Under Price Discrimination
The aim of the discriminating monopolist is to maximize profits. We can thus derive the condition of profit maximization under price-discrimination by extending the normal theory of the firm to a case where there are two or more markets instead of just one market. We can build up the theory of profit maximization on the basis of certain assumptions : There are two markets A and B. The aim of the monopolist is to maximize profits. He enjoys monopoly position in both the markets. The elasticity of demand for the product in the two markets is different (This is perhaps the most essential condition for price discrimination to be profitable). Price discrimination, according to Stonier and Hague “will be profitable only if elasticity of demand in one market is different from elasticity of demand in the other. In general, it will pay a monopolist to discriminate Continue reading