Derivative contracts are probabilistic bets on future events, they are securities with a price that are dependent upon or derived from one or more underlying assets. Many people argue that derivatives reduce systemic problems, in that participants who cannot bear certain risks are able to transfer them to stronger hands. These people believe that derivatives act to stabilize the economy, facilitate trade, and eliminate bumps for individual participants. We have now reached the stage where those who work in finance, and many who work outside finance, need to understand how derivatives work, how they are used, and how they are priced. For this reason, derivatives are at the center of everything. However, in 2008 the world witnessed a financial and economic hurricane that left massive financial and economic damages. It was universally recognized as the worst economic crash since the Great Depression. The old saying has it that success has Continue reading
International Economics
The Baumol Model of Innovation
The main idea behind Baumols model is that Innovation is the motivating force behind the growth miracle of capitalism. In the neoclassical theory of the firm, firms compete based on price, but William Baumol argues that in a Capitalist economy innovation rather than price is the main competitive dimension and less innovative firms will find their markets shrinking as they lose business to their more innovative competitors. Thus, innovation is essential to the survival of firms in a capitalist economy. Baumol argues that innovation has replaced price as the most important factor that lies behind economic growth. He suggests that even though it has been recognized that important innovations stem from small firms, individuals or entrepreneurs, the bulk of innovative activity however is carried out by large oligopolistic firms. Baumol’s argument supports Schumpeter’s distinction between entrepreneurs led and routinized innovation. Schumpeter held that technological competition was the form of competition Continue reading
The Effects of Financial Liberalization
Financial Liberalization refers to deregulation of domestic financial market and liberalization of the capital account that implies removing the ceiling on interest rates. When it is in a liberalized system the competition between the different lending institutions for the deposits will increase interest rates on deposits which will increase the deposits. The availability of credit will increase and this will cause an increase in investment growth. The stages of growth increases activity in the financial markets that makes the introduction and the development of financial institutions. It is argued that financial institutions, by gathering and evaluating information from borrowers, allow the allocation of funds for investment plans to become more efficient and therefore encourage growth and investment. Banks have a role in the process of development. These banks gives the chance for individuals to hold their savings in the form of deposits, so lowing the need to hold them in Continue reading
Circular Flow of Income in a Three-Sector Economy and National Income Calculation
There are three main sectors of economy consists of household sectors, business sectors and government sectors. Household sector provides the factors of the production such as land, labor and capital and enterprise that the producers require to produce goods and services. They also receive payments as in rent, wages, interest and profits from the business sector. It is also stated that in general, household sector consists of the greatest number of consumers among all sectors and satisfying the wants will cause consume of their climate aim. Business sector act as a part as in receiving economy resources from household sector and in exchange for consumer expenditure, they also provide household sectors goods and services. Business sector is also given money to buy scarce economic resources from the resource market. While they’re in the product market, business sector sells their products and services, which is also the way they receives their income. To complete Continue reading
Keynesian and Classical Economists Views about Disequilibrium
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
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