Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MICKOECONOMICS -tt2Ecor{outct
MICROECONOMICS
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Ecorcnies of Scole (EoS) ore experimced when unit a# fall as l'llc CostAdvamages
*ab of p rod wti ott fuirreo*s. . targe Firms
. Pricing power
lnternal EOS . Greater market share and market power
. Technical Economies . Non-PriceCompetition
. Specialization and Division of Labour . Greater resources available for non-price competition
. Less training is needed . Small Firms
. Simpler jobs, workers can be more efhcient . Niche Market
- lndivisibility of capitalgoods like machinery - Reach out to consumers who desire individuality and
. ' RnD to develop more efficient methods of production variety
-'ContainerPrinciple' - More personalized services
. For capital equipment for storage purposes, it tends to - i.e. small accounting firms
cost less per unit of output the larger its size . SubcontractingRelationship
-Cost related to Surface Area . Provide infrastructural support for the large firms
.Output related toVolume
. Greater Efficiency of Large Machines Prcfit Maximization
. More output can be gained for a given amount of input, MC= MR
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more efficient use of raw materials
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. i.e. 1 worker needed to operate machine, regardless of lf MC exceeds MR, profit can be increased by cutting back on
whether it is big or small , production.
. Marketing Economies lf MR exceeds MC, revenue will increase more than cost of
. Bulk Purchase for lower price and betterterms production is increased.
. Reduced transportcosts by bulkdistribution
.
.
.
Large scale advertising, lower per unit cost
Financial Economies
. Considered more credit worthy, easier to be awarded large
loans
Enjoy lower interest rates on big loans
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Short Run:
Long Run:
Shut Donn Point
Firm will shut down if revenue cannot cover
variable costs, as it can go some way to pay off
the fixed cost
All costs are variable in the long run, hence it
. Risk-BearingEconomies will shut down if AR is lowerthan LRAC
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. Larger market share, predict demand accurately
- Diversification of products to minimize potential losses
. Administrative and Managerial Economies Barriersto Entry
. Often, when firms merge, savings can be made by
rationalizing Econonries of Scale (Naunal Monopoly): Not efficient for more
. than one firm to o<ist in the industry due to lower unit cost achieved
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lnGrnaldisEOS
. ManagementDifhculties Control wer l(ey Factors of Ploductlon. lf a firm controls the
. Problems in coordination and communication supply of key inpu6 eg de Beers companyb control over diamond
. PoorWorker Morale producers, it can deny access to potential rivals.
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Homogenous Product, hence there is no branding or nongrice competition like advertising. Considered perfect suhitutes (XED = 1)
No Barriers to Entry leading to complete freedom to entry and exit. This means that if a firm is earning supernormal profit, new firms wi[. be
attracted to the industry. lndustry supply increasel causing price to fall, and hence the firm will only earn normal profits in the long run.
Perfect knowledge of the market exists. Consumerc are perfectly aware of prke, quantity and availability of product, while producers are fully
aware of prices, costs, market opportunitiet and production methods.
Short{un Equilibrium
Price: Determined by the intersection of market demand and supply. Firm faces a horizontal demand (AR) curue at the market price.
Quantit),: Maximize profitat MC=MR YIClA
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Pl'lP
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P= DD. AR
KH t{otrnq\ Pr{t
SLAL
SBAC
TKAL
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P. DD.ltta
AR
0.
ReaSnns for Existence (or Non*xistence)
For PC to exist, EOS for the industry must be very limited. PC requires numerous small firms which cannot reap EOS. lf a firm expands sufhciently
to achieve EOS, it will be able to undercut the market price and gain market power, and PC is destroyed.
Advantages
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o Allocative€fficiency
o P=MC=MarginalUtility
o Optimal Resource Allocation
o
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Productive Efficiency
o Firm producesata pointon LRAC
o Competition amongst firms spurs efhciency
o Less efficient firms will make hss than normal profits and shut down
o More efficient firms get to earn supernormal profits (until other firms copy you)
o LowCosts(LowAC)
o Desire for supernormal profit or to prevent losses supe6 innovation of new and cheaper methods of production
o No advertising costs
o Firm produces at lowest point on LRAC hence it produces at the least-cost output for the given state of technology
o Customer Sovereignty
o Customers. through the market and price signalt determine what and how much is to be produced
o Example, if demand rises, the resulting price increase will lead firms to respond to raise supply (in a bid to earn short-run profit)
o Firmscannot control price ofgoods
Disdvantages
r Dynamic lneftciency
o Firms may not have the incenti\re to develop new technology as their innovations are easily copied by rival firms
o May not have the funds for research and development
o LackofConsumerChoice
o PC lndustries produce undiffierentiated products.
High Barrie6 to Entry allow firm to earn supernormal profits in the long run without fear of new entrants into the market.
Combinotionof naturol ond artifrcialobstelesthotdeterorprevantnewfirmsfiom enteing a mo*et
Sq4rnurmo\ lrufits
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Long Run Equilibriu,m
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LA
Advantages
o Productive Efficiency
o Firm producesata pointon LRAC
o Dynamic Efficiency
o Has the funds for research and development due to supernormal profits
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o lncenti\re to innovate since techniques will not be copied by any rival firms if therc is good lP Protection
o May be able to supply a good if therc is no single price at which the producing firm can covertotal cost of production if Price Discrimination
is used ilLlA $Cm= SSf( )
F >mL t e\$q1M\
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Pm _\
?r, hrqh.rfic, \ou,ru:tP$
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.01)rc
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Lower Price and Higheroutput 0
o lF Monopoly is able to reap substantial interhal EoS
?ll)t7.,lSrc
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Pk
P-
Dlsadvantages qK:
lE=DDpc
o Allocativelylnefficient ' oPc &w. u
o Regardless of the level of output at the equilibrium, Monopolist does not achieve allocative efFciency as P>MC
r Higher Price and LouerOutput
o See Diagram
o TransfurofConsumerSurplustoPloducerSurplus
o HigherCosts(X-lnefficiency)
o No Competition, hence no impetus fior monopolist to de\relop more efficient techniques to minimize cost
o LaxCostControlssuchasoverstaffing
r Others
o Can practice price discrimination, which not only benefits the monopolist more, but also cause inequalities as some people have
to pay more
Oligopoly
Few Dominant Firms, each with significant market share.
Mutual lnterdependence of Firms and firms have to consider the reactions of other firms in decision making'
price Stability, hence firms competitive via non-price methds like advertising where the firms aim to increase market share, through:
A. Product De\relopment and lnnovation
Firms must continuously seek out new products to provide it the competitive edge to
increase demand for its products'
B. Marketing, Advertisement and Promotions
demand for the
Attempt to create a consumer perception of product differentiation even when there is noL to increase
product. P/hlL
Disadvantages
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lCollusive Oligopoly has similar cosVbenefit to Monopolyl ?L
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Competitive Oligopoly:
May harre less scope for Economies of Scale than that of monopoly.
Higher costs of Advertising
Advantages
Ha\re the incentive as vrell as the funds for research and innovation.
Greater choice due to product differentiation
Demand Curve
The firms act as a single firm or monopoly, will set a price or quantity at Assumptions:
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the intersection of the industry MC and MR curve. No Collusion, Product is Homogenous
Rival Firms will match decrease but not increase
lf the firm raises price, rival firms will not follow hence the original firm
will suffer a fall in revenue. Hence, it is price elastic above current price'
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lf the firm lowers price rival firms will follow. Hence, while sales volume
will increase, revenue falls. Hence it is price inelastic below current
price. P/./a
AR
Firms keep to the price set by an established leader, often the most However, it does not o<plain how initial equilibrium price and quantity
dominant firm or the most reliable one. are reached.
Price rigidity can be due to other causes such as high menu costs
(costs
involved in re-printing labels, printing new brochures etc)
ComPetftive - PriceWars
Aim: To generate higher revenue and more profit than when a uniform is charged.
Conditions Requircd:
price.
Monopoly power, so that consumers cannot turn to ahemative suppliers. lt must also be able to set its own
Mvantages / Dlsadvantages
beneficial if the loweled price is for groups who are unabh to
Sorne consumers will have to pay more, while others pay less. May be socially
afford the servke previously.
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to slash prices in other'
Monopolies may use price dixrimination to dri\re consumers out of business, using profits from one region
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if the profits are spent in research and innovation' it
Raises monopoly profits, whkh may be an undesirable reallocation of income in society, but
may lead to lower costs in the future.
First Degtcc:
euh ansumer for eoclt upitthe maximum price which tltat consumet is willing lo pqy fot that unif-
When o fum charges
KH orips\ i61'6515
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Fr(, -----i DD 'AK,= r''ttt
There is a complete loss in total consumer surplus.
Not practical in the real world, as it is impractical to charge every it different price. and 6rms do not know the price each customer is
willingto pay.
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t[ //* 2 t], ,
monqrtlql rs s\ll 4\a\t I €"1\
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totrr\ \tsS 4
n vmo./{.PwroYvnc'\ Pn}rts
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SecondDegrce:
Whmofirmchorges so manyunitspurdtad,ond odifferent(normally lower) pricefor thenantsomarry uniEputchased.
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ThirdDegrce:
priceto consuners in
Whq ofirm divides con*mers inu differentgtoups and charges a different priceto consumers in diflerent grwps, buttlp. mme
FR
-\v
from one market to another'
Note: MR must be the same fota\l markets, otherwise revenue couU Gincrcased by reallocating resources
B.ll*ionahatio
For natural monopolhs of strategk national intercsts, they can be Price Output unchanged
Monopoly Profit-per-unit &reased
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nationalized by ttle state. The state is not profitdrirren, hence will be
able to produce at the allocati\relyeff€ient level of drtput Redistribution of incorne from monopoly to go\rernment
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C.tGPrfdng F.SpeciicTax
Settingthe Prkeat P= MC lncreases Variabb Costs (AC, MC Shifs Upwards)
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Results:
L*er
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firm to stayefficbnt
Flence, normal profits are earned in tlre long run as firms are forced to
AC lcwer costs, and firms have the impetus to produce as efficiently as
possible.
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Evaluetion
Does not take into accouflt the possible reactions of the established
Price Loryuercd. Output Higher firmtas cunent firms may adopt an aggt€ssive stance and threaten
Reduces Allocative Etrrciency newromers with prke wars, hence becorning an entry deterrent as
Monopoly eams normal profir welL
. Economic Efficiency
l-
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. lncludes both allocative and productive efficiency
. Production on a Point on the PPC
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!-
.SMC=SMB
. Goals of Firms \,
. Maximize Profit ftdur,t ,;'
. Goals of Government ,/,
- Maximize Social Welfare
Macroeconomic Goals
. Sustainable Economic Growth
. Both Actual and Potential Growth
. Low lnflation Rates (2%- 5%) Showing Economic Gtowtlr via AD/AS
. Full Employment /i
AD AD'
GrL tt _.> As,'
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. Zero Cyclical and Structural Unemployment
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. Stable Exchange Rate
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ECOilOMICGROWTH i
. lncreased Levels of Consumption GDR Total market value of all final goods and services
.
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PromotesSocialWelfare GttlR Total market value of all final goods and services
. More Equitable lncome Redistribution produced by factors of production owned by residents,
. Under a progressive tax system, tax revenue will during a specified period.
increase when incorne increase
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. Governrnent can spend more on social weffare Market Price Factor Cost
programs
Price purchasers have to PaY Refers to what the factors of
. Reduces Unemployment
for the goods and services production received for the
. lncrease in AD will help reduce ryclical goods and services
sold on the market
unemploynent
. Potential growth due to increase in productivity lncludes indirect tax lncludes subsidies
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SOL: Quality of life, encompassing both material and non material well being. Material well being refers to the quantity and
quality of goods and services available, while non-material well being includes social factors like working hourt stress
and pollution.
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increase in real GDP will indicate a rise in
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output, and hence SOL
Populations tend to change over time, and
thus an increase in GDP may not indicate an lf population increases faster than real
increase in an individual's share of national
Changes in Population national income, individua13 share of Nl will
income.
be falling even if GDP t
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GDP per capita should be used instead.
lf a large proportion of the increase in GNP is
due to higher spending on deftnse or space
exploration, SOL would not have increased.
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GDP measures a country's output, and thus
includes both consumption goods and A rise in Nl that arises from a rise in exports
Composition of GNP/GDP
investment goodt but SOL is onlyaffected by does not correspond to a rise in SOL ff income
consumption goods. generated is not spent on consumer imports
consumer
lncrease in GNP may not be equitably
distributed to the people / sectors, thus one
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cannot say that the average person is better lf the small majority (the rich) reaps in most of
off. the benefits from the increase in Nl, while the
Distribution of GNP/GDP
majority remain poor, the SOL of the average
lndicators like the Gini Coefficient are needed person would not have increased.
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GDP does not measure intangibles which Rising Nl and production leading to higher
affect the quality of life and the general well levels of pollution willcause SOL to fall.
being of the society at large. (non-material
Social Factors
well being) Rising Nl due to increased productivity from
an increase in working hours mayactually
Other indicators like HDI and KlLlare needed cause SOL to fall.
C.an we conclude that one country has a higher/lower SOLiust because it has a higher/lower GDP?
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Differences in Composition of Nl may be lower but production is concentrated
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on consumer goods and services
Lower Living standards despite a high GNP
Differences in Distribution of lncome may be due to greater inequality in the
distribution of income
Higher output may be accompanied by higher
Differences in External Costs
AE=C+G+l+(X-M)
There is only one level of national income where AE equals the total value of goods and savices prcduced.
Equilib,rium Level of National lncome is the level of Nl which, when reached, will be maintained until further disturbed
Aggregate Expenditurc is the total planned expenditure on goods and services in an economy.
Consumption(C)=a+bY
a:Autonomous Consumption, minimal amount of consumption that households will still spend on even if Y = 0
bY lncome-lnduced Consumption, consumption that increases as income increases (b: MPC)
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Represents the gradient of the Consumption Function
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DeErminants:
l. Wealth
'....91
i. More Accumulated Wealth, tC
2. General Price Level
,- --'
bruktrr-t pcrrrt
3.
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i.
ii.
lncrease Price Level
Erodesthe real valueof income, Cl
ftpectationsaboutFuturelncome
i.
Expect Rising lncomet 1C now
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4. Consumer Credit
i. Lower interest rate, lower cost of borrowing, tC
5. Distribution of lncome
6. Taxes
i. lncrease in tax lowers disposable income, thus Cl
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lnvestment (l): Expenditure over a given period on the production of capital goods and on net additions to stock of goods
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I{OTE Changes in I increases Nl by a magnified amount the multiplier, but also inoeases LRAS and Productive Capacity
Firms aim to maximize profits, and thus they will only invest if the expected rate of return is greater than the expected rate of
interest. As such, there is an inverse relationship between interest rate and level of investment, as shown by the MEW curve.
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MEI Determinants:
/r 1. BusinessExpectations
l. Business Optimism: Expected rate of return higher, I t
2. BusinessPessimism:MceVersa
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Government E<penditurc (G) represents the current spending and capital spending by the government on the provision of
social goods and services. lt is assumed that G is autonomous.
Net Eeorts (X-M) refers to the difference between the value of exports and values of imports, and is dependent on external
factors which are often beyond the control of governments. lt is also assumed to be autonomous.
AE =Y
*r =t Below Full Employment Deflationary Gap
. Shortfall of AE below Nl at the full employment level
.--- - AE" . Situation of Economic Recession
. Deficient Demand causes unemployment
...-' -''l)"
Above Full Employment lnflationary Gap
Excess of AE over Nl at the full employment level
No spare capacity
Any shift in AE only causes demand pull inflation
Rise in Nominal GDP but no rise in Real GDP
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-1er.
Multiplier Effect
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The rise in AEwill cause o mognified change in Nl based on the multiplier ratio (k),wherek= ANI / AAE = I/MPW = l/ (l-Mrc)
Normal Multiplier:
Reverse Multiplier:
Assuming that Singapore has an MPC of 0.5 and a resulting MPS of 0.5, a leakage of 540 million will have the following effects. ln
the first itage of thi multiplier, Nl will contract by an initial amount of S40 million, and this will cause a decrease in income of the
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people, whowill in tum deqease consumption by S20 million, and another S20 million is lost in savings.The second stage of the
multiplier will cause the Nl to fall by a further S20 million due to the lowered consumption, and this in turn will decrease the
consumption of the people by a further 510 million. The third stage will see the Nl contracting by another 510 million, and the
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cycle wiil continue until the equilibrium national income is reached again. As such the total contraction of Nl is 580 million, as
AR
themultiplierk=2.
Hlgh MPM:
goods as Singapore herself lack natural resources.
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Definition Shows the inverse relationship between price lerrel Amount of goods and services all firms in the
and real equilibrium output at which planned economy are willing to supply at different price
expenditure equals actual income leraels over some given time, usually a year
Sraph
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Slope of Gmph Downward Sloping Three Ranges
Fall in domestic price levels will Keynesian Range: Excess Capacity
' lncrease PP of S + Ct lntermediate Range: Some Supply bottleneck
Classical Range: No Excess Capacity
' Exports more competitive + Xl
LabourForce
lnfation
A sustained increose in generol price level
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Type of lnflation Demand Pull lnfiation:tAD exceeds 1A5, economy Cost Push lnfation: Caused by JAS (SMS) due to
with limited/no excess capacity rising Cost of Production
Profit Push
Firms use market power to raise prices and extract
more profits
Tax Push
Adds to cost of living
Firms raise prices to ofBet costs
Graph
T,,'
lx '-
rl
t\ \<
rl--++-
'lf -
l- (lrP
Fixed lncome Earners suffer, as their real income falls while Variable lncome Earners do not.
Firms benefit during DPI as profits increase. but suffer during CPI as profits diminish
Savers suffer as the real value oftheir savings decrease
Debtors gain because the value of the loan will be less in real terms
Effects on Unemployment Reduces Unemployment lncreases Unemployment
Effects on Allocation Results in Misallocation of Resources due to distortion of price signals in the market. E.g, Producers may be
unable to distinguish normal price increase from real price increase as such they may end up producing
more even though real prices might not have changed.
Renders unneeded administrative cots to keep up with the constant change in nominal values (menu costs)
Effects on Balance ofPayments Px l, causing Qd J as exports lose their competitiveness in the foreign market.
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Demand for imports increase as foreign goods are cheaper than domestic goods
Falling Export Revenue, Rising lmport Expenditure (this assumes PED > 'l )
BOP Deteriorates
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Effects on Currency Value Falling BOP Causes Exchange Rates to weaken
Continuous High lnflation may also erode investorS confidence, and thus are likely to pull their capital out of
Savings are also encouraged, as lnterest Rate > lnflation Rate. and thus increasing funds for investment i
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Exports more competitive if inflation rate is lower than that of other countries. Quantity Demanded of Exports increase (more than
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proportionately if PED > 1 ), increasing Export Earnings, lmproving BOP and Strengthening the Exchange Rate
The Singapore Scenario
Prices of certain essential items like cooking oil, bread, milk and other diary products have gone up significantly over the past year
. Snowstorm in China disruptsfood supply,causing supplyshocks
Import Price Push lnflation
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Unemployment
Refers to the number of people of working oge who are without worh but willing and oble to toke up employnent
The labour force refers to oll within working age, who are willing and oble to work ond are either employed or seeking employment
llnemployment Rote = No. of Unemployment / Lobour Force x 100%
Full Employnent iswhen the economy hos no qlclical unemployment
Cyclical Unemployment
Cause Demand Deficient, Decrease in AD such as during the downswing
Firms find that they cannot sell at current outpuL so stock pile up
Firms thus cut back on proportion and fire workers
Policy Raise AD through fiscal and monetary policies
Structural Unemployment
Cause Changing structure of the economy causes mismatch between worker's skill and job requirements.
This can be caused by a change in the pattern of demand or methods of production. lt arises when
changes in technology or international competition change the skills needed to perform or change
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the location ofjobs.
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Poliry Provide finance of unemployed workers who wish to acquire new skills that are currently in
demand
Steer the education system towards the needs ofthe economy.
Supply Side Policies (Shift AS)
Seasonal Unemployment
Cause
Policy
countries. KH
Unemployment that varies with the season or weather, predominantly occur in temperate
Usually not a serious problem unless economy is heavily dependent on those industries
Diversifu its industries
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Frictional Unemploynrent
Cause It takes time for workers to match with suitable jobs flmperfect lnformation]
Not a cause of concern, may be good as a better match between workers and job after sorne
deliberation would mean the economy becomes more efficient
Policy lmprove Job lnformation services by providing job centers
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Effectsof Unemployment
Loss of Production and lncome
Decrease in an economy's actual output, possibly causing deflationary gap
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Fiscal Policy
through Tax or Government Expenditure
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taxfalls. Reduce disposable income of the individual.
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lndirectTaxes is one where the incidence of the tax can be
shifted from the seller from the seller to the buyer. lt shifts the
supply curve of goods, and they reduce the real value of
income through the rise in prices
Purpose
Raise Revenue for government to finance its expenditure,
including the provision of goods and services not efficiently
produced bythe market
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Provision of Public and Merit Goods
lncome Effect Higher taxes force people to work more so lncome and Wealth Distribution
that they have to cut down less on consumption .
Expenditure on health, educational services etc benefit
. Substitution Effect Higher taxes encourage people to mainly the poor, thus reducing extent of the inequalities
work less as an extra hour taken in leisure involve a of income and wealth distribution
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Fiscal Policy
limitations & uses
Expansionary Fiscal Policy increase G ond/or decrease tox so os to boost AD, AE ond Nl, reducing cyclical unemployment
Contractionory Fixal Policy entoils o reduction in G ond/or increasing tax so os to reduce AD ond demand-pull inflation
Limitations Uses
Remedyfor:
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investment It con anly solve cyclicol unemployment. Structural and ond
fiictionol unemployment would require Supply Side Policies
Limitations of tax cuts
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May not stimulate consumption if only viewed as temporary lnfation
measures. lnvestment is also dependent on business outlook Contractionary Fiscal Policy can be reduce Demand Pull
as well, and thus tax cuts with a bleak economic outlook may lnflation by causing AD to decrease
not stimulate investment
Relative lnfrexibility
Much of government expenditure is tied down to long term
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Cannot solve cost push inflotion, requires SS Policies
SlowGrowth
contracts, and budgets are only drawn up once a year. Expansionary Fiscal Policy can bring about actual economic
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gromh byincreasing AD.
Time Lags
For sustoinoble non-inflationarygrov,tth, shifts in AS brought
Sizeof Multiplier obottt bySS policies ore olso needed
Small k means that increasing AE will only cause a small
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increase in Nl, limiting the effuctiveness of fiscal policy to raise lncome Disparity
output and employment Progressive income tac the provision of merit and public good
and the provision of transfer payments will aid in the
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. Skills Development Fund grants or tax incentives
. lncrease inflow of skilled and
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. CosBbecomeaburdenon . lncrease Productivity in tandem
unskilled foreign labour
. Resentmentfrom Local Workerc
government budget with wages
. Resistance in acquiring new skills - Resistonce in acquiring new skills
. lncreaseCompetition ond hence
- (t6n4t, ds$ln on 6rms urlh rrvrqotu{tt efficiency
- Social Problems likeCrime
P(rn'16
guidance . Possibleunemployment .
Education has a high gestation
. Conditional welfare benefits (e.9. period (LongTerm)
recipient must make concerted
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Savingsand lnvestment
effort to find employment) Price and lncome Policy
. lmperfect information if employerc do . Short-Term SS-Side Policy . High level of domestic savings
provide funding for lnvestment
not publish full list of requirements - Legislation to block wage rise through CPF and POSB
. Price Controls (e.9. Price Ceiling) . Encourage FDI through tax holidays
- Block Market . Wooing by EDB
.
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Wage Freezes
- Distort market forces in the lobour
R&D
morket
. Encourage R&D via subsidies,
- Confrontations with trade union
preferential tax treatment and
grants
Monetarv Policv
lnterest Rate Centere'd Monetary PSlicy
Monetary Policy is the deliberate attempt by the Central Bonk to regulate the money supply or monipulating the rote of interest to
influence economic octivity so os to ochieve the mocroeconomic gools.
0(y ahn'or*y
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The Liquidity Preference Curve - Money Supply and Money Demand Diagram
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lncrease in Money Supply Decrease in Money Supply
. lnterest Rate Falls .lnterest Rate lncreases
. Cost of Borrowing Decreases . Cost of Borrowing lncreases
. lncrease in Consumption . Decrease in Consumption
. .
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lncrease in lnvestment (MEl Curve) Decrease in lnvestment
. Rate of Return > lnterest Rate . Rate of Return > Interest Rate
. lncrease AD . DecreaseAD
. Magnified increase in Nl 'Deutasctn CrPL
Purpose
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Reduce Cyclical Unemployment Stimulate Economic Growth Reduce Demand Pull lnflation
Limitations
. Responsiveness of Demand for Money to lnterest Rate
. lnterest Elastic Small change in MS cause significant fall in lR
-People hold money for transactions and precautionary reasons
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. Size of Multiplier
. lncrease in C and I increases AE, and thus Nl will increase in proportion to the multiplier k
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Note: Open Market Operations (OMO): Purchase and sale of government bonds by the Central Bank in the money and capital
market to alter the money supply in the economy. Selling bonds will reduced the money supply, while the buying of bonds will
increase the money supply.
0t! "t s
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Expansion of Money Supply under the Liquidity Trap will not cause the interest rate to fall, and hence it will not lead to
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additional expenditure.
Supply of Money increases from Q to Q' but lnterest Rate remains constant at R.
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A liquidity trap occurs when low / zero interest rates fail to stimulate consumer spending and monetary policy becomes
ineffective. ln this situation, even an increase in the money supply could fail to increase spending because interest rates
can't fall further.
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A liquidity trap means consumers' preference for liquid assets (cash) is greater than the rate at which the quantity of money is
growing. So any attempt by policymakers to get individuals to hold non{iquid assets in the form of consumption by
increasing the money supply won't work.
For a long tlme, the ma€ro-economy was managed by changing interest rates. So it is quite a shock for policy makers to
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experience a situation where their main policy tool was no longer sufficient. Hence the range of unorthodox monetary and
fiscal policies. r
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(banks would be paying you to borrow money). There have been attempts to create a negative interest rates (e.9.
destroy money in circulation but in practice it is rarely implemented.
. Preference for Saving . Liquidity traps occur during periods of recessions and a gloomy economic outlook.
Consumers, firms and bank are pessimistic about the future, so they look to increase their precautionary savings
and it is difficult to get them to spend. This rise in the savings ratio means spending falls. Alsc in recessions banks
are much more reluctant to lend. Also, cutting the base rate to 0olo may not translate into lower commercial bank
lending rates as banks just don't want to lend.
. Credit Crunch. Banks lost significant sums of money in buying subprime debt which defaulted. Therefore, they are
seeking to improve their balance sheets. They are reluctant to lend so even if firms and consumers want to take
advantage of low interest rates, banks won't lend them the money.
. Unwillingness to hold bonds. lf interest rates are zero, investors will expect interest rates to rise sometime. lf
interest rates rise, the price of bonds falls (due to inverse relationship between bond yields and bond prices)
Therefore, investors would rather keep cash savings than hold bonds.
Reasons Features
I . Small Size Limited Resourcet Openness to Trade l. Managed using a Basket of Curtencies
a. l,leed to import daity necessities and raw materials
b. Small Dornestic Market 2. Managed Float Regime
c. (X+M)=4xGDP a. Exchange Rateallowed tofluctuatewithin an
d. Need to maintain stable exchange rate to keep out cost- undisclosed band
push inflation and maintain reasonable cost of living
e. Adjusting interest rate would result in a volatile o<change 3. Reviewed Periodically
rate and thus might affect trade and investor confidence
4. Relinquish control over interest rate and money supply as
2. Openness to Capital Flow wlren MAS inten enes to buy or sel] domestic currency in
I
a. lnternational Financial Centre the forex markeL money supply witl fall or rise respectively.
AN
b.Small changes in domestic interest ratewill cause large
capital movement
c. EG lf interest rate falb investon will withdraw money
and save in bank of another country with higher interest
rates => Capital Outflow
techanism
KH
LA
Combatlnflation CombatRecession
Gradual Appreciation of SGD during Economic Boom Depreciah against the USD
. Exports beconre relatively cheaper
Cheaper lmports . lf PED of Exports > 1 (Price Elastic)
Reduce lmport Price hrsh lnflation .Fall in Pwill cause a morethan proportionate
M
increase in QD
Expensirte Exports .Export Revenue lncreases
Reduce Dx -> AD Falls -> Reduce DD Pull lnflation . lmpors become relativeli more expensive
.
RI
OR
uimitatinns
Elasticity of Export Dernand and lmport Demand
. DOUBLECHECKWITHTUTORIAL
Transrnission lags
. Takes time for changes in exchange rate to work
. Short Run: Temporary worsening of BOP
. Demand for Exports and lmports not price sensitive
lmperftct Knowledge
Shared by Benjamin Ng
On owlcove.sg
Distributed by A. KARIM LAKHANI (0333-TUTOR 4U) (0333- 888 67 48) (www.tutor4u.com.pk) Page:20
Distributed by A. KARIM LAKHANI (0333-TUTOR 4U) (0333- 888 67 48) (www.tutor4u.com.pk)
H2 EcoNoMrcs
MAcRoECoNoMrcs
.E
v
Excharg3"*?le Policy
a. The o<change rate of the dornestic currency shows the l. Changes in demand for exports and imports
price of domestic currency in terms of foreign currency 2. Capital Flows,short run and long run
b. One country's currency is only legal tender in that country 3. Changres in domestic prices relativeto pricesabroad
c. Determined by intersection of demand and supply of 4. Relative economic perforrnance of the country
curency i. lmportsdependonYED
a. Demand for currency is a derived demand 5. Changes in the relative interest rate
b. EErived form foreigner's demand for our goods and i. lf domestic interest rates rise
services and financial assets a. Attract furds for abroad, hence DD increases
c. Supply deriried from local3 demand for imported goods b. Locals discouraged from transftrring their funds
o\rerseas
6. Anticipation in exchange rate movements
I
AN
::.:,.:;,:;,,:;iff :i.*iffi .iljiiffi
Govem ment sr;ts an upryr and bwer limit
Th e gwm nent rate
m ai ntafuv th e fi xed Rate of exchonge of one country's cunency
toexchange ratefor the currency and
by buying or selling ifscunentin thefora< is determind frely @ mo*et forces of
allows the cunency to fluctuote within
ma*et using reseles to o<aaly oM the
dtanges in ma*et demand ond supply.
Ad\rantages:
KH
demand ond supply intheforeign
exchange market.
Advantages:
npves bepnd the bond.
Disadvantages:
1. No Automatic BOP adjustment to
correct disequilibrium Disadvantages:
Disadvaritages:
2. Need to maintain foreign reserves 1. Lack of confidence due to volatility
1. Need to maintain foreign exchange
2. lncreased Speculative Activity
AR
AD and hence allorrring growth I satisfied, will cause import expenditure to fall and export
2. Stable Exchange Rate encourages more investrnent I revenue to rise, reducing deficit
3. Low exchange rate may attract long term investments I
due to lourcr costs of setting up operations | 4. Manage lnflation
4. Expectation ofapp reaction can attract inffow ofhot l. ln economies which are open to trade they are highly
money susceptible to import-price push inflation
2. Appre{iation of currency keeps import price low
2. Reduce Unemployment preventing imported infl ation
. Wder Consumer Choice and GreaterVariety FreeTrade: Exchange of goods and services between
. Higher SOL countries without any artificial restrictions.
. Efficiency in production and LowWorld Prices
. Economies of Scale (LRAC Falls) Specialization and trade will lead to an efficient allocation of
. lmport Cheapest Raw Materials => COP falls world resources, and nations will be able to consume at
. Factor Price Equalization points beyond the countrY's PPC
. E.g. Demand for labour in will rise in labour-abundant
countries like lndia if they specialize in labour intensive Higher OutpuL Efficiency, Lower Costs and lmproved Welfare
goods, pushing up wage rates, closing the wage gap
I
between them and those of the developed world Note: Benefits of Trade still aPPlY.
AN
. lncreased Competition and Prevention of Monopolies
. Promote Economic EfficiencY
. lnnovation and Transfer ofTechnology
. Competition encourages entrepreneurship to improve
competitiveness
-
.
. Tech transfer from Advanced to Developing nations
"Engine of Growth"
Political, Social, Cultural Advantages
KH
LA
A country has Abslute A&nntuge if she can produce more of A country hos Compomtive Mvanfuge if she con produce the
thegoodthon the other countries using the some amount of good at a lower opportunity cost thon another country
rcsources
ffigestate5thattradecanbenefitallcountriesiftheyspecializeinthegoodsinwhichthey
have a comparative advantage.
M
Limitations: i
. Law of lncreasing Opportunity Costs
RI
. TransportCosts
- Protectionism, Protecting domestic industries which do not have CA\
A.
I Export Price lndex/ lmport Price lndex ] x 100 Export Revenue (X) - lmport Expenditure (M)
note: TOT = 'l 00 in base year
lmprovement ofTOT: A given unit of exports can now PoSitive Trade Balance SurPlus
exchange for more imPorts Negative: Trade Balance Defi cit
Protectionism
I nternational Trade Part Two
Arguments Evaluation
lnaccurate identification of lnfant lndustries
Protection of lnfant lndustry lnfant lndustries may fail to develop CA
lnfant industriel having potentialCA cannot survive Duration of Protection - lnfant industries might become
competition from abroad. Protectionism will thus allow the complacent or inefficient due to lack of exposure to
industryto develop competition.
Consumer Suffert Domestic Resources tied up
I
prices and make consumers worse off.
have to pay higher prices
AN
- Monopoly Argument unsupported (only a hypothesis)
. Protection may be difficult to remove once introduced
Protection of Sunset lndustries . Slow down the restructuring process
Protect industries who have lost their CA to create a buffer for . Prolong inefficient use of resources
.
workers and prevent massive structural unemployment.
.
IM
Protection to improve TOT . Unlikely to work unless country has buying power
Restriction of imports mayforce foreign producers to lower
prices, improvingTOT
- Probable retaliation by trading partners
K
I
Quotas
AN
Legal timit on the quontity of imports over a given period of time lndirect form of protection given domestic producers to lower
the actual cost of production allowing them to become more
Limit the amount of imports to a quantity that is less than that competitive.
under free trade and prices of imports will also rise.
lmport restrictions include complex import regulations,
Does not earn revenue, effectiveness does not depend on
PED but foreigners may gain by raising prices.
Economic lntegration
lnternational Trade Part Three
AR
Operate as a single market, lifted restrictions on trade in all Harmonizing monetary and fiscal policy of member countries.
servicet capital and labour movement. May have common Common currency and Exchange Rate
laws government production, employment and trade.
A.
Advantages Disadvantages
. Trade Diversion
:Trade diverted from a more efficient non-member
producer to a less efficient but tariff-free member of the
Trade Creation, lncreasing Welfare economic unit
Greater Output Levels and Extended Market . Loss ofTariffRevenue
. Free movement of FOP allow FOP to move from areas of . No net increase inTrade
abundance to scarcity - TradeDeflection
. trlew ideat technology and skills flourish . lmports enter the FTA via the country with lowest
. Larger Market - Allow firms to grow and gain EOS external tariff and is then sold to other countries within
lmprovement of TOT the FfA
. a CU, through common external tariffs, has greater . Loss of tariffrevenue
economic power for a reduction in tariffs by non-member . Countered by complex rules of origin which ensure that
nations only goods produced within the FfA are tariff free
. Loss of Economic lndePendence
. Each member must consider policies of the Union
limiting thefreedom of economic policies
Globalization
lnternational Trade Part Four
The growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through inoeosing volume ond voriety of cross-border transoctions in
goods, services and free intemationalcopital and lobour flows.
Equalization of COP
- Take resourcesand goodsfrom
where they are cheap to where they
Realization of a global common market:
. Worldwide and broader access to
.
are expensive
Faster Catchup by the developing
Erode differences in
range of foreign products countries due to the speed of
. Movement of Resources
and living standard
technology transfer and information
. Firms have access to resources not Contagion Effects
- Transmission of shock from one Stronger and Faster Contagion Effects
only within their country
country to another
lncrease in information flow between
I
geographically remote locations
AN
Policy lmplications
lnterest Rate Centered Monehry Poliry Exchange Rate Centered Monetary Policy
. NotSoEffective
.
-
.
LostControl overCapital Flow
Lost of independency of use of lnterest Rate
lnflation less sensitive to domestic demand, more
.
KH
Effective
.
.
lncreased shares of imports made CPI more responsive
to changes in world prices
Higher risk of lmport-Price Push lnflation, makes policy
LA
sensitive to global demand conditions more effective
Fiscal Policy SupplySide Policy
. NotSo Effective
. LowerTaxes on imports and corporate Profit
. Might be able to gain higher tax revenue in economic Effuctive
IM
Benefi* Costs
. Growing lncome Gap
Economics of Scale
. Wages of lowly skilled labour will generally grow
slower than that of highly skilled labour
Greater Competition
. Erosion of Monopoly Power
. Contagion Effeets
. Promotes Efficiency
- Crisis in one country will affect all other countries.
. Prevents Exploitation
. Companies outsourcing to locations with lower labour
costs
lncreased access to Resources like Foreign Talent and
Labour, which complement Singapore3 small domestic
. Stiff Competition from other countries who have greater
resources etc.
worKorce (low birth rate)
Other Benefits of Free Trade / Economic lntegration
. Need to increase budget for R&D in order to stay
competitive
. More Susceptible to import-price-push inflation
. Singapore stands most to gain from Globalization due to our heavy reliance on FDI and Trade but Globalization also makes
us most Vulnerable to the the ups and downs of Trade Cycles and the World Economy.
I
e.g. MNCs build plants in Singapore
AN
interest
2. portfolio lnvestment (Net) - Plurchase or sale of Company Shares and Government Bonds to earn
rate (bonds) or earn dividends (shares)
of
3. other lnvestment (Net) - shortTerm lnvestments or Monetary Flow' Normally used to take advantage
differences in interest rates or expected trends in Exchange Rate
KH
Note: Financial Account Surplus may cause Current Account Deficit'
. Sell Domestic Currencyto buy Foreign Currencies . Diffurent Rate of Growth between Countries
. Depreciationof ExchangeRate . Faster Economic Growth, lmports will rise faster than
. Exports Cheaper - More Competitive ' Exports as lmports depend on lncome
. lmPorts ExPensive - Qd Decreases . LongTerm Structural Changes
. BOP lmProves . Emergence of Trading Block, Development of
. Exchange rate will continue to depreciate until BOP Substitutes, Moving up the value chain towards
Equilibrium is reached exports of new growth industries
. Stimulate Nl
Other Policies
I
. ExchangeControls
AN
. Restrict lmportand Capital . Special Assistanceto Exporters
Outflow . Provide information and assistance
De{ationary Policies . Disadvantages to develop new export markets
. Tight Monetary Policy . Forgoes benefits offreetrade . ExpertAssistanceto hasten the
. . Shelters domestic producers, documentation needed for exports
.
Contractionary Fiscal Policy
ReduceADand Nl
. lncome Falls
.
.
Demand forlmports Reduced
Demand for Domestically
.
. KH
breed ineffi ciency, complacency
Retaliation from other countries
PEDm>1
. Export Guarantee Scheme
. Fora small premium,the
government pays the exporters
for goods sold abroad should the
rorergn rmponers oeray paymenrs
LA
Produced Goods fall
.
Exports Encouraged Denaluation of Domestic Currency
. Advantages . For Fixed Exchange Rate Regimes
. Causes Domestic lnflation Rateto . Lowered Exchange Rate
Fall, increasing price . Exports Cheaper, Qd lncreases
competitiveness and demand for . lmports Expensivg Qd Falls
IM
exports . Conditions
. Rise in lnterest Rates (MP) attracts . Marshall-Lerner Condition must
funds for portfolio investment be satisfied
purposet increasing levels of . Country must have spare capacity
AR
lnflation
external goals of BOP Balance . J-Curve Effuct
. Best used to combat lnflation and - Demand for X and M may not
BOP defi cit simultaneously be price sensitive
.
A.
J-Curve
I
Exports PED <
AN
1
Erain Drain (Problem of Globalization) High Value Added, Low Substitutes
Sinsapore losins zr-5 its population
T:ffi::130%of lmports PED <1
We import everything, so no substitutes xD
Major Government Eteenditure
20 billion in Circle Llne
8 billion North South Expressway
Major lnvestments
KH
5 billion lntegrated Resorts
LA
1.2 Billion Worlds Largest Biodiesel Plant - Finland3 Neste Oil
BOP
Not external debt since 1 995
M
ElgortGoods:
Contributes >3096 of theWorld's HDD Output
Seagate has also put its Factory of the Future and future R&D
of its U-series HDD in Singapore
Leading Semiconductor wafer fabrication with 14 Fabs
Third Largest Oil Refining Centre in the World
largest Manufacturer of Jack-up Oil Rigs
Second largest aviation maintenance repair and overhaul
centre in fuia
Tourism
l& MICE (Meetingg lncentive Travel, Convention, Exhibitions)
Tourism lndustry