Category: Economics: Ch 21
Rapid economic growth in China has pushed inflation to an 11-year high of 8.7% in February 2008. This was driven significantly by higher food prices, with the price of pork rising by nearly 64%. This higher level of inflation has led to concerns that policy may need to be tightened.
Sweet and sour pork The Economist (13/3/08)
China inflation hits fresh high BBC News Online (11/3/08)
Chinese inflation alarms authorities Guardian (11/3/08)
Chinese warn on decade-high inflation Times Online (5/3/08)
Chinese inflation shoots to 11-year high Times Online (11/3/07)
China tries to apply brakes to economy Guardian (4/3/08)
Questions
| 1. |
What are the main causes of rising inflation in China? |
| 2. |
Assess the extent to which policy needs to be tightened to counter the rising level of inflation in China. What would be the possible downsides of such a policy? |
| 3. |
Discuss possible policy changes that could be implemented by the Chinese government to reduce the level of inflation. |
China’s rate of inflation has hit an 11-year high, partly due to the cold winter weather destroying crops and pushing up food prices. However, inflationary pressure has been growing for some time with rapid economic growth and the resultant pressure on resources. This is despite six increases in interest rates in the past thirteen months.
Families feel pinch as inflation threatens economic miracle Guardian (25/2/08)
Chinese inflation soars to an 11-year high Times Online (20/2/08)
Chinese inflation hits 11 year high Times Online (19/2/08)
Questions
| 1. |
Explain the principal factors that have led to the increase in inflation in China. |
| 2. |
“Policymakers in China will likely try to tighten monetary policy further, with more reserve requirement ratio hikes, faster Chinese yuan appreciation, and more heavy handed controls over bank lending.” Discuss the likely effectiveness of these policy measures. |
| 3. |
Assess the extent to which changes in food prices will affect the overall level of aggregate demand in the Chinese economy. |
Concerns have been growing that the UK faces a downturn in economic growth during 2008. The articles below consider this possibility. With a credit crunch taking place and manufacturing output falling, the concerns for a recession may well not prove unfounded.
Is this the big one? Guardian (3/1/08)
Your survival plan if a recession strikes Times Online (5/1/08)
Top of the flops – 10 pointers to a downturn in 2008 Guardian (6/1/08)
Recession fears as manufacturing drops Times Online (11/1/08)
Crash that ‘won’t happen here’ looms large Guardian (3/12/07)
Questions
| 1. |
What are the key indicators of an impending recession? |
| 2. |
Assess the likelihood of a recession in the UK in 2008. |
| 3. |
What policies could the UK government adopt to avoid a recession during 2008. What would determine the success of such policies? |
Inflationary expectations can be an important determinant of the actual level of inflation and so the Bank of England monitor people’s perceptions of inflation closely. Expectations of inflation are currently at their highest level in eight years.
Questions
| 1. |
Explain the transmission mechanism by which higher inflationary expectations are translated into inflation. |
| 2. |
What are the key determinants of inflationary expectations? |
| 3. |
Discuss strategies that (a) the Bank of England and (b) the government can adopt to reduce inflationary expectations. |
The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has signalled that the next year may be the toughest for 15 years with lower economic growth than previously forecast. So, is the UK economy going off the rails?
Questions
| 1. |
Explain the main reasons why the Governor of the Bank of England expects a worse than forecast level of economic growth in 2008. |
| 2. |
Discuss the extent to which a cut in interest rates will help prevent an economic slowdown. What adverse effects could follow from such a policy. |
| 3. |
Discuss one other policy that the government could adopt to try to reduce the extent of the forecast slowdown in economic growth. |