Economics 504 (2024)

Chapter 15 Outline
VIII. EXCHANGE RATES AND THEIR DETERMINATION
A. The Importance of Demand and Supply
1. An exchange rate is the number of units of one currency exchangeable for one unit of another.
2. The United States now uses a system of flexible or floating exchange rates.
3. Under this system, exchange rates are determined by the demand for and the supply of dollars.
a. The demand for dollars is based on other countries' desires to purchase our domestic goods and services and to invest in this country.
b. The supply of dollars is based on U.S. citizens' desires to purchase thegoods and services from other countries.
c. The equilibrium exchange rate occurs where the quantity of dollars demanded equals the quantity of dollars supplied.
4. If the exchange rate is not at its equilibrium level, there is a tendency for it to move towards the equilibrium rate.
a. If the quantity of dollars supplied exceeds the quantity of dollarsdemanded, the exchange rate will fall (A depreciation of the dollaroccurs.).
b. If the quantity of dollars demanded exceeds the quantity of dollars supplied, the exchange rate will increase (An appreciation of the dollaroccurs.).
B. Exchange Rates and the International Price of Goods
1. Movements in exchange rates alter the international price of goods and services.
a. If the dollar depreciates (the exchange rate falls), the relative price of domestic goods and services falls while the relative price of foreign goods and services increases.
1. The change in relative prices will increase U.S. exports and decrease its imports.
b. If the dollar appreciates (the exchange rate increases), the relative priceof domestic goods and services increases while the relative price of foreign goods and services falls.
1. The change in relative prices will decrease U.S. exports and increase its imports.
C. Real GDP
1. One factor affecting exchange rates is real GDP.
a. Increases in real GDP in the United States will increase the supply ofdollars to foreign countries, causing the dollar to depreciate.
D. Inflation Rates
1. A second factor affecting exchange rates is the inflation rate.
a. An increase in the U.S. inflation rate will increase the supply of dollars to foreign countries and decrease the demand for dollars in foreign countries, causing the dollar to depreciate.
E. Interest Rates
1. A third factor affect exchange rate is the rate of interest.
a. An increase in U.S. interest rates will decrease the supply of dollars to foreign countries and increase the demand for dollars in foreign countries, causing the dollar to appreciate.
Economics 504 (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest economic question? ›

Is the Money Supply Endogenous? This issue isn't uniquely about endogeneity, which, strictly speaking, is a modeling assumption that says the origin of an issue comes from within. If the question is properly constructed, this could be considered one of the key problems in economics.

What are the three economic questions answering? ›

Economic systems answer three basic questions: what will be produced, how will it be produced, and how will the output society produces be distributed?

What is the top question of economics? ›

The 3 big questions of economics are – 1. What to produce? , 2. How to produce? , 3. Who to produce it for?

Does demand in economics mean demand backed by enough for the goods demanded? ›

Demand is effective only if it is backed by the purchasing power of money. Further there must be willingness to buy a commodity. Thus demand in Economics means the desire backed by the willingness to buy and the purchasing power to pay. Economists call this demand as effective demand.

What are the 3 big questions of economics? ›

Students will read and take notes on the three main questions of economics. These are what to produce, how to produce it, and who to produce it for.

Is economics very hard? ›

It is no secret that a master's degree in economics is one of the most difficult and competitive degrees to pursue. According to a recent study, only 27% of students who take the entrance exams for masters in economics are accepted into premier colleges. This low acceptance rate is due to a number of factors.

What is the invisible hand of economics? ›

The invisible hand is a metaphor for the unseen forces that move the free market economy. Through individual self-interest and freedom of production and consumption, the best interest of society, as a whole, are fulfilled.

What are the 7 US economic goals? ›

There are seven major economic and social goals that are accepted and shared by the United States. These seven goals are economic freedom, economic equity, economic security, economic growth, economic efficiency, price stability, and full employment.

Who answers the basic economic questions? ›

In a pure market economy, the basic economic questions are answered by private individuals and businesses freely interacting over time.

What is the #1 problem of economics? ›

The fundamental economic problem is the issue of scarcity and how best to produce and distribute these scare resources. Scarcity means there is a finite supply of goods and raw materials.

What are the 4 basic economics questions? ›

What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce? What provisions (if any) are to be made for economic growth?

What is demand in economics answers? ›

Demand is an economic concept that relates to a consumer's desire to purchase goods and services and willingness to pay a specific price for them. An increase in the price of a good or service tends to decrease the quantity demanded.

What is demand backed by? ›

Demand is the amount of a product that consumers are willing and able to purchase at any given price. It is assumed that this is effective demand, i.e. it is backed by money and an ability to buy.

What is need and demand economics? ›

From an academic point of view, needs are things that satisfy a basic requirement. Wants are requests directed to specific types of items. Demands are requests for specific products that the buyer is willing to and able to pay for. In a consumer market examples are usually very clear to identify.

What is the #1 economic problem? ›

The existence of scarcity creates the basic economic problem faced by every society, rich or poor: how to make the best use of limited productive resources to satisfy human needs and wants. To solve this basic problem, every society must answer these three basic questions: 1. What goods and services will be produced?

What is the #1 fundamental economic problem? ›

The fundamental problem in economics is the issue with the scarcity of resources but unlimited wants. Economics has also pointed out that a man's needs cannot be fulfilled. The more our needs are fulfilled, the more wants we develop with time. By definition, scarcity implies a limited quantity of resources.

What is the #1 fundamental economic problem that all economists face? ›

Scarcity – the fundamental problem facing all societies. It is the condition that results from society not having enough resources to produce all the things that people would like to have.

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