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Showing posts with the label aggregate demand

Decision Making as Output and Bounded Rationality

  The classical economics theories proceed on the assumption of rational agents. Rationality implies the economic agents undertake actions or exercise choices based on the cost-benefit analysis they undertake. The assumption further posits that there exists no information asymmetry and thus the agent is aware of all the costs and benefits associated with the choice he or she has exercised. The behavioral school contested the decision stating the decisions in practice are often irrational. Implied there is a continuous departure from rationality. Rationality in the views of the behavioral school is more an exception to the norm rather a rule. The past posts have discussed the limitations of this view by the behavioral school. Economics has often posited rationality in the context in which the choices are exercised rather than theoretical abstract view of rational action. Rational action in theory seems to be grounded in zero restraint situation yet in practice, there are numerous restra

Notes on Inflation

  Inflation is a continuous increase in the general price level. It measures the changes in the price level in the economy. If the firms desire a stability in price, the price levels must remain stable. Therefore, an eye on inflation figures is no doubt important for any manager or an entrepreneur. For the inflation to be measured, there must be a construction of general price level. Generally, there are two measures that are constructed for general price level. Going back to the circular flow model, there are two actors, the firms and the households in the economy. Firms produce goods and services which the households consume. The firms sell goods at certain prices and the households consume the goods at certain other prices. There is a difference between the prices at which the firms sell and the prices at which the households consume. Therefore it becomes important to know which prices have to be taken for constructing a general price level. In all cases, price levels are constructe

Macroeconomics of Pandemics

For many decades preceding the Great Depression, the economic theory was rooted in the production and supply analysis. Say’s law in a simplified form suggested “Supply creates its own Demand”. Implied was firms would produce goods and they would have their takers. If there was excess supply relative to demand, the price mechanism would come into effect creating a drop in prices. The drop in prices thus would increase the quantity demanded while at the same time reducing the quantity supplied thus restoring the equilibrium. The notion of equilibrium was dispelled in the Great Depression when low prices did not create the corresponding increase in demand. The answer to the puzzle was first articulated by John Keynes who argued there is deficiency of demand and thus the government had to play a role in fulfilling the lack of demand. In other words, Keynes suggested that demand creates supply. The Keynesian formulation laid the foundations of macroeconomics and with it the framework

Caselets in Macroeconomics

Caselet I- Rupee depreciation and textile industry The recent rupee depreciation has enabled the Indian textile industry to hold yarn prices and also increase yarn exports.   Though Indian industry demonstrates stronger backward linkages, low labour costs have enabled countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam to overtake India in terms of capturing textile export markets.   With Chinese Yuan appreciating, Indian exports have become more competitive. Indian textile export share is marginal ( 5% as compared to China’s 30%). Many analysts advocate leveraging the current scenario to capture the global market at the expense of China.   As a CEO of leading textile manufacturer, you are planning to go in for capacity expansion. Capacity expansion necessitates funding and thus you approach a consortium of banks. Prepare the detailed projections convincing the bankers how the global economic trends portray well for Indian textile exporters. (Note: Use financial statements sh