What is the Laffer Curve? The Laffer Curve is a theoretical explanation of the relationship between tax rates set by a government and the tax revenue collected at that tax rate. It was introduced by American supply-side economist, Arthur Laffer. The concept was not invented by Laffer; there were other antecedents from the 14th-century writings…
What is the Phillips Curve? The Phillips Curve is the graphical representation of the short-term relationship between unemployment and inflation within an economy. According to the Phillips Curve, there exists a negative, or inverse, relationship between the unemployment rate and the inflation rate in an economy. History of the Phillips Curve In 1958, Alban William…
What is the “Invisible Hand”? The concept of the “invisible hand” was invented by the Scottish Enlightenment thinker, Adam Smith. It refers to the invisible market force that brings a free market to equilibrium with levels of supply and demand by actions of self-interested individuals. The concept was first introduced by Smith in “The Theory…
What is Trade-Weighted Exchange Rate? The Trade-Weighted Exchange Rate is a complex measure of a country’s currency exchange rate. It measures the strength of a currency weighted by the amount of trade with other countries. The Trade-Weighted Exchange Rate is largely influenced by the degree of trade carried out by one country with another. The…
What is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)? The concept of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a tool used to make multilateral comparisons between the national incomes and living standards of different countries. Purchasing power is measured by the price of a specified basket of goods and services. Thus, parity between two countries implies that a unit…
What is Transfer Pricing? Transfer pricing refers to the prices of goods and services that are exchanged between companies under common control. For example, if a subsidiary company sells goods or renders services to its holding company or a sister company, the price charged is referred to as the transfer price. Entities under common control…
What is a Network Effect? The Network Effect is a phenomenon where present users of a product or service benefit in some way when the product or service is adopted by additional users. This effect is created by many users when value is added to their use of the product. The largest and best-known example…
What is Normative Economics? Normative economics is a school of thought which believes that economics as a subject should pass value statements, judgments, and opinions on economic policies, statements, and projects. It evaluates situations and outcomes of economic behavior as morally good or bad. Normative economics, as opposed to positive economics, tells us whether certain…
What is Velocity of Circulation? Velocity of Circulation refers to the average number of times a single unit of money changes hands in an economy during a given period of time. It can also be referred to as the velocity of money or velocity of circulation of money. It is the frequency with which the…
What is the Big Mac Index? The Big Mac Index is a tool devised by economists in the 1980s to examine whether the currencies of various countries offer roughly equal levels of basic affordability. The Big Mac Index is based on the theory of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). History of the Big Mac Index The…
