What is a Command Economy? Most economic activity in countries around the world exists on a spectrum that ranges from a pure free market economy to an extreme command economy. The command economy is a type of system where the government plays the principal role in planning and regulating goods and services produced in the…
What is the Law of Supply? The law of supply is a basic principle in economics that asserts that, assuming all else being constant, an increase in the price of goods will result in a corresponding direct increase in the supply thereof. The law works similarly with a decrease in prices. The law of supply…
What is Residual Income? Residual income (RI) can mean different things depending on the context. When looking at corporate finance, residual income is any excess that an investment earns relative to the opportunity cost of capital that was used. However, in the context of equity valuation, residual income refers to the net income after accounting…
What is a Natural Monopoly? A natural monopoly is a market where a single seller can provide the output because of its size. A natural monopolist can produce the entire output for the market at a cost lower than what it would be if there were multiple firms operating in the market. A natural monopoly…
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…
