Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Economy

Chapter 4: The Federal Reserve's Responsibilities and Operations

Three Main Responsibilities of the Federal Reserve

1. Achieve full employment
2. Maintain price stability
3. Maximize economic growth

The Federal Reserve conducts the national monetary policy to achieve these goals.

Open Market Operations

Responsibilities:

• Control the money supply (MS)
• Set targets for MS growth and interest rate levels
• Influence the MS by buying or selling government securities (debt securities, Treasuries)

The Trading Desk

What they do: Purchase or sale of Treasuries

Impact on the economy:

• Money Supply: Purchasing government securities increases the money supply, while selling them decreases it.
• Interest Rates: An increased money supply puts downward pressure on interest rates, while

Why Currency Exchange Rates Change

If our currency is demanded (for example, because our products are demanded), the price of our currency would increase unless we increase the money supply. Conversely, if, for example, people hold assets in our currency but want to sell them, this would lead to depreciation.

Interest rate is the price of our money, because we sell bonds that yield a certain benefit. If we increase the interest rate, we make the bond more attractive. People would invest money in these bonds, and less money would circulate in the economy.

This internal use of interest rates to control inflation also has external consequences. High interest rates make bonds more attractive to foreign investors who would want to buy Euros (or the... Continue reading "Factors Affecting Currency Exchange Rates" »

Money Demand and Its Determinants

Money demand depends on the price level and the volume of transactions, which is defined as the number of goods and services transacted using money in one year.

Money demand can be represented as: P × T, where T = volume of transactions and P = average price level.

When the money market is in equilibrium, Md = Ms (Money Demand = Money Supply).

Formula: P = (V / T) × M

Assumptions:

1. This theory applies to short-run changes.
2. There is full employment in the economy.
3. The velocity of money and the volume of transactions remain constant.
4. The amount of barter trade remains constant.
5. M, V, and T change independently.

Changes in Velocity of Money (VOM):

• VOM increases: prices decrease = Deflation
• VOM decreases: prices increase =

Stakeholders in Business

Owners and Stockholders

• Have a monetary or nonmonetary interest in an organization or entity.
• Look for high profit, dividend, and long-term growth, as well as a positive corporate image.
• Example: Mr. XYZ is an owner of company ABC and expects a financial return.

Suppliers

• Companies build a number of small, loyal relationships with suppliers and associates.
• This enables each business to develop shared goals, visions, and strategies.
• Trade buyers and sellers can effectively collaborate to deliver the best value to end customers, which is beneficial to each side.
• Example: Carrefour Market is a distributor and supplier for Nestle products. Lulu aims for satisfactory transactions and revenue from purchases.

Employees

• Expect fair working

Social Needs:

• Economic aid to elderly people who aren't able to work.
• Enough food and clothes after losing a husband/wife who was the breadwinner.
• Treatment of illnesses.
• Financial support due to maternity or paternity.
• Financial support due to lack of employment.
• Home.
• Education.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Global partnership for development.

Function Utilization and OSHA Standards

Function utilization is calculated as the system rate divided by the function's potential production. OSHA standards cover various aspects of forestry operations, including hand and portable power tools, machines, vehicles, tree harvesting, and training. It's important to note that men are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than women in this industry.

OSHA Incident and Lost Workday Rates

The OSHA incident rate is calculated as the number of injuries multiplied by 200,000, then divided by the total hours worked. Similarly, the lost workday rate is calculated as the number of lost workdays multiplied by 200,000, then divided by the total hours worked.

Workers' Compensation and Safety Records

Maintaining... Continue reading "Forestry Operations and Timber Sale Management" »

Why Are Some Activities Directed by Market Forces and Others by Firms?

His answer was that firms are a response to the high cost of using markets. It is often cheaper to direct tasks than to negotiate and enforce separate contracts for every transaction. Such "exchange costs" are low in markets for standardized goods.

It argued that private bargaining could resolve social problems, such as pollution, as long as property rights are well defined and transaction costs are low (they rarely are).

Spot markets cover most transactions. Once money is exchanged for goods, the deal is completed. The transaction is simple: one party wants, another supplies. Spot markets are thus largely self-policing. They are well suited to simple, low-value transactions,

Monetary Policy and Transmission Mechanism

Impact on the Economy and Price Level

The transmission mechanism of monetary policy describes how decisions impact the economy and price level. This process involves a chain of cause-and-effect relationships linking policy decisions to price levels.

Key Impacts:

• Lower Interest Rates: Encourage consumption by reducing savings returns and stimulate investment by lowering borrowing costs.
• Asset Prices: Influence consumption and investment through wealth effects and changes in collateral value.

Goal of Monetary Policy: Price Stability

The primary objective of monetary policy in the euro area is to maintain price stability, defined as a year-on-year increase in the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) below... Continue reading "Monetary Policy and Transmission Mechanism in the Euro Area" »

After-Sales Service

It is the set of mechanisms and tasks that the organization uses after the sale is done in order to obtain total customer satisfaction. It is an important source of information and should be considered as an investment. It is easier to sell new products to a satisfied customer than finding new customers.

Advantages:

• It provides greater customer satisfaction.
• It improves the image of the company.
• It improves direct knowledge of the market.
• It involves potential customer loyalty.
• It implies a likely increase in sales.

Disadvantages:

• It involves certain costs.
• It needs to be controlled.
• It can cause a possible increase in the number of claims.
• It implies a greater demand for service and quality.
• It causes more staffing needs.

Types of After-