Macroeconomics: Question 1 and 2 relate to content and skills covered --- OPEN-MARKET MACROECONOMICS: BASIC CONCEPTS , International Trade and Exchange Rates
Question 3 relates to content and skills covered in A MACROECONOMIC THEORY OF THE OPEN ECONOMY, The Open Economy
Question 1
Word limit: Approximately 100-200 words Marks: 5 marks
Clearly explain how net foreign investment links the market for loanable funds and the market for foreign currency exchange. Make sure you define net foreign investment in your answer.
Question 2 Word limit: Brief answers for each question – approximately 100-200 words in total Marks: 5 marks
a) Clearly differentiate between real and nominal exchange rates. (2 marks)
b) In terms of the real exchange rate, what three variables could change to make a country less competitive internationally? (1 mark)
c) Assume that a Mazda 2 sells for 16,000 Australian dollars in Australia and 10,000 Canadian dollars in Canada If purchasing-power parity holds, what is the Canadian dollar/Australian dollar exchange rate? How many Australian dollars will a Canadian dollar buy? Make sure you show your calculations. (2 marks)
Question 3 Word limit: Approximately 500 words Marks: 20 marks Use a diagram of the open economy model (e.g. fig 32.4 from the text) to illustrate and explain the effect of the following event on the market for loanable funds, the level of net foreign investment and the market for foreign-currency exchange.
In your answer make sure you discuss the impact on the following variables:
• Interest rates, public savings, private savings, national savings, investment, net foreign investment, supply of currency, the exchange rate and the level of net exports.
Event: There is an increase in consumer confidence in the economy
Note: Ignore the detail and politics of this event. Focus only on analysing the market adjustment in each case. ------------------------------------
Marking Criteria for Question 3
Use the equation for national savings = investment to determine which curve is affected and why. 1 mark
Correct diagram – fully labelled showing initial equilibrium in each market and correct adjustments to new equilibrium 4 marks
Explanation of events that occur within the market for loanable funds:
• Direction of shift of correct curve
• Problem within the market for loanable funds that now exists at the initial interest rate
• Adjustment process to new equilibrium 5 marks
Explanation of events that occur in the net foreign investment diagram: Shift or movement of NFI curve? Why? 2 marks
Explanation of events that occur in the market for foreign currency exchange: Which curve shifts/why/which direction? Problem within the market for foreign currency exchange that exists at the initial exchange rate Adjustment process to new equilibrium 5 marks
Overall impact on the level of interest rates, public savings, private savings, national savings, investment, net foreign investment, supply of currency, the exchange rate and the level of net exports. 3 marks