Terms of trade, Managerial Economics

Assignment Help:

TERMS OF TRADE

The relation between the prices of a country's exports and the prices of its imports, represented arithmetically by taking the export index as a percentage of the import index.  In the comparative cost model, terms of trade were, defined as the international exchange ratio between a country's export good and its import good.  This is the barter terms of trade which measures the quantity of exports which have to be sacrificed to obtain a unit of imports and is easily calculated when there are just two goods traded.  But in practice, countries trade hundreds of different goods and services and the concept of the terms of trade becomes more complex.  Estimates of the terms of trade are usually made by calculating an index of import prices; this gives an index of the term of trade:

Terms of trade index = Export Price Index    x  100

                                          Import Price Index

Thus, the price indices are essentially weighted averages of export and import pries.  If these are set at 100 in the same base year, say, 1990, then the terms of trade index is also 100.  If, for instance, import prices fall relative to  export prices, the terms of trade will rise above 100, the terms of trade then being said to be more favourable to the country concerned since it means that it can obtain more goods from abroad than before in exchange for a given quantity of exports.  On the other hand, if the terms of trade become unfavourable, the terms of trade index will fall below 100.

A rise in terms of trade index is usually described as an "improvement" or as "favourable" on the grounds that a rise in export prices relative to import prices theoretically means that a country can now buy the same quantity of imports for the sacrifice of less export (or it can have more imports for the same volume of exports).  Similarly, a fall in the terms of trade index is a "deterioration" or is an "unfavourable" movement.


Related Discussions:- Terms of trade

Sales maximisation, how realistic is the sales maximisation model

how realistic is the sales maximisation model

Effects of delegating monetary policy, Question: (a) Under what condit...

Question: (a) Under what conditions would a central bank be considered independent. (b) Discuss the effects of delegating monetary policy making to an independent agent on

Theory of comparative advantage, THEORY OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE In hi...

THEORY OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE In his theory put forward in a book published in 1817, David Ricardo argued that what was needed for two countries to engage in international t

Long run equilibrium for the firm, LONG RUN EQUILIBRIUM FOR THE FIRM S...

LONG RUN EQUILIBRIUM FOR THE FIRM Since there is freedom of entry into the industry the surplus profits will attract new firms into the industry.  As a result the supply of th

Externality in economics, Explain the concept of externality in economics? ...

Explain the concept of externality in economics? Give one example of a positive and a  negative externality in Australia.

Gatt & wto, introduction, evaluation,principle, activities concept behind G...

introduction, evaluation,principle, activities concept behind Gatt & wto

Economic situations or decisions, Imagine of these concepts (markets, elast...

Imagine of these concepts (markets, elasticity, production, costs, market structures).  Take one or two of those concepts and use it to examine and understand economic situations o

how many push mowers will ann rent, Ann owns a lawn-mowing company. She ha...

Ann owns a lawn-mowing company. She has 400 lawns she requires to cut every week. Her weekly revenue from these 400 lawns is $20,000. Given an 18-inch-deck push mower, a laborer ca

Explain the demand analysis - managerial economics, Demand analysis Dem...

Demand analysis Demand analysis is undertaken to forecast demand, which is a fundamental constituent in managerial decision-making. Demand forecasting is of important because a

Structural unemployment - reason for protection, Structural Unemployment ...

Structural Unemployment The decline of the highly localized industry due to international trade causes great problems of regional (structural) unemployment.  If it would take

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd