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

Supply of money, The supply of money Refers to the total amount of mon...

The supply of money Refers to the total amount of money in the economy. Most countries of the world have two measures of the money stock - broad money supply and narro

#titwillliomson model, explian williomson model of managerial discretion

explian williomson model of managerial discretion

Mankiw model of nominal rigidities, Mankiw Model of Nominal Rigidities   ...

Mankiw Model of Nominal Rigidities   There are two related reasons for which  firms do not  frequently change prices. First, as we saw in the discussion on menu costs, the cost

Slope of the demand curve and price elasticity, The elasticity of a demand ...

The elasticity of a demand curve is frequently judged by its appearance: the flatter the demand curve, the greater the elasticity and vice versa. However this conclusion is mislead

Location problem in the plane, Location problem in the plane: In Kent, ...

Location problem in the plane: In Kent, the council to respond to the people and government needs, it decided to establish 3 community care homes. The towns are recorded with t

#Demand function.., Calculate point elasticity of demand for demand functio...

Calculate point elasticity of demand for demand function Q=10-2p for decrease in price from Rs. 3 to 2

What is decreasing marginal cost, What is decreasing marginal cost? All...

What is decreasing marginal cost? All additional lawn mowed generates less benefit than the earlier lawn à along with decreasing marginal benefit; every additional unit generat

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