International Economics

Trading Blocks Concept in International Economics

The post-second World War period has seen a growing interest in integrating national economies at regional levels. The efforts to form regional groupings, trade blocks and treaties have often floundered due to political differences and unforeseen economic hurdles.   The motivation arises out of the realization of the limitations imposed by national frontiers and the expected benefits of a wider market, consisting of several national economies.

Regional trade agreements represent an attempt by a group of countries to increase the flow of trade and investment by reducing direct and indirect trade barriers between them, as well as implement similar trade policies vis-à-vis outsiders.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Transformation of The European Union From a Political and Economic Union to a Monetary Union

The basis of the European Monetary Union was to build a united Europe after the World War II. This was initiated by when the European nations created the European Coal and Steel community, with a view to freeing trade in these two sectors. The pricing policies and commercial practices of the member nations of this community were regulated by a supranational agency. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands to form the European Economic Community (EEC), whereby they agreed to make Europe a common market. While they agreed to lift restrictions on movements of all factors of production and to harmonize domestic policies, the ultimate aim was economic integration.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Offshore Financial Centers (OFCs)

Any international business unit, whether manufacturing or trading is always looking for funds for their operations. Every company cannot take funds from its home country due to strict regulations or interest cost or taxes.

All over the world the business community is in search of locations where their investments are safe and the funds can be taken out without any barriers and invested comfortably for any ventures in any part of the world. Currently, Mauritius, Malta, Panama, Man’s Island, Cyprus, Seychelles and Hawaii are a few centres attracting offshore banks. Since 2003, the Government of India has permitted banks to set up offshore banking operations in Special Economic Zones.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

The Effects of Financial Liberalization

Financial Liberalization refers to deregulation of domestic financial market and liberalization of the capital account that implies removing the ceiling on interest rates. When it is in a liberalized system the competition between the different lending institutions for the deposits will increase interest rates on deposits which will increase the deposits. The availability of credit will increase and this will cause an increase in investment growth.

The stages of growth increases activity in the financial markets that makes the introduction and the development of financial institutions. It is argued that financial institutions, by gathering and evaluating information from borrowers, allow the allocation of funds for investment plans to become more efficient and therefore encourage growth and investment.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Commodity Price Stabilization in International Business

Many developing nations exports are concentrated in only one or a few primary products and thus unstable export markets, worsening terms of trade, and limited access to world markets for the products can significantly reduce export revenues and seriously disrupt domestic income and employment level. In addition, many developing nations feel that developed nations tend to insist that developing nations open their markets to industrial products from the developed world, yet refuse to open their markets to agricultural goods from the developing world. For example, United States have used aggressive antidumping and countervailing duties to limit access to their markets.

As noted, the export prices and revenues of developing countries can be quite volatile.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Law of Substitution or Equi-Marginal Utility – Definition, Significance and Criticisms

The law of substitution is also known as the law of equi-marginal utility or the law of maximum satisfaction. This law was first developed by H.H Gossen. Therefore, this law is also known as second law of Gossen. Prof. Marshall has developed and given the present shape of this law. This law states that in order to get maximum satisfaction, a consumer should spend his limited income on different commodities in such a way that the last dollar spent on each commodity yield him equal marginal utility.

The law of substitution  is also known as “The Law Of Maximum Satisfaction” because the consumer can maximize his/her satisfaction by spending income in accordance with this law.… Read the rest

Abey Francis