Definition of economic growth. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and how it can be used to measure economic growth. GDP per head (capita). Meaning of recession and how a recession moves the economy within its PPC. How changes in total demand may increase the utilisation of resources and GDP – resulting in a movement from inside toward the PPC. How economic growth shifts the economy’s PPC to the right and is caused by changes in investment, technology, and the quantity and quality of the factors of production. The costs and benefits of economic growth in the context of different economies. The range of policies available to promote economic growth and how effective they might be.
The components of the current account of the balance of payments – trade in goods, trade in services, primary income and secondary income. Calculation of deficits and surpluses on the current account of the balance of payments and its component sections. Causes of current account deficit and surplus. Consequences of current account deficit and surplus: Impact on GDP, employment, inflation and foreign exchange rate. Policies to achieve balance of payments stability: The range of policies available to achieve balance of payments stability and how effective they might be.