Economic growth, full employment/low unemployment, stable prices/low inflation, balance of payments stability, redistribution of income. Reasons behind the choice of aims and the criteria that governments set for each aim. Possible conflicts between aims: full employment versus stable prices; economic growth versus balance of payments stability; and full employment versus balance of payments stability.
Establishing that the economic problem creates three key questions about determining resource allocation – what to produce, how, and for whom.
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.