International economics

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - International economics - introduction
2. Section 3.1 International trade (notes)
3. Section 3.1 International trade (questions)
4. Section 3.1 International trade - simulations and activities
5. Section 3.2 Exchange rates (notes)
6. Section 3.2 Exchange rates - questions
7. Section 3.2 Exchange rates - simulations and activities
8. Section 3.3 Balance of payments - notes
9. Section 3.3 Balance of payments - questions
10. Section 3.4 Economic integration - notes
11. Section 3.4 Economic integration - questions
12. Section 3.5 Terms of trade - notes
    1. Terms of trade - introduction
    2. Terms of trade (TOT)
    3. Impact of terms of trade on the balance of payments
    4. Elasticity of demand for imports and exports
    5. Impact of terms of trade on the economy
    6. Causes of changes in the Terms of Trade
13. Section 3.5 Terms of trade - questions
14. Print View

Section 3.5 Terms of trade - notes

In this section we will look at the benefits of trade, absolute and comparative advantage, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), types of trade protection and arguments for and against trade protection.

By the end of this section you should be able to:

• Explain the meaning of the terms of trade.
• Explain how the terms of trade are measured.
• Distinguish between an improvement and a deterioration in the terms of trade.
• Calculate the terms of trade using the equation: Index of average export prices/index of average import prices x 100.
• Explain that the terms of trade may change in the short term due to changes in demand conditions for exports and imports, changes in global supply of key inputs (such as oil), changes in relative inflation rates and changes in relative exchange rates.
• Explain that the terms of trade may change in the long term due to changes in world income levels, changes in productivity within the country and technological developments.
• Explain how changes in the terms of trade in the long term may result in a global redistribution of income.
• Examine the effects of changes in the terms of trade on a country's current account, using the concepts of price elasticity of demand for exports and imports.
• Explain the impacts of short-term fluctuations and long-term deterioration in the terms of trade of economically less developed countries that specialize in primary commodities, using the concepts of price elasticity of demand and supply for primary products and income elasticity of demand.