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
   1. BOPs - introduction
   2. Credits and debits
   3. Current account
   4. Capital account
   5. Financial account
   6. Relationship between accounts
   7. Balance of payments - calculation
   8. Current account & floating exchange rate
   9. Current account & fixed exchange rate
   10. Balance of payments problems
   11. Consequences of deficit / surplus
   12. Policies to correct a balance of payments disequilibrium
   13. Consequences of a financial account deficit / surplus
   14. Marshall-Lerner condition
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
13. Section 3.5 Terms of trade - questions
14. Print View

Credits and debits

The balance of payments is a record of all financial flows between a country and the rest of the world. These flows are recorded as either credits or debits.

Credit items will include any item where money enters the country. It is important to think of a credit as the money entering the country. For example, one of the principal credit items is exports. In the case of exports, the goods leave the country to be sold overseas, but the money enters the country. Exports are therefore a credit item. Credit items therefore include:

• Export receipts
• Current transfers into the country
• Capital transfers into the country
• Direct and portfolio investment into the country

In the same way, debit items will include:

• Imports payments
• Current transfers out of the country
• Capital transfers out of the country
• Direct and portfolio investment out of the country