It is often quipped that economists base many of their theories on assumptions. The old joke is that should an economist be stranded on a desert island, he will merely assume that a boat is available and quickly depart from the island. Indeed, whilst analytically comparing Keynesian and neo-liberal ...

The issue of the extent to which the government should intervene in the economy to protect the public interest, is an issue of great importance in today's society. This is due to a number of reasons, including that the extent to which the government intervenes in an economy determines what hap...

Greenspan and the Federal Reserve: Methods and Resources The United States of America was founded as a capitalist nation dependent on independent trade by privately owned businesses. This system of economics stays as far away as possible from a centralized government controlled economy. However,...

All countries that participate in world trade impact on the international business cycle. The further an economy is \'integrated\' into the world economy, the more the international business cycle will affect that economy. Globalization is leading toward further and deeper economic integration and a...

Adam Smith was the founder of economics, as we know it today. His thoughts have shaped modern ideas about the market economy and the role of the state in relation to it. Smith laid the intellectual framework that explained the free market (which still holds true today) and laissez-faire. Both are ...

Expectations are crucial in determining the success of government policy on unemployment and inflation. Whatever people expect to happen, their actions will tend to make it happen. At the time that economic agents-households, firms, the government make choices, they are generally uncertain about the...