Main Economic Indicators, Comparative Methodological Analysis
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The Consumer Price Index and Index Number Purpose W
1 THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND INDEX NUMBER PURPOSE W. Erwin Diewert, Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C., Canada, V6T 1Z1. Email: [email protected] Paper presented at the Fifth Meeting of the International Working Group on Price Indices (The Ottawa Group), Reykjavik, Iceland, August 25-27, 1999; Revised: September, 1999. 1. INTRODUCTION1 “What index numbers are ‘best’? Naturally much depends on the purpose in view.” Irving Fisher (1921; 533). A Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used for a multiplicity of purposes. Some of the more important uses are: · as a compensation index; i.e., as an escalator for payments of various kinds; · as a Cost of Living Index (COLI); i.e., as a measure of the relative cost of achieving the same standard of living (or utility level in the terminology of economics) when a consumer (or group of consumers) faces two different sets of prices; · as a consumption deflator; i.e., it is the price change component of the decomposition of a ratio of consumption expenditures pertaining to two periods into price and quantity change components; · as a measure of general inflation. The CPI’s constructed to serve purposes (ii) and (iii) above are generally based on the economic approach to index number theory. Examples of CPI’s constructed to serve purpose (iv) above are the harmonized indexes produced for the member states of the European Union and the new harmonized index of consumer prices for the euro area, which pertains to the 11 members of the European Union that will use a common currency (called Euroland in the popular press). -
BIS Working Papers No 136 the Price Level, Relative Prices and Economic Stability: Aspects of the Interwar Debate by David Laidler* Monetary and Economic Department
BIS Working Papers No 136 The price level, relative prices and economic stability: aspects of the interwar debate by David Laidler* Monetary and Economic Department September 2003 * University of Western Ontario Abstract Recent financial instability has called into question the sufficiency of low inflation as a goal for monetary policy. This paper discusses interwar literature bearing on this question. It begins with theories of the cycle based on the quantity theory, and their policy prescription of price stability supported by lender of last resort activities in the event of crises, arguing that their neglect of fluctuations in investment was a weakness. Other approaches are then taken up, particularly Austrian theory, which stressed the banking system’s capacity to generate relative price distortions and forced saving. This theory was discredited by its association with nihilistic policy prescriptions during the Great Depression. Nevertheless, its core insights were worthwhile, and also played an important part in Robertson’s more eclectic account of the cycle. The latter, however, yielded activist policy prescriptions of a sort that were discredited in the postwar period. Whether these now need re-examination, or whether a low-inflation regime, in which the authorities stand ready to resort to vigorous monetary expansion in the aftermath of asset market problems, is adequate to maintain economic stability is still an open question. BIS Working Papers are written by members of the Monetary and Economic Department of the Bank for International Settlements, and from time to time by other economists, and are published by the Bank. The views expressed in them are those of their authors and not necessarily the views of the BIS. -
Monetary Policy, Relative Prices and Inflation Rate: an Evaluation Based on New Keynesian Phillips Curve for the U.S
Monetary policy, relative prices and inflation rate: an evaluation based on New Keynesian Phillips Curve for the U.S. economy Tito Belchior Silva Moreira* Department of economy, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brazil: [email protected] Mario Jorge C. Mendonça Department of economics, Institute for Applied Economic Research, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: [email protected] Adolfo Sachsida Department of economics, Institute for Applied Economic Research, Brasília, Brazil: [email protected] Paulo Roberto Amorim Loureiro Department of economics, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil: [email protected] Abstract This paper investigates the direct impact of monetary policy on variation to the relative prices and, in turn, the direct effect of the change in relative prices on the inflation rate considering the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC). Thus, we analyze the indirect impact of the change of Federal Funds Rate on the inflation rate through the change in relative prices. We use GMM with instrumental variables to estimate several systems of two equations for the U.S. economy based on quarterly time-series from 1975 to 2015. The empirical results show that a change of the Funds Rate has a direct effect on change in relative prices and that, in turn, affects indirectly the inflation rate, through the change in relative prices. Hence, change in the relative prices affects directly the inflation rate via NKPC. In this context, variations of relative prices can be interpreted as a transmission channel of monetary policy. Furthermore, there are empirical evidences that the change of relative prices Granger-cause the inflation rate. Key words: Monetary policy, relative prices, inflation rate, NKPC, U.S. -
Main Economic Indicators: Comparative Methodological Analysis: Wage Related Statistics
MAIN ECONOMIC INDICATORS: COMPARATIVE METHODOLOGICAL ANALYSIS: WAGE RELATED STATISTICS VOLUME 2002 SUPPLEMENT 3 FOREWORD This publication provides comparisons of methodologies used by OECD Member countries to compile key short-term and annual data on wage related statistics. These statistics comprise annual and infra-annual statistics on wages and earnings, minimum wages, labour costs, labour prices, unit labour costs, and household income. Also, because of their use in the compilation of these statistics, the publication also includes an initial analysis of hours of work statistics. In its coverage of short-term indicators it is related to analytical publications previously published by the OECD for indicators published in the monthly publication, Main Economic Indicators (MEI) for: industry, retail and construction indicators; and price indices. The primary purpose of this publication is to provide users with methodological information underlying the compilation of wage related statistics. The analysis provided for these statistics is designed to ensure their appropriate use by analysts in an international context. The information will also enable national statistical institutes and other agencies responsible for compiling such statistics to compare their methodologies and data sources with those used in other countries. Finally, it will provide a range of options for countries in the process of creating their own wage related statistics, or overhauling existing indicators. The analysis in this publication focuses on issues of data comparability in the context of existing international statistical guidelines and recommendations published by the OECD and other international agencies such as the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat). -
The Ricardian Model
Chapter 3 Labor Productivity and Comparative Advantage: The Ricardian Model Copyright © 2012 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. Preview • Opportunity costs and comparative advantage • Production possibilities • Relative supply, relative demand & relative prices • Trade possibilities and gains from trade • Wages and trade • Misconceptions about comparative advantage • Transportation costs and non-traded goods • Empirical evidence Copyright © 2012 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. 3-2 Introduction • Sources of differences across countries that lead to gains from trade: – The Ricardian model (Chapter 3) examines differences in the productivity of labor (due to differences in technology) between countries. – The Heckscher-Ohlin model (Chapter 5) examines differences in labor, labor skills, physical capital, land, or other factors of production between countries. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. 3-3 Ricardian Model Assumptions 1. Two countries: domestic and foreign. 2. Two goods: wine and cheese. 3. Labor is the only resource needed for production. 4. Labor productivity is constant. 5. Labor productivity varies across countries due to differences in technology. 6. The supply of labor in each country is constant. 7. Labor markets are competitive. 8. Workers are mobile across sectors. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. 3-4 Comparative Advantage • Suppose that the domestic country has a comparative advantage in cheese production: its opportunity cost of producing cheese is lower than in the foreign country. * * aLC /aLW < a LC /a LW When the domestic country increases cheese production, it reduces wine production less than the foreign country does because the domestic unit labor requirement of cheese production is low compared to that of wine production. -
AVAILABLE from a Price Index for Deflation of Academic R&D
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 067 986 HE 003 406 TITLE A Price Index for Deflation of Academic R&D Expenditures. INSTITUTION National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO NSF-72-310 PUB DATE 72 NOTE 38p. AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing- Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 ($.25, 3800-00122) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS Costs; Educational Finance; *Educational Research; Financial Problems; *Financial Support; *Higher Education; Research; Research and Development Centers; *Scientific Research; *Statistical Data ABSTRACT This study relates to price trends affecting research and development (R&D) activities at academic institutions. Part I of this report provides the overall results of the study with limited discussion of measurement concepts, methodology and limitations. Part II deals with price indexes and deflation-general concepts and methodology. Part III discusses methodology and data base and Part IV describes alternative computations and approaches. Statistical tables and charts are included.(Author/CS) cO Cr` CD :w U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HASBEEN REPRO DUCED EXACTLY ASRECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG INATING IT POINTS OFVIEW OR OPIN IONS STATED DONOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIALOFFICE OF EDU CATION POSITION OR POLICY RELATED PUBLICATIONS Title Number Price National Patterns of R&D Resources: Funds and Manpower in the United States, 1953-72 72-300 $0.50 Resources for Scientific Activities at Universi- ties and Colleges, 1971 72-315 In press Availability of Publications Those publications marked with a price should be obtained directly from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. -
Does Google Search Index Help Track and Predict Inflation Rate? an Exploratory Analysis for India
Does Google Search Index Help Track and Predict Inflation Rate? An Exploratory Analysis for India By G. P. Samanta1 Abstract: The forward looking outlook or market expectations on inflation constitute valuable input to monetary policy, particularly in the ‘inflation targeting' regime. However, prediction or quantification of market expectations is a challenging task. The time lag in the publication of official statistics further aggravates the complexity of the issue. One way of dealing with non-availability of relevant data in real- time basis involves assessing the current or nowcasting the inflation based on a suitable model using past or present data on related variables. The forecast may be generated by extrapolating the model. Any error in the assessment of the current inflationary pressure thus may lead to erroneous forecasts if the latter is conditional upon the former. Market expectations may also be quantified by conducting suitable surveys. However, surveys are associated with substantial cost and resource implications, in addition to facing certain conceptual and operational challenges in terms of representativeness of the sample, estimation techniques, and so on. As a potential alternative to address this issue, recent literature is examining if the information content of the vast Google trend data generated through the volume of searches people make on the keyword ‘inflation' or a suitable combination of keywords. The empirical literature on the issue is mostly exploratory in nature and has reported a few promising results. Inspired by this line of works, we have examined if the search volume on the keywords ‘inflation’ or ‘price’in the Google search engine is useful to track and predict inflation rate in India. -
A Common Framework for Measuring the Digital Economy
www.oecd.org/going-digital-toolkit www.oecd.org/SDD A ROADMAP TOWARD A COMMON FRAMEWORK @OECDinnovation @OECD_STAT FOR MEASURING THE [email protected] DIGITAL ECONOMY [email protected] Report for the G20 Digital Economy Task Force SAUDI ARABIA, 2020 A roadmap toward a common framework for measuring the Digital Economy This document was prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and Statistics and Data Directorate (SDD), as an input for the discussions in the G20 Digital Economy Task Force in 2020, under the auspices of the G20 Saudi Arabia Presidency in 2020. It benefits from input from the European Commission, ITU, ILO, IMF, UNCTAD, and UNSD as well as from DETF participants. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily represent the official views of the member countries of the OECD or the G20. Acknowledgements: This report was drafted by Louise Hatem, Daniel Ker, and John Mitchell of the OECD, under the direction of Dirk Pilat, Deputy Director for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Contributions were gratefully received from collaborating International Organisations: Antonio Amores, Ales Capek, Magdalena Kaminska, Balazs Zorenyi, and Silvia Viceconte, European Commission; Martin Schaaper and Daniel Vertesy, ITU; Olga Strietska-Ilina, ILO; Marshall Reinsdorf, IMF; Torbjorn Fredriksson, Pilar Fajarnes, and Scarlett Fondeur Gil, UNCTAD; and Ilaria Di Matteo, UNSD. This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. -
Burgernomics: a Big Mac Guide to Purchasing Power Parity
Burgernomics: A Big Mac™ Guide to Purchasing Power Parity Michael R. Pakko and Patricia S. Pollard ne of the foundations of international The attractive feature of the Big Mac as an indi- economics is the theory of purchasing cator of PPP is its uniform composition. With few power parity (PPP), which states that price exceptions, the component ingredients of the Big O Mac are the same everywhere around the globe. levels in any two countries should be identical after converting prices into a common currency. As a (See the boxed insert, “Two All Chicken Patties?”) theoretical proposition, PPP has long served as the For that reason, the Big Mac serves as a convenient basis for theories of international price determina- market basket of goods through which the purchas- tion and the conditions under which international ing power of different currencies can be compared. markets adjust to attain long-term equilibrium. As As with broader measures, however, the Big Mac an empirical matter, however, PPP has been a more standard often fails to meet the demanding tests of elusive concept. PPP. In this article, we review the fundamental theory Applications and empirical tests of PPP often of PPP and describe some of the reasons why it refer to a broad “market basket” of goods that is might not be expected to hold as a practical matter. intended to be representative of consumer spending Throughout, we use the Big Mac data as an illustra- patterns. For example, a data set known as the Penn tive example. In the process, we also demonstrate World Tables (PWT) constructs measures of PPP for the value of the Big Mac sandwich as a palatable countries around the world using benchmark sur- measure of PPP. -
RBC International Index Currency Neutral Fund
RBC International Index Currency Neutral Fund Investment objective Performance analysis for Series A as of August 31, 2021 To provide long-term capital growth, while Growth of $10,000 Series A $21,632 minimizing the exposure to currency 26 fluctuations between foreign currencies and the 22 Canadian dollar, by tracking the performance of its benchmark through investment, primarily, in 18 units of iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged). 14 10 Fund details 6 Load Fund Series Currency 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 YTD structure code A No load CAD RBF559 Calendar returns % 30 Inception date October 1998 Total fund assets $MM 557.8 20 Series A NAV $ 12.90 10 Series A MER % 0.62 0 Income distribution Annually -10 Capital gains distribution Annually -20 Sales status Open Minimum investment $ 500 Subsequent investment $ 25 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 YTD Risk rating Medium -12.4 16.4 25.7 5.1 3.6 5.7 14.9 -10.8 22.8 0.4 16.0 Fund Fund category International Equity 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 4th 1st 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd 1st Quartile Benchmark 100% MSCI EAFE IMI Hedged 100% to 1 Mth 3 Mth 6 Mth 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 10 Yr Since incep. Trailing return % CAD Net Index 2.0 3.5 12.4 28.3 8.3 9.6 9.4 4.6 Fund 4th 4th 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd — Quartile Notes 713 710 699 669 567 430 221 — # of funds in category Fund’s investment objective changed April 9, 2019 and June 30, 2017. -
Economics a Guide to Selected Resources
Economics A Guide to Selected Resources Reference & Fact Finding Books & eBooks Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers Great Websites! Reference & Fact Finding Encyclopedias | Dictionaries | Guides & Handbooks | Biography | Statistics ENCYCLOPEDIAS Encyclopedia of American Economic History. [REF HC 103 .E52] Covers the principal economic movements and ideas in the United States. Includes articles on American social history that closely relate to America's economic past. The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics. 1987. [REF HB 61 .N49] The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics and the Law. 1998. [REF K 487 .E3 N48] The New Palgrave Dictionary of Money & Finance. 1992. [REF HG 151 .N48] Encyclopedic coverage on economic concepts, theories, and ideas with extensive bibliographies. GUIDES & HANDBOOKS Business Information: Finding and Using Data in the Digital Age 2003. [REF HF 1010 .Z337] Covers research concepts and methods, and evaluation techniques as applied to business, company, and statistical information. Updated to account for the World Wide Web. BIOGRAPHIES Biography in Context Comprehensive database of biographical information on more than 185,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Includes full-text brief biographies, articles, and website suggestions. The Economists. [HB 119 .A3 S54] Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences: A Biographical Dictionary. [REF HB 76 .N63] Worldly Economists. [HB 119 .A3 S64] STATISTICS Compilations of Statistics | Current Statistical Resources | Projections COMPILATION OF STATISTICS Business Statistics of the United States [REF HC 101 .A13122] Provides data series covering almost every aspect of the U.S. economy, statistical profiles of major industry groups, tables presenting over 30 years of data - some back to 1963, and detailed background notes with definitions, data revision schedules, and sources of additional information. -
Math Calculations to Better Utilize CPI Data
Math calculations to better utilize CPI data Report prepared by Gerald Perrins, branch chief of Consumer Prices in the Mid-Atlantic region, and Diane Nilsen, former regional clearance officer in the National Office of Field Operations, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is published points, because index point changes are as an index number that shows the change in affected by the level of the index in relation to the price of a defined market basket of goods its base period, while percent changes are not. and services over time from a base period which is defined as 100.0. An increase of 7 The following illustration shows a percent from that base period, for example, is hypothetical CPI one-month change between shown as 107.0. Alternately, that relationship April 2016 and May 2016 using the 1982- can also be expressed as the price of a base 84=100 reference base. period "market basket" of goods and services rising from $100 to $107. Currently, the Reference Base reference base for most CPI indexes is 1982- 1982-84=100 84=100 but some indexes have other May 2016 ........................................ 240.236 references bases. The reference base years April 2016 ....................................... 239.261 refer to the period in which the index is set to Index point change .............................. 0.975 100.0. In addition, expenditure weights are Divided by the earlier index ..... 0.975/239.261 updated every two years to keep the CPI Equals ............................................... 0.004075 current with changing consumer preferences. Multiplied by 100 ............................... 0.4075 Equals percent change ........................ 0.4 Index numbers are not dollar values, but measures of the change over time relative to Over-the-year percent change their base period value of 100.0 (for example, To arrive at a percent change over an entire 280.0 or 30.3).